I need help!

In about December of 07, I bought a Canon Rebel XT. Why? My friend had one, and I liked it a whole lot at the time. Besides, I didn't really know much about photography or cameras, and my previous camera had been a Nikon coolpix 2100 (haha). For a while, I really liked it. However, I've bumped into a lot of problems with it. Well, not a lot.. but significant.

1. I am a very shaky person. I try my hardest to be still while I take photos. However, it often doesn't work, and I end up taking 5 pictures just to get the one sharp one.

2. I have a lot of difficulty taking photos in low-light settings. This could just be something that I need to learn to get better at.. but I feel like the Rebel XT doesn't really do such a great job. I don't even mean extremely low-light settings. Just, when I'm in a building with only tungsten lights on.. the camera takes forever to take the photo, which ends up being extremely blurry. I've try upping the ISO, but that just..doesn't work.

3. Noise. It seems that if I shoot with any ISO higher than 400, there is a lot of noise in the photograph. This is a big problem for me because, well, I want my pictures to be pretty! Besides, why have and ISO option of 1600 if I can't even use it?

4. The autofocus is extremely slow and gets confused easily, it seems. I know it's lame that I have to use autofocus.. but when I try to focus with manual, it's always blurry. My vision is so bad that I can't tell when it's 100% in focus. I also probably need more AF points than just 7.

5. The flash broke. It won't pop up on its own.. it flashes Error 05. I can lift it manually.. but I feel like that is just damaging it in the long run.

6. Honestly, it is broken. There's something wrong with my camera in that most of the time now, if I try to take a photo, it will flash random numbers in the top screen and.. do nothing. Very rarely will it actually take a picture.

I have a 3 year warranty, so pretty soon I'll be taking it back to Best Buy to either exchange it for something, or try to get my money back so I can put it towards a better camera.

My big problem here is deciding which camera is right for me. I mainly take photos outside of nature and architecture, but the thing is.. I would take them inside if my camera worked well enough for it. (you can see the kind of pictures I take at http://greenfaerie13.deviantart.com) I could be doing something wrong.. but I'm not sure.

The main cameras I've been deciding between are the Rebel XSI and the Nikon D90. I'm concerned about buying another Canon Rebel, though, because of my experiences with my current camera. I mean, I've only had it for a year and it's already glitching. I am certain about a few things: I need some sort of image stabilizing feature, less noise, and a fairly good/fast autofocus.

Although I've been choosing between two, I'm open for any suggestions. I want a reliable camera that will last me a while. I already have a 58mm telephoto lens (70-300mm), but I can sell that if the camera I end up buying does not fit it. It would be nice if I could use it.. but not required.

Another thing: I want to be able to take more photos at concerts and shows.

Help?
If you need any more questions answered, just ask me. I tried to be as thorough as possible xD

Hello. First off welcome to the forum.
I'll address cameras in a minute. But I wanted to point out that with your constant shaking, it may be better to constantly use a tripod. Something good and sturdy. Also maybe a remote release to trip the shutter so that your images are not influenced by shake.
Second I'd like to point out that the Nikon D90 and the rebel XSI are not in the same class of camera.
The nikon D90 is by far a better equiped better built camera than the XSI. Now I am not saying to rush out and buy a nikon because the D90 has a lot of bells and whistles you may not need. A much cheaper D80 maybe the ticket. I'd do a lot of research and then decide

Well, the main problem with me and tripods is that I do a lot of photography in my city, and it's very difficult to set one upon a busy sidewalk. But when I'm at the river, I'll try using one. Thanks for the suggestion!

And yes... I know they're not the same class of camera, at all. What would be the Canon equivalent to the Nikon d90?
The thing I like most about the D90 vs the D80, is that it has the live view option, which is something that becomes very useful when you take a lot of pictures of bands and such.

