book

Canon® EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D For Dummies®

by Julie Adair King

September 2008

Beginner to intermediate

352 pages

9h 6m

English

For Dummies

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A Quick Look at What's AheadPart I: Fast Track to Super SnapsPart II: Taking Creative ControlPart III: Working with Picture FilesPart IV: The Part of TensIcons and Other Stuff to NoteAbout the Software Shown in This BookPractice, Be Patient, and Have Fun!
1.1. Getting Comfortable with Your Lens1.1.1. Attaching a lens1.1.2. Removing a lens1.1.3. Using an IS (image stabilizer) lens1.1.4. Focusing and zooming the lens1.2. Adjusting the Viewfinder Focus1.3. Working with Memory Cards1.4. Exploring External Camera Controls1.4.1. Topside controls1.4.2. Back-of-the-body controls1.4.3. Front-left buttons1.5. Ordering from Camera Menus1.6. Monitoring Critical Camera Settings1.7. Decoding Viewfinder Data1.8. Reviewing Basic Setup Options1.8.1. Setup Menu 11.8.2. Setup Menu 21.8.3. Setup Menu 31.8.4. Three more customization options
2.1. Getting Good Point-and-Shoot Results2.2. Using Flash in Automatic Exposure Modes2.3. Exploring Your Automatic Options2.3.1. Full Auto mode2.3.2. Automatic scene modes (a.k.a. Image Zone modes)2.3.2.1. Portrait mode2.3.2.2. Landscape mode2.3.2.3. Close-Up mode2.3.2.4. Sports mode2.3.2.5. Night Portrait mode2.3.2.6. Flash Off mode2.4. Changing the Drive Mode
3.1. Diagnosing Quality Problems3.2. Decoding the Quality Options3.3. Considering Resolution: Large, Medium, or Small?3.3.1. Pixels and print quality3.3.2. Pixels and screen display size3.3.3. Pixels and file size3.3.4. Resolution recommendations3.4. Understanding File Type (JPEG or Raw)3.4.1. JPEG: The imaging (and Web) standard3.4.2. Raw (CR2): The purist's choice3.4.3. My take: Choose Fine or Raw
4.1. Disabling and Adjusting Instant Review4.2. Viewing Images in Playback Mode4.2.1. Jumping through images4.2.2. Viewing multiple images at a time4.2.3. Rotating vertical pictures4.2.4. Zooming in for a closer view4.3. Viewing Picture Data4.3.1. Basic information modes4.3.2. Shooting Information display4.3.3. Understanding Histogram display mode4.3.3.1. Interpreting a brightness histogram4.3.3.2. Reading an RGB histogram4.4. Deleting Photos4.4.1. Erasing single images4.4.2. Erasing all images on your memory card4.4.3. Erasing selected images4.5. Protecting Photos4.6. Using Your Monitor as a Viewfinder4.6.1. Enabling Live View4.6.2. Taking a shot in Live View mode4.6.3. Customizing the Live View display

