robert_g.2

<p>Everyone, THANKS for your input. Very good advice and suggestion. Yes, the crop I posted was at 100%. Pretty crappy huh?<br>

I will try this in the future:</p>

<ol>

<li>When using a tripod turn OFF IS for this lens</li>

<li>Turn up the f-stop a bit </li>

<li>NOT shoot in Auto (Av or Manual) </li>

<li>Turn off Auto focus </li>

<li>Shoot in JPEG for now</li>

</ol>

<p>Hopefully I'll get a shot I'm proud of in the future. Thanks for your suggestions thus far.</p>

<p>Then what was the problem? The shutter was fast, I used a flash, a tripod, a timer and reasonable ISO. What am I missing exactly? I need to figure it out.</p>

<p>Yes I set the timer then ran to be in the picture. I thought the same thing (about Auto not allowing RAW), but if I preview the picture on my Camera's LCD I clearly see the Green "Auto" Rectangle and RAW as the image type. I find that odd as well. It is definitely a CR2 file as well. (For the pictures that were taken in the other modes these appear correctly, such as P, Av, etc...)<br>

Is the concensus that it probably was the IS with the tripod?<br>

I read that some of the newer lenses will turn IS off automatically if it detects a tripod. Is this true of the 18-55mm or 55-250mm lenses? Any place online where I can find this out?<br>

Thanks!</p>

 

<p>YES, it was turned on. I wonder, could that be it?!</p>

<p>The AF was on and there were not many rows of people, plus I was shooting in full automatic mode in this case.</p>

<p>I was using AF and a few of the focus points lit up appropriately. The group was 3 rows and everyone is pretty much blurry.</p>

<p>Here's part of the picture at 100% zoom...</p><div></div>

<p>I had an interior group shot to take this evening of like 25 people, lined up against the wall. I setup my tripod (on timer) with my Canon T1i (18-55@21mm, Speedlite 430EX II flash) about 20 feet away and took the shot. It was very grainy and blurry.<br>

Here were my settings:<br /> Tripod, timer shot, f/4, 1/60, ISO 400, 18-55@21mm, RAW<br /> For this picture I shot it in the Automatic mode (green box on the dial). The ones shot in Aperture mode were just as lowsy.<br>

Any ideas why?<br /> I'll include one person in the group picture so you will see what I'm referring to.</p>

<p>Diana, Marcial, those are FANTASTIC shots! I can't believe how crisp and clear it is with using the 55-200/55-250 lens! That's really gotten me excited. How far were you from the subject? What camera do you have?</p>

<p>I guess I'll choose better optics over convenience for now. Thanks!</p>

<p>Also, what do you think about the cheaper alternative? http://cgi.ebay.com/58MM-MACRO-CLOSE-UP-LENS-for-Canon-350D-450D-500D-1000D_W0QQitemZ180444050851QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Filters?hash=item2a034db5a3<br>

Is this a case of "you get what you pay for" or can I go cheap?<br>

Thanks!</p>

<p>Is this the one you are referring to? http://www.amazon.com/Canon-500D-Close-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00009XVD3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260523893&sr=8-1<br>

Thanks for the advice. I have to do more research on this. Don't know much about macro accessories, tubes, etc... :)</p>

<p>Great. For now I will save my $ and keep these lenses and learn them inside and out. Then when I'm ready for a "L" glass I'll have even more of an appreciation! :) Thanks ya'll.</p>

<p>I decided to go with the Kata DR-467 after much consideration. Thanks ya'll!</p>

<p>Great advice! I appreciate it very much. :)</p>

<p>I just won my first award! The Bronze Award (International Aperture Awards 2009).<br>

<img src="http://www.internationalapertureawards.com/EntrantUploads/Cert/2009003092.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="445" /></p>

<p>For my Rebel T1i I currently have the...</p>

<ul>

<li> <strong>EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens</strong> and </li>

<li><strong>Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens</strong> .</li>

</ul>

<p>Question: If you were me, would you (1) keep them or (2) sell them both and get the <strong>Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens</strong> (or other)? What would you do and why? Pros/Cons?<br>

(I like the range without the switching of the lens. That's what appeals to me at first glance.)<br>

Also, do you think the pic quality would be better with the 18-200mm?<br>

I shoot all sorts of shots, from landscapes, to wildlife, to people, etc...<br>

THANKS for all of your opinions. It really matters to me. :)</p>

<p>Just came across this lens. So, it can attach to the end of my 55-250mm EF IS and do macros. Awesome. But what are your thoughts? Will the results be worth the investment for macro shots? How does a lens like this work, transforming a regular lens into a pretty good macro lens? Thanks. :)<br>

<br /> Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-250D-Close-up-A710IS-Cameras/dp/B000050M6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260505236&sr=8-1</p>

<p>Thanks. I think I will avoid 1.8 for the most part. I will review all your suggestions. Thanks!</p>

<p>So should I always leave it on to be safe? Or just in well lit outside shots?</p>

<p>According to their website (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=MultiMiscPageAct&key=EOS_Advantage_System&fcategoryid=139#b)</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Integral to the EOS System, Canon Speedlites are the ideal flash source for EOS SLR cameras. They are technologically advanced to provide<strong> perfect exposure and<a title="Search Twitter" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=ntegral%20to%20the%20EOS%20System%2C%20Canon%20Speedlites%20are%20the%20ideal%20flash%20source%20for%20EOS%20SLR%20cameras.%20They%20are%20technologically%20advanced%20to%20provide%20perfect%20exposure%20an" target="_blank" title="Search Twitter" > </a> <a title="Search Google" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=ntegral%20to%20the%20EOS%20System%2C%20Canon%20Speedlites%20are%20the%20ideal%20flash%20source%20for%20EOS%20SLR%20cameras.%20They%20are%20technologically%20advanced%20to%20provide%20perfect%20exposure%20an" target="_blank" title="Search Google" > </a> <a title="Search Wikipedia" href="http://smarterfox.com/wikisearch/search?q=ntegral%20to%20the%20EOS%20System%2C%20Canon%20Speedlites%20are%20the%20ideal%20flash%20source%20for%20EOS%20SLR%20cameras.%20They%20are%20technologically%20advanced%20to%20provide%20perfect%20exposure%20an&locale=en-US" target="_blank" title="Search Wikipedia" ></a> illumination with just about any subject</strong> , yet operation is remarkably simple. Whether you’re an amateur or an expert, Canon Speedlites make it easy to obtain professional results. </p>

</blockquote>

<p>Doesn't that imply that you just turn the flash on and it will do the rest? Am I hoping for too much?</p>

<p>But if I'm not mistaken that hard drive needs a computer attached in order to transfer files, correct?</p>

<p>Thanks! Great picture. I will keep it on Av mode. Do you have a speedlite? If so, what setting was it on for this? High speed sync or normal?</p>

<p>If I purchase a portable hard drive, let's say a passport, is it possible to hook up my Canon Rebel T1i to it and transfer photos even without a computer?</p>

<p>I found this Kata for almost the same price: http://www.amazon.com/Kata-KT-DR-467-BR-Digital-Rucksack/dp/B0019ZTVMS/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1WOULDXCY1E6C&colid=1MGPZV50WTU1N<br>

<br /> Anyone have any further feedback? Thanks.</p>