Canon EOS 450D SLR Camera?

Hey guys i've had this camera for a while so if anyone has the same or a SLR camera could you give any advise on how to make the most of the camera and taking pictures then id appreciate the help and advice. Thank You :-)

I find that I get better results with the exposure compensation set to under-expose slightly, and choosing the best metering system for each shot makes a difference, also when using auto-focus take notice of which points are in focus, you may need to set the focus point manually, which is very easy, and especially useful when shooting close to the subject where depth of field may be quite shallow.

If you haven't tried shooting in RAW you should, it gives you much more control over the processing of the image into a jpeg, rather than letting the camera do the job quickly with predefined settings.
There are some drawbacks, like the fact that each image has to be processed before you can print it or post it on the web or whatever, so don't use it for snaps.

If you do use raw you should get a copy of the latest photoshop and download the camera raw plugin from the adobe website.

Raw really stands out when you use it to make HDR images, which is possible in the latest photoshop. I bracket my exposures by 2 stops either side ( although sometimes you may need more than 3 exposures to get a good HDR image ) , and when combined into HDR it is like having the original scene in your PC, add to that the new ability to use adjustment layers with layer masks on the 32bit HDR image and it's like a whole new world of control.
Processing images like this meens that all you really need to do while taking the picture is decide on composition and depth of field, you can decide on exposure later and in a situation where there is alot of contrast in a scene, you don't need to decide whether you want detail in the shadows or highlights, you can have both if you want.

I have to admit, I have the 400D ,one model down from the 450D, but they are almost the same except for a couple of million pixels and a better processor on the 450D, but here's an example of whats possible with the shooting in RAW and creating a HDR image mentioned above.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2767...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2195...

I also have the 450D. It's a very capable dSLR. Reading the manual is always a good thing to do, and having a decent lens is a must, so if you only have the kit lens then I would suggest getting a better lens sometime. You can't go wrong with a good prime lens (single focal length) or a better tele lens.

Other than that, just shoot as much as you can. Don't shoot in Auto. Shoot in the creative modes only...experiment with various apertures and shutter speeds, etc.

I have the EF85mm f/1.8 USM. It allows much better low light shooting than the kit lens and has excellent bokeh. A much cheaper prime, also with very good image quality, is the EF50mm f1/8. It's good for low light shooting, indoors, portraits etc.

the links below may be helpful...

Read your manual, try each of the features, experimenting until learn each feature. Get the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. This book will teach you what you need to know about aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how they relate to each. Practice practice practice.

Enjoy your camera.

My EOS 450D should be arriving today!!! (-: E-mail me through answers in a month (I have to learn how to use it first!) if you need any help re the camera or anytime for general photography stuff. Here's my Flickr add. http://www.flickr.com/photos/silver_snap...

Try experimenting with depth of field. I also like to make panoramas with stitching software. You need to use the manual setting for that though. also get an L series lens, the difference in quality is amazing.

Join http://www.redbubble.com/ where you will find lots of people who use that camera, and give you better advice than asking on here.

Its free, totally, and if you do join, message me, and I will send you a link to my profile.

you should buy some DVD tutorials for it and actually watch them