5.1. Kicking Your Camera into Advanced Gear5.2. Introducing the Exposure Trio: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO5.2.1. Understanding exposure-setting side effects5.2.2. Doing the exposure balancing act5.3. Monitoring Exposure Settings5.4. Choosing an Exposure Metering Mode5.5. Setting ISO, f-stop, and Shutter Speed5.5.1. Controlling ISO5.5.2. Adjusting aperture and shutter speed5.6. Overriding Autoexposure Results with Exposure Compensation5.7. Holding on to Highlights5.8. Disabling Auto Lighting Optimization5.9. Locking Autoexposure Settings5.10. Bracketing Exposures Automatically5.11. Using Flash in Advanced Exposure Modes5.11.1. Understanding your camera's approach to flash5.11.2. Adjusting flash power with flash exposure compensation5.11.3. Locking the flash exposure5.11.4. Exploring more flash options5.11.5. Using an external flash unit
6.1. Reviewing Focus Basics6.2. Adjusting Autofocus Performance6.2.1. Selecting an autofocus point6.2.2. Changing the AF (autofocus) mode6.3. Autofocusing in Live View Mode6.3.1. Enabling Live View autofocusing6.3.2. Live View autofocus option 1: Quick mode6.3.3. Live View autofocus option 2: Live mode6.4. Manipulating Depth of Field6.4.1. Using A-DEP mode6.4.2. Checking depth of field6.5. Controlling Color6.5.1. Correcting colors with white balance6.5.2. Changing the white balance setting6.5.3. Creating a custom white balance setting6.5.4. Fine-tuning white balance settings6.5.5. Bracketing shots with white balance6.6. Choosing a Color Space: sRGB vs. Adobe RGB6.7. Exploring Picture Styles6.7.1. Assessing the Picture Styles6.7.2. Setting the Picture Style6.7.3. Customizing Picture Styles6.7.4. Creating your own Picture Style
7.1. Recapping Basic Picture Settings7.2. Setting Up for Specific Scenes7.2.1. Shooting still portraits7.2.2. Capturing action7.2.3. Capturing scenic vistas7.2.4. Capturing dynamic close-ups7.3. Coping with Special Situations
8.1. Sending Pictures to the Computer8.1.1. Connecting camera and computer8.1.2. Starting the transfer process8.1.3. Downloading images with Canon tools8.1.3.1. Using EOS Utility to transfer images from your camera8.1.4. Using MemoryCard Utility for card-to-computer transfers8.2. Using ZoomBrowser EX/ImageBrowser8.2.1. Getting acquainted with the program8.2.2. Viewing photos in full-screen mode8.2.3. Organizing your photos8.2.3.1. Creating custom folders8.2.3.2. Managing your image collection8.3. Exploring Other Software Options8.4. Processing Raw (CR2) Files
9.1. Avoiding Printing Problems9.1.1. Check the pixel count before you print9.1.2. Allow for different print proportions9.1.3. Get print and monitor colors in sync9.2. Printing Online or In-Store9.3. Printing from ZoomBrowser EX/ImageBrowser9.4. Preparing Pictures for E-Mail9.4.1. Creating Web-friendly copies of Raw and TIFF photos9.4.2. E-mailing photos from the browser9.5. Creating an In-Camera Slide Show9.5.1. Viewing Your Photos on a Television
10.1. Removing Red-Eye10.2. Cropping Your Photo10.3. Adjusting Color Saturation10.4. Tweaking Color Balance10.5. Adjusting Exposure10.5.1. Three-point exposure control with the Level Adjustment filter10.5.2. Gaining more control with the Tone Curve Adjustment filter10.6. Sharpening Focus (Sort Of)10.7. Shifting to AutoPilot10.8. Adding Text10.9. Saving Your Edited Files
11.1. Changing the Function of the Set Button11.2. Customizing Exposure and Focus Lock Options11.3. Disabling the AF-Assist Beam11.4. Enabling Mirror Lockup11.5. Adding Cleaning Instructions to Images11.6. Turning Off the Camera Settings Screen11.7. Creating Desktop Wallpaper11.8. Adding Original Decision Data11.9. Creating Your Very Own Camera Menu11.10. Getting Free Help and Creative Ideas

Overview

If you’re as excited as we are about the Rebel XSi/450D, you probably can’t wait to start shooting. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D For Dummies will show you how to make every shot count! Even if you’re new to digital SLR cameras or are unfamiliar with general photography terms and techniques, this handy guide will show you how to feel comfortable with the controls and start taking beautiful photographs.

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard the words aperture, white balance, or ISO. You’ll soon be switching easily between automatic and manual modes, managing exposure, and using the all-important Quality setting! You’ll learn everything about the lenses, from how to choose the ones you need to how to handle them. You’ll finally know how to push just the right buttons to achieve the results that you desire. In a snap, you will find out how to unleash your creativity by manipulating exposure and lighting. You will find out how to:

Control picture quality
Adjust resolution for image quality and size
Shoot in automatic and manual modes
Review photos using Playback Mode and the histogram, delete unwanted photos, and protect valuable photos from accidental deletion
Manipulate exposure, color, focus, and lighting
Download, organize, archive, print, and share photos with family and friends

Complete with lists of ten fast photo-editing tricks and ten special-purpose features to explore on a rainy day, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D For Dummies is your one-stop guide to setting up, working with, and making the most of your new Canon digital SLR camera.