The Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i/500D Companion

Chapter 1. Getting to Know the Rebel T1i

SHOOTING SNAPSHOTS USING AUTO MODES

If you’re new to the Rebel T1i, you’re probably much more interested in shooting than in reading a book. So, in this chapter I’m going to quickly get you up to speed on the camera’s automatic features so that you can get out the door right away and start using the camera. One of the great things about the T1i’s design is that you can start out using it just like a point-and-shoot camera and then activate more sophisticated controls as you need them. This first chapter explains the fundamental concepts of the camera and photographic technique that we’ll build on through the rest of the book.

THE SETUP: BEFORE YOU CAN SHOOT WITH THE REBEL T1i

If you haven’t yet set up your camera, you need to do a few things before you can shoot with it. Fortunately, the T1i’s manual is very good, and you can learn everything you need to know about setup by reading the following sections of the manual:

• The camera battery may have a little charge when you first unpack the camera, but t’s best to give it a good refueling before you head out to shoot. Read pages 24–26 of the Rebel T1i manual to learn about charging and installing the battery.

• You’ll need a Secure Digital (SD) memory card for your camera. The Rebel T1i does not ship with a card, so you’ll need to buy one. Any photography store or electronics store should carry them. ...