Canon eos 400D ???

Question

Is the canon eos 400D a good camera? I have had one for 2 days and without a tripod its hard to get sharp photos as theres no anti shake system like on the sony alpha and also i am having problems getting the light just right on the photos it takes they always come out very dark using the macro lens.

Answer 1

As the others said, learn your camera... the IS is a crutch, a new invention... as for immediate relief... stick with brighter light, and open your aperture up to 3.5 or 4... use your flash for interior or lower light... Get the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, this will help you make the camera work for you.... As for Macro... it needs to be well lit to begin with to get all the detail, and with close focus, you want a tripod or the slightest movement will show.

Answer 2

Image stabilization has its limits.  You probably can't use it take a steady picture at 1/10 sec without a tripod, for example.  And it's true: until recently IS didn't even exist, so somehow people must have been taking steady pictures before. :)

The XTi should be a fine camera.  Unfortunately, a lot of what you're saying sounds like user error.  Bigger aperture or slower shutter speed can be used to allow more light.  Use the light meter.  And so on.

Answer 3

You really need to take a class in photography.  These issues have more to do with camera control, than anything else.

Canon makes one of the finest IS lens lines you can find (Nikon makes the other called VR).  Not all lenses need IS support, especially short lenses in bright sun.

Up until a few years ago, people have been taking photos, hand held with NO camera movement.  You just have to learn some simple techniques and taking a class will get you started.  A class will also teach you how to make proper exposures and how lighting effects everything.