Calling all Pro's(Advice Needed)

So, I've been using a Canon EOS Rebel XT for the last two and a half years and have gotten very comfortable with it. It has really suited me well. I take shots of the kids and some from the boat. It's only a hobby and it will stay a hobby.I'm by no means very familiar with ISO, Ap, settings. Over the past few months I have had the itch for a new toy. I considered the to 40D,50D and the 7D and ended up with the 7D. I chose it for a very simple reason and that's the video feature. Having the ability to take stills and video from the same piece of equipment was very appealing to me. Here's my problem... The camera is way advanced for me, I got really comfortable with my XT and expected the transition to be easy. What I'm looking for are pointers on how to set this thing up, it has three separate spots for custom settings (C1,C2 and C3) I thought setting one for daytime type shots one for indoor low light and one for a dawn/dusk would be nice. Please tell me if this is worth doing (and how to set it for each one ) Or just give me some opinions, I'm open for suggestions. I'm very excited about having this camera, but just want to make sure I get the most out of it.

Thanks in advance for your help. FYI.. I am using the 28-135 kit lens.

Nate, everything you need to know about the 7D.

FM 7D master thread, it's 168 pages long

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/809801

Nate, your custom settings should be more based on how you want the camera to be setup to your liking and the subject your shooting and not based on the lighting.

My suggestion is take a class! I took photography classes at a local community college and it helped a ton. Learn how aperture, ISO and shutter speed work together. If you really want to get the full potential out of your camera than learn how to shoot on manual and control the quality of your pictures.

Randy - Funny...I looked at that thread for a few days while my camera was shipping. Some very mixed reviews on the 7D. Because of my lack of real photography knowledge it ended up being overwhelming.

I think (wakechic82) probably has the best advice. I really need a crash course of how
everything works and a class may be the best answer. We'll see.

Soulrider - Another good point and another sign that I really need to get to a class.

Nate, trade you my uncomplicated T1i for your 7D! Nice camera, great choice. I'd say pick up "Digital SLR photography for Dummies". If you're not feeling like taking a class. Obviously the class is going to give you the most knowledge, but I was pretty surprised at how much I learned by reading that book. I already had a somewhat fair knowledge of how my camera works, but I definitely was a lot more comfortable shooting photos after reading it. It'd be nice if you don't have the time for a class, because you can just pick it up and read a few pages here and there when you have time, ya know? It'll teach you more than enough as far as using ISO, aperture/f-stop, shutter speed, and all that good stuff. Just another suggestion!

Nate,

Here's a article that will help get you started. http://www.wakeboarder.com/display.phtml?id=553

Learn how to set/use (Aperture,shutter speed, ISO and the light meter) it's all in your camera manual. There are lots of functions on your camera but IMHO these are the ones you want to learn first.

You might start by setting your camera on AV (Aperture priority) You decide the Aperture setting and the camera will automatically adjust the shutter speed. Take a photo of a static object at f/4 then start moving the aperture higher to say f/11. Take notice of how this changes the shot. (The depth of field will change.) This is one of the first things I think about before I take a shot because it determines the DOF and how the shot will look. When you get a good understanding of how the aperture effects a photo move on to TV (shutter priority) and learn how shutter speed will affect your shot. After that you should be ready to move on to full manual exposure.

While your learning these functions try to use the camera as much as possible. The camera functions will start to become second nature and you won't have to put much thought into taking a shot. Don't expect to learn a few things and set the camera down for a month and have it all come back to you.

Don't be intimidated by the new lingo or buttons. There's nothing there you can't learn if you put a little time in.

Good luck and have fun !

