An Unexpected Treat

[mrod]

So, the AWANA director at our church asked me to come take pictures last night (AWANA is a Bible club/Scripture memory program that runs the school year, usually once a week).

I charged up the trusty Canon S70 P&S, made sure the CF cards were clear, and headed off. When I got there, she asked if I'd like to use her daughter's camera (daughter is 17, and babysits for us from time to time). I started to say something like "thanks, but I'll use mine," figuring that daughter's camera is, at best, equal to mine (which I know and am comfortable with) and probably not as good.

Well, I was wrong. She reached into her bag and pulled out a Rebel Xti. I quickly nipped my "thanks but no thanks" before they escaped, and had blast firing away for the next hour-and-a-half.

In retrospect, that probably wasn't a good idea, if you know what I mean...:D

I think I still prefer the feel of a D80, though it would be nice to have an opportunity to test drive it, like I did the Rebel last night!

Anyway, thanks for listening. I knew some of you would understand. :D

Mike

[Diana]

I just got a Rebel XTi a few weeks ago and am still shooting on automatic but I love it. I intend to learn all the manual settings but it's going to be slow, it's mind-boggling to me.

Diana

[Chuck S.]

Diana, do it in baby steps. First step: switch from Auto to P. Up until a few months ago, I used P almost exclusively, only switching to Av occasionally, Tv very rarely, and M never. It's a lifelong learning experience....

:)

[CalamityJanet]

Diana, I've had the XTi since Oct, and I love it, too! The other day I was in Ritz Camera and on the counter they had a display of laminated, folding camera guides. They basically reduce the camera's manual down to a small, eight page guide of the different menus and settings that you're likely to want or need to access quickly while you're out shooting. When it's folded it fits nicely in a shirt or pants pocket and is much more user friendly than the manual. I thought it would be a big help in learning all those functions other than "auto".

[Chuck S.]

Janet, that sounds like a great little addition to the camera bag! Thanks for the tip!!

[Diana]

Thanks for the encouragement and tip!

Diana

[Chuck S.]

Here's a link:

Ritz Camera Blue Crane Guides (http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&keyword=blue+crane&x=23&y=18)

[Byron Gale]

Mike,

This is why auto dealers let you take cars out for a test drive...

BTW, I still like my D80. :twisted:

Byron

[jazzfisher]

Chuck--thanks for the link!---:twisted: No Pentax Guide!! I gues the people who use the Pentax DSLR are too smart to need a guide!!;)

[snidely]

Chuck--thanks for the link!---:twisted: No Pentax Guide!! I gues the people who use the Pentax DSLR are too smart to need a guide!!;)

:) Thanks for the laugh - from a life-long Pentax user ( Honeywell Pentax H1a, ME Super, *ist DS) I'd love to have a Pocket Guide to the *ist - the Owners Manual is a masterpiece of inconvenience:confused:

Steve

[jazzfisher]

Steve,
In Nov, I replaced my *stDS (which I loved) with the K10D! The *stDS was much easier to use (& lighter) but I'm getting the hang of it now

[JulieM]

Mike: That girl must make a lot of dough babysitting! :D :D :D Did you get a chance to download any of the photos you took? I get so excited when I see the images from my new XTi on the computer screen. Love the camera...

[NMarti]

Mike
Fun wasn't it? I really like my XT and someday hope to upgrade to one of the big guys. Guess I have to write a LOT more tuts for that to happen!:D