topic Re: First day questions...2 in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

First day questions...2

brian222 — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 17:26:53 GMT

Just getting back into cameras and got a very nice old Rebel XT with a 28-90 lens. I'll stick with that one until I learn more but at some point I'd like to get one more lens. Any suggestions? Mainly it will be outdoors..wildlife etc.

And I've heard about a card reader. Do I really need one?

Thanks.

Re: First day questions...2

RobertTheFat — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 17:39:24 GMT

1. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

2. Yes.

Re: First day questions...2

kvbarkley — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:30:34 GMT

Robert's suggestions are good, but you will be duplicating your focal length, albeit with a much better lens.

If you want to shoot wildlife far away, get the EF-S 55 - 250 STM zoom.

If you want wide angle "outdoor shots" get the EF-S 10-18 or the more expensive EF-S 10-22.

I have never had a need for an external card reader. My Macs have worked fine with a USB cable, and they have one built in if necessary - you might already have one.

Re: First day questions...2

RobertTheFat — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 20:31:27 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
...
I have never had a need for an external card reader. My Macs have worked fine with a USB cable, and they have one built in if necessary - you might already have one.

Brian's computer may well have a built-in card reader, but it will almost certainly read SD cards only, So whether it's useful or not will depend on which side of the Rebel line's CF-to-SD conversion the XT falls on. I don't know the answer off the top of my head, but I do know that the XTi took CF cards.

Re: First day questions...2

kvbarkley — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 20:37:49 GMT

Rats, I keep forgetting early Rebels used CF cards.

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:28:49 GMT

My card says Compact Flash. SanDisk Extreme 111 2.0gb.

Re: First day questions...2

RobertTheFat — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:53:20 GMT

@brian222 wrote:
My card says Compact Flash. SanDisk Extreme 111 2.0gb.

That's a CF card. You'll probably need a card reader other than the one that may be built into your Mac. But even good card readers aren't very expensive, and most of them will read any common variety of card.

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 00:19:45 GMT

thanks for that. BTW is 2gb enough or look for something bigger?

Re: First day questions...2

John_SD — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 00:32:40 GMT

First off, welcome to the forum. I'm also a beginner. I picked up a Rebel T6 kit about a month ago and am really enjoying it. There are quite a few knowledgable posters here and they seem willing and eager to help. I've learned a lot just from reading posts and asking a few questions.

While I can't advise you on lenses, I can tell you this: If you are just getting back into photography, download a PDF version of your camera manual and spend some time studying it -- the more the better. I still read mine nearly every day. There is a lot to learn about photography and so self-study is important, I believe. Also, I'm spending time reading "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Great stuff, and I'm learning about the "exposure triangle," which for me, right now, is where it's at. I try to apply what I've read by changing aperature and/or shutter speed and seeing what the result is. Anyway, good luck with whatever lens you might choose, and enjoy the hobby.

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 00:38:31 GMT

did the PDF...about 170 pages. Working on it.Thanks.

Re: First day questions...2

Waddizzle — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 06:27:43 GMT

@brian222 wrote:
thanks for that. BTW is 2gb enough or look for something bigger?

Yes, probably so. The problem moving forward is buying new cards with similar specifications. For longer shoots, you may need multiple cards to store all of your shots.

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 13:30:29 GMT

do you mean the CF card is out of date...hard to find?

Re: First day questions...2

RobertTheFat — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 14:09:39 GMT

@brian222 wrote:
do you mean the CF card is out of date...hard to find?

The problem, if any, is that cameras, particularly older cameras, are limited in how large a card they can accept. The technical details are beyond the scope of this discussion, but file formats change over time. Your challenge is to discover the card size and file format limitations of your camera and then find cards that conform. Check the user manual (Canon's Web site may have one if you don't), then search the camera stores and online vendors for card availability. You should be able to find what you need, but it may take some looking.

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 15:37:27 GMT

Thanks for taking the time. I read the manual and it says 2 gb or larger. Doesn't say how large. If I have to I'll just get another 2 gb.

Re: First day questions...2

Waddizzle — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 16:02:49 GMT

@brian222 wrote:
Thanks for taking the time. I read the manual and it says 2 gb or larger. Doesn't say how large. If I have to I'll just get another 2 gb.

Don't forget when that manual was written. As Robert has already noted, the specifications of CF cards may have evolved since the camera was releasted. Your camera may not know how to format a high capacity memory card.

Re: First day questions...2

RobertTheFat — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 16:05:19 GMT

@brian222 wrote:
Thanks for taking the time. I read the manual and it says 2 gb or larger. Doesn't say how large. If I have to I'll just get another 2 gb.

Are you sure? "2 GB or larger" doesn't make much sense. When that camera was new, 2 GB was a pretty large card. I think the card that came with my XTi was less than 100 MB. And many (all?) old Rebels had a maximum size limit. If the manual really does say that, I'd be inclined to call Canon Support for clarification.

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 16:26:32 GMT

Specs. p.162. That's what it says. I will contact Canon.

Re: First day questions...2

Stephen — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 16:56:27 GMT

Hey brian222!

Congratulations on your new purchase!

Keep in mind that this camera's been out for a little while, and the manual was written when the camera was first manufactured - back in 2005. A 2GB card was a big card back then!

One of the nicer things about using a CF card is that the technology has been relatively stable over the years, so if you can find a card that's on the smaller side (as in under 32GB), it should be fine in your Rebel XT. Bear in mind, the camera wasn't designed to use cards this big, so the top LCD will read a continuous 999 photos remaining (until you actually get to below 999 photos remaining).

We hope this helps, and if you have questions, let us know!

Re: First day questions...2

brian222 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 17:33:11 GMT

good to know. so a 16 gb should work? I notice that Sandisk has a Dual and an Extreme. Does it matter which I get?

Re: First day questions...2

Jenine — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 18:25:34 GMT

Hello Brian222!

The Rebel XT is compatible with a 16GB memory card. If the memory card is under 32GB it should work.

We hope this helps!