Canon and Nikon have this thing going where they leapfrog the other with their equipment. There is rarely a direct competitor to specific models. When looking at the D90, I think that the Rebel XSi falls just under it, and the 40D is right above it...for a bit more cash, you can get the 50D which is getting close to the Nikon D300. You can see the marketing logic in this for not having direct competitors.

If a tripod id out of the question find a goof monopod... you many still have some movement but nothing like hand holding. Have you bought any lenses for your XT? If so I would stay with Canon to avoid having to buy lenses again. Another option is image stabilization lenses, they cost a little more but sounds like they may be what you need. I am a Canon shooter have been for years so as far as cameras go I'm going to recommend Canon The XSi is a super camera and it has many many upgrades over the XT, but if you wanted a significant upgrade I'd go with either the 40D or 50D. I shoot with a 5D and while there is noise at ISO 3200 it's not enough to ruin the image (imo) but the 5D is a bit more than the 40D or 50D, all though with the 5D MK II hitting the marker recently, you should be able to pick a good used 5D fairly cheap.

Well, the main problem with me and tripods is that I do a lot of photography in my city, and it's very difficult to set one upon a busy sidewalk. But when I'm at the river, I'll try using one. Thanks for the suggestion!

What Thomas said about monopods.

A good monopod will help you in either situation. A tripod is stable but obtrusive and immobile. In crowds they can be a hazard. A monopod is a happy medium... and in some situations and venues the only permissible mount you can use. I've shot at a variety of sporting events and indoor music performances. Tripods were almost always forbidden.

why have and ISO option of 1600 if I can't even use it?

You can use it. You just have to know how to deal with the resulting noise.

You can use a software utility such as NoiseNinja or NoiseWare for cleanup.

thank you for all of your help!
I have decided that I'm going to get a monopod no matter what xD

Anyways, after going to Ritz Camera today, they let me try out a Canon 50D and a Nikon D90. I have to say, I like the Nikon better >.> It just seems to operate a bit smoother, and after looking at some prints from both cameras, the picture is sharper.

About the noise software... does it actually work well?

About the noise software... does it actually work well?

NoiseWare PS plugin:


Other users here have NoiseNinja. It works just as well. You can (and should) try each product's test version. My choice came down not to quality of image cleanup but the features and look-and-feel of the interface.

I have decided that I'm going to get a monopod no matter what xD

You won't regret it.

Also consider getting a heavy-duty ball-head mount for the top of the monopod. It'll give you a lot of leeway in shooting above or below the horizon line.

I use a Giottos ballhead with a quick-release mount. Others here may recommend other brands, with good reason. I just learned very quickly that hard-mounting the camera onto the monopod was a huge inconvenience.

www.giottos.com/



The monopod I use is a Manfrotto. This is the model: www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/off/pid/ 2368?livid=107|117&idx=119



It's a very tough unit. (Handy tip for using ANY brand of monopod: Extend the stoutest section first. If you need it taller, extend the next-stoutest section. Extend the very end section -- the thinnest one -- only as a last resort.)

spiralxstatic27 wrote:

and after looking at some prints from both cameras, the picture is sharper.

Be careful about that observation...sharpness is a result of the lens, not so much the body. Also, make sure that there is no in-camera sharpness being added. This is a menu option in both cameras and might affect your unofficial test. Now, as far as operation goes, the Nikon probably is a bit better than the Canon...I have always said that Nikon has an edge on Canon when it comes to the bodies.

Thank you for all of the suggestions for a monopod!
I think the quick-release mount is a very good idea.

And why do you like Nikon bodies better?

spiralxstatic27 wrote:

And why do you like Nikon bodies better?

For me, I think that the ergonomics are better with the Nikon, and the controls feel more natural to my hands. If I were buying based on body alone, I would have gone with Nikon, no question. The swaying point is the lens choice, and for my purposes, Canon "L" wins out every time. I am happy that Canon is making better bodies now, and they are getting closer and closer to Nikon.

Well thank you for your input

From everything I have heard, I think I might go with the Nikon.