Nate. there is a book out there called "understanding exposure" by a guy named bryan peterson. its covers pretty much every basic function and why you use certain settings as a priority over other settings depending on how you want the shot to turn out. im assuming you left your rebel on "auto" or one of the other auto settings btu the problem is that you are leaving your mind out of the shot and allowing the camera to decide how the shot turns out. essentially all your good shots are "lucky"

anyway that book is great and will cover everything. its an easy read and has photos to demonstrate everything its talking about.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262570632&sr=8-1

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll definitely make a stop at B&N and pick up some reading material. I actually tried to avoid using auto on the XT and used some of the other setting and sometimes used manual. I just got lucky in those modes. The XT had minimal buttons and really wouldn't allow you to mess up too much. There's just more to the 7D and I need to get to know it and how to use it to its fullest potential.

I'll update you guys with some shots here and there and maybe get some of your thoughts and comments.

Thanks again!

You don't need to use the C modes on the dial if you don't want to and if you're not comfortable with the manual dial settings stick with the auto modes you're used to until you learn them.

Those auto modes work exactly the same as they do on the XT. What you will see however is the difference between 18 mp and 6mp (if memory serves). Lens quality and camera shake become factors you may not have had issues with before but overall given the superior autofocus, high ISO capability and way more accurate auto white balance of the 7D you should actually get better images right off the bat even if you don't change your current shooting style at all.

Follow all of the advice above (except for the thread on FM) and don't worry about figuring the 7D all out at once.

Walt touched on it a little bit, but one thing i think has been left out, probably because it can be assumed, is to just shoot like crazy with the camera. Just sitting on your deck, front step, living room, whatever, and just messing with settings and seeing what each one does, what the different outcomes are, helps a lot too. Obviously you have to learn the settings and what they mean, but it just helps get much more comfortable with the camera. lookin forward to seeing some of your shots!

Very good guys.... I've been going crazy with this thing and really think it's all just going to fall in to place. Thanks so much for the ideas. I'll post some shots soon and let you guys wear me out

Come summer time I'll have you dialed in on that 7D Nate!! We've got a few months to spend on working with it. I might just have to put me a cot over at the shop and stay a couple nights a week. Wouldn't hurt me any, I can eat MM very soon, so I'll be in there LOL

Nah bro, just take the advice of these guys. Some great photographers on here. Don't be afraid of it and just shoot like crazy. Remember I'm just a phone call away too. See ya Thursday bro.

For sure Brad. Thanks!

Ok guys, here you go. Just let me know your thoughts on what needs to be changed. Thanks again for all of the help.

Love the last one, great work!
Where did you pick it from?

Exposure wise it looks ok. It's more of a composition problem. You got the weeds blocking the kids and makes the picture look off. The last one is good... but obviously not a standard crop. Nothing wrong with that but ask yourself.... was there a way to make it work without turning it into a panorama?

I wrote a series of articles that some might find useful. Check them out and happy shooting!

Part 1:
http://www.alliancewake.com/wake/wake-photography-101-2/

Part 2:
http://www.alliancewake.com/wake/wake-photography-101-part-2-angles/

Part 3:
http://www.alliancewake.com/wake/wake-photography-101-part-3-get-creative/

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quote:

The last one is good... but obviously not a standard crop. Nothing wrong with that but ask yourself.... was there a way to make it work without turning it into a panorama?

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not a fan of "unnatural" crops either.

^^^^ agreed. I think the only thing that those "pan" crops work for are web banners, or things like that. Can't really do much else with them. But yeah, pretty much the only thing bad about the first two is the weeds blocking the kids. Take that weed-blocking part out, and the composition is really good. I like how you went really shallow on the DOF in the second shot.

Thanks guys. The weeds on the first shot I didn't think about and agree they need not be there. The weeds on the second shot I actually did on purpose. I thought it would give a hiding effect, but see how it's a distraction. Here's another of the barn.

Thanks Riley.

the barn shot is better already w/o the unnatural crop.

Is that first barn shot a stitch?

Nope, just a big crop.

I like the content, what's wrong with your original framing? Show us the original.

This is the original. I thought the amount of foreground was distracting.

I liked the panorama feel of the first crop but it needed some depth above the barn like you had in the second. So I guess I would vote for a crop somewhere in between the 2.