Shortcourses-Canon EOS Digital Rebel/EOS 300D Photography

A ShortCourse Book
Canon EOS Digital Rebel/EOS 300D Photography

Canon EOS Digital Rebel/EOS 300D Photography

This clearly written and easy-to understand short course on your Canon Digital Rebel, called the 300D in some countries, explains step-by-step how, why and when you use your camera's controls for better pictures. This guide is available as a traditional 120 page large-format (8.5 by 11) spiral bound book printed in black and white, and as a full-color, fully searchable PDF eBook you can order on a CD or download instantly.

If you have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel, it came with a free copy of Photoshop Elements 2.0-Wouldn't it be nice if you knew how to use it?

Click here to learn more about our new guide.

Introduction

New, a Short Courses digital photography book for people who own the Canon EOS Digital Rebel digital camera and want to get better pictures. This beautifully written and illustrated guide, drawing on the much more comprehensive information on the ShortCourses Web site, pulls together answers to the questions you might have about using the Digital Rebel, including the following:

Taking a Picture in Full Auto Mode
Using Menus
Reviewing Images
Managing Your Images
Giving a Slide Show on TV
Selecting Image Quality
Changing Exposure Modes
Using Image Zone Modes
Using Program AE (P) Mode
Using Program Shift
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode
Using Manual (M) Mode
Using Exposure Compensation
Using Autoexposure (AE) Lock
Using Autoexposure Bracketing (AEB)
Displaying Histograms
Using Histograms
Using the Self-timer/Remote Control
Changing the ISO
Increasing the Sharpness of Moving Objects
Selecting a Focus Point
Using Focus Lock
Using Manual Focus
Increasing Depth of Field

Using Auto Depth-of-Field AE (A-DEP)
Setting Your Lens to the Hyperfocal Distance
Zone Focusing
Decreasing Depth of Field
Capturing Creative Blur
Selecting a White Balance Mode
Setting a Custom White Balance
Using White Balance Bracketing
Using Bulb Exposures
Mounting and Unmounting a Lens
Zooming a Lens
Using Autoflash
Turning Red-eye Mode On and Off
Using Fill Flash
Using Slow Sync Flash
Preventing the Flash from Firing
Using Flash Exposure Lock
Increasing Depth of Field in Close-ups
Turning Continuous Mode On and Off
Using the Set-up Menu
Entering a Print Order
Selecting Parameters
Creating Parameters

The book is designed to work with the on-line books on the www.shortcourses.com site. The book explains how to get better pictures but you'll find more on that subject on the site. In addition, there is lots of information on the site about what you can do with your pictures after you've taken them.

Contents

Chapter 1
Camera Controls and Creativity ...6

The Digital Rebel Camera ...7
Jump Start: Using Full Auto Mode ...8
Good Things to Know ...9
Operating the Camera ...10
Using Menus to Change Settings ...12
Managing Your Images ...13
Selecting Image Quality and Size ...15

Chapter 2
Controlling Exposure ...21

Understanding Exposure ...22
Choosing Exposure Modes ...23
Using Image Zone Modes ...24
Using Program AE and Program Shift ...25
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode ...26
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode ...28
Using Manual Mode ...30
How Your Exposure System Works ...31
How Exposure Affects Your Images ...34
When Automatic Exposure Works Well ...35
When to Override Automatic Exposure ...36
How to Override Automatic Exposure ...40
Using Histograms ...43

Chapter 3
Controlling Sharpness ...46

Getting Sharper Pictures ...47
Sharpness Isn’t Everything ...49
How to Photograph Motion Sharply ...50
Focus and Depth of Field ...52
Controlling Depth of Field ...57
Capturing Maximum Depth of Field ...58
Using Selective Focus ...60
Conveying the Feeling of Motion ...61

