how do i take a timed exposure on a canon eso reble x?

Apart from having a 10 second delay self-timer, there is no mention of
timed exposures in the manual, so presumably it is unable to it.

EOS Rebel Manual (PDF file)
http://www.canoneos.com/digitalrebel/download/manual.pdf

Sorry, robertskelton, but if kamuigirl is correct that her camera is a
Canon EOS Rebel X, you're thinking of the wrong Canon Rebel model. The
Rebel X and the similar XS are older cameras in the Rebel line. If you
go to CanonUSA's EOS web site (http://www.canoneos.com/), you'll see
that that they have pages for Rebels back to the G model (look at the
bottom right part of the page). The Rebel X predates the Rebel G. The
Rebel X is not a digital camera; it uses 35mm film. The Rebel X won't
connect to a computer.

Kamuigirl, if you've lost you Rebel X's manual, you can buy a new one
here for $10.99 (I am not affiliated with this site, and you can
easily find similar sites on the web if you don't like this one):
http://www.manualsrus.com/CScripts/prodList.asp?idcategory=61&curPage=3&sortField=description
You can see a photograph of the manual's front cover:
http://www.manualsrus.com/CScripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=56

One thing about your question is unclear, kamuigirl: Do you want to
make what most people call "time exposures" (exposures with
untypically long shutter speeds) or do you want to use the camera's
self-timer feature to allow your camera to take a photo X-number of
seconds after you trip the shutter? The self-timer makes it possible
for you to take a photo with yourself in the scene. I'll cover both of
these possibilities.

I'm a photographer who uses a Canon Rebel 2000 for my snapshots--those
occasions when I don't want to lug one of my heavy, professional
cameras around (parties and vacations, for example). But my Rebel
2000's array of controls might not be the same as your Rebel X's. I'll
tell you what I do with my Rebel 2000, but yours might be different,
so take that into account. I should be able to get you in the
ballpark, at least.

If you want to take pics with a long shutter speed, set you camera to
one of two modes: shutter-priority mode or manual mode. Here's how to
do that:

1. Using shutter-priority mode: Set the command dial (top, far left on
my camera) to Tv. Then use the main dial (just behind the shutter
button on mine) to choose your desired shutter speed. The camera will
choose an f/stop that'll give you a good exposure.

2. Using manual mode: Set the command dial to M. Use the main dial to
choose your shutter speed. Then hold down the Av button (on the back
of the camera at the top right) and again use the main dial. This time
the main dial will adjust the f/stop. In this mode, the camera will
choose neither the shutter speed nor the f/stop automatically; you
have to do both. The viewfinder's meter will tell you what combo of
shutter speeds and f/stops will be good, and you can use that
information to guide your shutter speed and f/stop selections.

Note: Be sure to use extra support for your camera--a tripod, a
monopod, a table, etc.--if your shutter speed goes slower than about
1/30th of a second. If you don't, you'll have blurry photos.


If you want to use the camera's self-timer (assuming the Rebel X has
one, which I would guess it does), there's a separate self-timer
button on the top right of the camera, to the right of the pentaprism
(the top-most part of the camera, which is the part that the flash
pops out of) and to the left of the LCD panel. My self-timer button is
the rear-most of three buttons that are in a row to the LCD's left. To
use the self-timer, follow these steps:

1. Push the self-timer button. (Having your camera set to one of the
two automatic-everything modes--green square and P on the command
dial--will simplify things. If you plan to move away from the camera
to get into the photo, make sure the camera is set on something safe
and solid.)

2. Look through the viewfinder to make sure the photo is framed properly.

3. Push the shutter button.

4. A beep will sound and the shutter will be released 10 seconds
later. You can move away from the camera now, if you wish.

5. During the first 8 seconds of the self-timer cycle, the beeper
beeps slowly and the red-eye reduction light flashes.

6. During the last 2 seconds before exposure the beeps come faster and
the red-eye light stays lit, warning you that the camera is about to
take the photo.

7. While all this is going on, the digital timer on the LCD panel
counts down the seconds.

Note: If you want to cancel the self-timer function after you've
pressed the shutter button, just press the self-timer button again
before the camera takes the photo. And don't stand in front of the
lens when you set the self-timer and press the shutter button. Let the
lens see whatever it is you'll be taking a photo of, so it can set the
focus and exposure properly.

Kamuigirl, I'll check back in the next day or so to see if I've helped
you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Good luck,
dtc

i am sorry for not making the question clear. i wish to make the
shutter to stay open for certain amounts of time like 1 minute to 15
mins or even an hour. i am trying to do a project for one of my
classes and my sis lost the booklet. the project to to capture star
trails, which i need the cameras shutter to stay open for a certain
amount of time. i hope this helps clarify it.

Hi again, kamuigirl,

Star trails are fun! I can tell you how to do a long exposure like
that. But unfortunately, I don't have time right now; I have to leave
the house soon. I'll answer your question early this evening (eastern
time, USA), OK? Sorry!

dtc

Dear robertskelton,

After reading your comment and deleted answer, I was interested in
learning more about the Canon Digital Rebel. I knew that some digital
cameras don't allow extremely long exposures--the bulb type of
exposure I explained to kamuigirl. In your deleted answer and in your
comment you said that as far as you knew, the digital Canon Rebel was
incapable of making shots like this without being connected to a
computer. According to Canon's EOS Digital web site, it is capable of
these bulb/time exposures on its own.

