Manual Control Options
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel has a wealth of controls available for the user. The following functions: Manual focus, ISO, White Balance, Exposure, Metering, Shutter speed, and Aperture are accessed through external buttons or dials for easy adjusting during shooting.
Focus
Auto (7.5)
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel has a seven-point TTL (through the lens) automatic focus system with a the same CMOS sensor used in the Canon EOS 10D. The Canon Digital Rebel has three main automatic focusing options: One Shot AF, Al Servo AF, and Al Focus AF. One shot AF (available in Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Night Scene, and A-DEP modes) makes sure the image is in focus before it allows the shot to be taken, and locks the exposure setting determined by the camera. Al Servo AF (only usable in Sports Mode) tracks moving subjects and sets the exposure for the shot at the same time. Al Focus AF (available in Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and Flash Off Modes) is a clever little function that changes back and forth between the previous AF modes, depending on the subject.
Manual (8.0)
The kit lens on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel has a small tab that allows you to switch from Automatic to Manual focus. Once this is activated, you can focus by adjusting the dial on the very end of the lens. (Don’t try to focus manually while the camera is in Automatic Focusing mode. The lens is jerky and will only frustrate you!) I wish that this lens had a focusing ring to aid in manual focus; it is a bit awkward to adjust at the tip of the lens.
Metering (8.0)
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel has three Metering Modes: Evaluative, Partial, and Centerweighted Average metering. Although different cameras have their own versions, this is a pretty typical setup for a digital SLR. Evaluative Metering is the standard (automatically set for all modes except Manual) for the Digital Rebel and is applicable to most situations, including backlit subjects. The camera evaluates the composition based on the background, subject’s position, front and back lighting, and camera orientation, and proceeds to set the appropriate exposure. Partial Metering uses about 9% of the screen and is useful in extreme backlighting situations. This metering system is only available in the Creative Zone and can be set automatically when the camera is in AE lock. Centerweighted Average metering is only available in Manual mode and automatically weights metering at the center of the image and averages it for the whole image.
I was really surprised to learn that, aside from toggling back and forth between Evaluative and Partial metering in the Creative Zone, the Canon EOS Digital Rebel doesn’t allow you to choose your metering system. This is really limiting, especially for such a celebrated SLR digital camera. I have used many lower-end point-shoot-cameras that give you the option of choosing a metering mode. Most notably, the Manual mode, in which you should have the most control and flexibility, only gives you the option of Centerweighted Average metering. Although the Nikon D70 offers three similar metering modes, it gives you the option of choosing between them depending on your tastes and style, something that the Canon EOS Digital Rebel fails to do.
Exposure (8.5)
In situations where the metering on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel is inaccurate, you can adjust in 1/3 intervals from -2 to +2 by pressing the Exposure Compensation button and rotating the mode dial. The range is common for point-and-shoot cameras, but is pretty poor compared to the -5 to +5 range offered by the Nikon D70.
White Balance (8.0)
White Balance adjusts the digital camera’s settings to compensate for different lighting temperatures that give images unnatural color casts. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel’s white balance settings include Automatic, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy/Twilight/Sunset, Flash, White Fluorescent Light, Tungsten Bulb, and Custom. These are pretty standard settings for an SLR; the Nikon D70 offers very similar features in its white balance mode. In the Digital Rebel’s Basic Zone, Automatic White Balance is the only option available, but for most people this will do a sufficient job. Each digital camera has a different way of setting Custom (or Pre-set) White Balance, and some can be difficult and frustrating. I like the way Canon Digital Rebel handles this feature. Instead of having to hold a “true white” card in front of the lens while pressing multiple buttons, you can simply take an image of a white-balanced card, and the camera will take the reading off the image you chose. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel also has an Auto White Balance Bracketing function (accessible through the Menu), in which three different white-balanced images can be taken in one shot. Similar to exposure bracketing, this function allows you to choose the best image of the three.
ISO (8.5)
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel has 5 different ISO speeds, allowing you to choose among 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 in Manual Mode and 100-400 in Basic Automatic Mode. The ISO level is an indication of sensitivity to light. Higher ISO speeds suggest better sensitivity, useful for fast-moving subjects or low light situations. Compared to the low-end cameras, this is a good range to choose from, but the Canon Rebel’s arch-nemesis, the Nikon D70, offers twice as many ISO speeds to choose from. Keep in mind, however, that the lowest ISO offered by the Nikon D70 is 200, which is a real disadvantage.
Shutter Speed (8.5)
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel has an electronic focal plane shutter that ranges from 30 seconds to 1/4000 of a second, with a Bulb mode and remote control capabilities. This is a sufficient speed range for most individuals, although not as impressive as the Nikon D70, which reaches up to 1/8000 sec. It gives the Rebel the flexibility to shoot long exposures in low light as well as fast-moving subjects. The shutter speed values are displayed in the LCD panel on the back of the camera and are adjusted by rotating the mode dial. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel doesn’t come with a remote control, but it is compatible with Remote Switch RS-60E3 and Remote Controller RC-5/RC-1, available separately.
Aperture (7.5)
If you buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel Kit, you will receive an 18-55mm lf/3.5/5.6 EF-S lens. This indicates that, in a wide angle (18mm), the apertures ranges from f/3.5-f/22. Zoomed in (at 55mm), the aperture ranges from f/5.6-f/22. I would not suggest this lens if you think you will be shooting under many low light situations. F/3.5 doesn’t allow you to open up your aperture far enough to take quality shots with ambient light dim situations.