Chapter 4
Capturing Light & Color ...62

Where Does Color Come From? ...63
White Balance and Color Temperature ...64
Color Balance and Time of Day ...67
Sunsets and Sunrises ...68
Weather ...70
Photographing at Night ...72
The Direction of Light ...74
The Quality of Light ...76

Chapter 5
Understanding Lenses ...77

Canon Lenses ...78
Zoom Lenses ...82
Normal Lenses ...83
Wide-Angle Lenses ...84
Telephoto Lenses ...86
Portraits with a Telephoto Lens ...87
Tilt-Shift Lenses ...88
Lens Accessories ...89
How a Photograph Shows Depth ...90

Chapter 6
Using Automatic Flash ...91

How Flash Works ...92
Using Autoflash ...93
Portraits with Flash ...95
Using Fill Flash ...97
Using Slow Sync Flash ...98
Using Available Light ...99
Controlling Flash Exposures ...100
Using an External Flash ...102

Chapter 7
Exploring Close-up Photography ...104

Macro Lenses and Accessories ...105
Focusing and Depth of Field ...107
Exposures and Backgrounds ...108
Arranging Lighting ...109
Using Flash in Close-ups ...110

Chapter 8
Other Features and Commands ...111

Continuous Photography ...112
Using the Set-up Menus ...113
Entering a Print Order ...116
Selecting and Creating Parameters ...117
Caring for Your Camera ...119

Preface

A great photograph begins when you recognize a great scene or subject. But recognizing a great opportunity isn't enough to capture it; you also have to be prepared. A large part of being prepared involves understanding your camera well enough to capture what you see. Getting you prepared to see and capture great photographs is what this book is all about. It doesn't matter if you are taking pictures for real-estate ads or self-expression, there's a lot here to help you get better results and more satisfaction from your photography.

To get better, and possibly even great photographs, you need to understand both concepts and procedures; the "whys" and "hows" of photography.

Concepts of photography are the underlying principles that apply regardless of the camera you are using. They include such things as how sharpness and exposure affect your images and the way they are perceived by viewers. Understanding concepts answers the "why" kinds of questions you might have about photography.
Procedures are those things specific to one kind of camera, and explain step-by-step how you set your camera's controls to capture an image just the way you want to. Understanding procedures gives you the answers to the "how" kinds of questions you might have.

This book is organized around the concepts of digital photography because that's how photographers think. You think about scenes and subjects, highlights and shadows, softness and sharpness, color and tone. The procedures you use with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach let's you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the Digital Rebel in all kinds of photographic situations.

To get more effective, interesting, and creative photographs, you only need to understand how and when to use a few simple features on your camera such as focus, exposure controls, and flash. If you've previously avoided understanding these features and the profound impact they can have on your images, you'll be pleased to know that you can learn them on a weekend afternoon. You can then spend the rest of your life marveling at how their infinite variety of combinations makes it possible to convey your own personal view of the world. You'll be ready to keep everything in a scene sharp for maximum detail or to blur it all for an impressionistic portrayal. You'll be able to get dramatic close-ups, freeze fast action, create wonderful panoramas, and capture the beauty and wonder of rainbows, sunsets, fireworks, and nighttime scenes.

As you explore your camera, be sure to have fun. There are no "rules" or "best" way to make a picture. Great photographs come from using what you know to experiment and try new approaches. Digital cameras make this especially easy because there are no film costs or delays. Every experiment is free and you see the results immediately so you can experiment step by step.

This book assumes you've mastered the mechanics of your camera. It's about getting great pictures, not about installing batteries and connecting your camera to your computer. That information is well presented in the user guides that came with your camera, however it is summarized in the Appendix of this book.

Click to order a PDF download of this book for $24.95US. After completing the checkout process, a download link is given on the thank you page and on your e-mail receipt.

Click to order a copy of the printed book for $24.95US.

Click to order a printed copy of the book and a PDF copy on a CD at a special package price of $36.95US.

Click to order a PDF copy of the book on a CD for $19.95US.

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