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

Chapter 2. Taking Great Pictures, Automatically

In This Chapter

• Shooting your first pictures

• Setting focus and exposure automatically

• Using flash in automatic exposure modes

• Getting better results by using the automatic scene modes

• Changing from single-frame to continuous shooting

• Switching the camera to self-timer or remote-control mode

Are you old enough to remember the Certs television commercials from the 1960s and '70s? "It's a candy mint!" declared one actor. "It's a breath mint!" argued another. Then a narrator declared the debate a tie and spoke the famous catchphrase: "It's two, two, two mints in one!"

Well, that's sort of how I see the Rebel XSi/450D. On one hand, it provides a full range of powerful controls, offering just about every feature a serious photographer could want. On the other, it also offers fully automated exposure modes that enable people with absolutely no experience to capture beautiful images. "It's a sophisticated photographic tool!" "It's as easy as 'point and shoot!'" "It's two, two, two cameras in one!"

Now, my guess is that you bought this book for help with your camera's advanced side, so that's what other chapters cover. This chapter, however, is devoted to your camera's simpler side. Even when you shoot in the fully automatic modes, following a few basic guidelines can help you get better results. For example, your camera offers a variety of fully automatic ...