| The complexity of this camera made me hesitate | | | | So, yes, there is a lot of technology here, and |
| to take the plunge, but I'm glad I did! I received it | | | | learning it makes your photos better, but I get |
| the day before our family vacation in Disneyland. | | | | great photographs simply because this is a better |
| With three young children running all over the | | | | camera and it can take pictures that point and |
| place, it doesn't matter how trained you are, | | | | shoot cameras can't. A great book to guide you is |
| there isn't time to fiddle around with the controls. | | | | The Canon EOS Digital XSi Rebel/450D |
| With this camera, I took over a thousand pictures | | | | Companion. |
| in fully automatic mode, and got fantastic results. | | | | The best technique I've developed so far is to |
| Our vacation photos are far better than I could | | | | change the focus to use only the center point, |
| get with a point and shoot. | | | | and to use the star-shaped button to hold |
| Many of the photos I took were inside the rides, | | | | exposure. These techniques are great for |
| such as Matterhorn, Dumbo, and so forth. The | | | | photographing people, as you can focus on the |
| lighting and vibration is obviously a huge challenge, | | | | eyes, then set the exposure for the composition |
| but virtually all of my photos came out with | | | | you want -- in other words, it separates the |
| excellent sharpness and clarity. | | | | exposure and focus points. |
| I'm very excited about using this to get other | | | | Although I've owned many SLR's in the past, this |
| pictures I couldn't get before, like shots of my | | | | is my first digital SLR. With today's high capacity |
| kids playing baseball, school assemblies, school | | | | cards, the biggest difference is that you can |
| plays, and other activities that our older cameras | | | | shoot hundreds of pictures without changing (let |
| just couldn't work in. | | | | alone buying) film. Photography is much more |
| There are many reasons why the XSi Rebel | | | | enjoyable when you can just shoot to your |
| creates better pictures: It's 12.2 MP sensor has | | | | heart's content. |
| much better light sensitivity, so it can be used in | | | | I have a lot to learn with this camera, but I've |
| darker conditions than a "point and shoot" camera. | | | | found that doesn't get in the way of taking |
| In addition, you can use lenses which have many | | | | pictures. My pictures have been getting better and |
| times more light gathering capability. With these | | | | better, and I'm having a blast trying to improve |
| large aperture lenses, you can also throw the | | | | my technique. I ordered the Canon EF-S |
| background out of focus, for better portrait | | | | 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for |
| photography. The bundled IS (Image Stabilization) | | | | Canon Digital SLR Cameras from Amazon, and |
| lens is the reason why so many of the pictures I | | | | I'm looking forward to taking the kids to the zoo. |
| took from roller coasters came out sharp as a | | | | The image stabilization feature will be an even |
| tack. | | | | bigger help with that lens. |