Go to http://canoneos.com/digitalrebel/specs/index.html#shutter
and read the line about shutter speed. It mentions a shutter speed
range of 1/4000 to 30 seconds, plus a bulb setting. It's the bulb
setting that gives the extremely long shutter speeds--what many people
somewhat erroneously call "time exposures."

In my Rebel 2000's instruction manual there's no mention of "time
exposure" or "timed exposure" in the index. But there is an index
listing for "bulb."

Please don't think I'm trying to pick on you here! You said you have
one of the digital Canon Rebels, and I just want you to be aware of a
feature you've overlooked.

Good luck with your photography,
dtc  :-))

The repost of my lengthy comment:

Hi again,

My Rebel 2000 doesn't make taking extremely long exposures easy. So
before I explain how I'd do your star trail photography with my
camera, I'll have you do an experiment with yours.

Some cameras that rely on batteries for all functions will let you
open the shutter, remove the batteries, and keep the shutter open. I
tried this trick with mine today. I started a long exposure and
removed the batteries while the shutter was open. The shutter
immediately closed. Here's your experiment:

1. Remove any film from the camera.

2. Turn the camera on by choosing M on the command dial.

3. Turn the main dial (the one behind the shutter button) until you
find the "bulb" setting. It'll be past the slowest shutter speeds.

4. Open the back of the camera so you can see the shutter. Be careful
not to touch it; it's fragile.

5. Press the shutter button and watch the shutter blades. You'll
probably have to keep the shutter button held down or the shutter will
close.

6. Reach below the camera and open the battery compartment's door. The
batteries should drop out.

7. Does the shutter stay open with the batteries out, or does it close?

I'm going to assume it's like mine, and that the shutter closes.
That's too bad, because if it stayed open, it'd make star trail shots
easier with this camera. (If your shutter stays open when the
batteries drop out, let me know, and I'll give you an easier set of
steps.)

The problem is that the Rebel has no place to attach a shutter release
cable, a tool that makes very long exposures--bulb exposures--a piece
of cake. And obviously you can't stand there for hour after hour
holding the shutter button down. (And even if you could, the
vibrations from your finger would make a blurry photo.) So we have to
get a way to keep the shutter open for hours.

Here's what I would do if I wanted to take a star trail photo with my
Rebel 2000. I'd have to rig a device to keep the shutter button
depressed. I tried that this evening. It's not elegant, but it works:
Find a thick rubber band and wrap it around the part of the camera
that sticks out on the right side. This is the part that contains the
shutter button, the hand grip, and the battery compartment. I used a
#64 rubber band that's 3 1/2" x 1/4", and I wrapped it around the
grip/shutter button/battery compartment twice to make it good and
snug. By itself the rubber band didn't depress the shutter button or
hold it down after I pushed it with my finger. You'll need to find
something that's shutter-button sized to slide beneath the rubber band
to hold the shutter button down. Almost anything that size will do, as
long as it's thick enough to hold down the button securely. Experiment
a little bit so that you can apply this gizmo easily and securely.

Here are the steps:

1. Put your camera on a stable support. A tripod would be ideal, but
you could lay it on its back on a small table or a ladder. Point your
camera to the part of the sky you want to photograph.

2. Turn your camera on, using the command dial at its M setting.

3. Turn the main dial to the bulb setting. You'll find "bulb" below
your slowest numerical shutter speed.

4. Set the aperture to either f/5.6 or f/8. (See my above comment for
how to manually set the aperture in manual mode.)

5. Make sure the lens cover is on the lens. (This is important, since
it'll be acting as your real shutter. I'll explain below.)

6. Manually focus the lens to infinity. Your lens has to be in its MF
mode. If you don't manually focus the lens and have the lens set to
MF, the camera won't let you start taking the photo with the lens
cover on, because it won't be able to focus on anything.

7. Wrap the thick rubber band around the grip of the camera. Have your
button-sized piece of whatever handy.

8. Press the shutter button. The shutter will open and stay open as
long as this button is held down.

9. While holding the button down with your finger, slide your shutter
button-sized piece of material below the rubber band. Once it's in
place, you can remove your finger. The shutter should stay open.

10. Remove the lens cap. This starts your photo.

11. Replace the lens cap when you're ready to finish the photo. This
could be 20 minutes or even hours later. There is a time limit,
though, that I'll mention below.

12. Now that the lens cap is back on the camera, you can remove the
rubber band and the device below it that's holding the shutter button
down. Or if you want to take another photo, keep the rubber band there
and repeat all the steps after removing the gizmo, which will let the
shutter close on shot #1 and let the camera wind the film.

Why make the exposure with the lens cap? Because you'd jiggle the
camera too much putting the device under the rubber band and removing
it. This way you can get all the jostling done before starting the
photo and after the photo is finished. By the way, back in the 1800s
when all photographs needed extra-long exposure times because of the
slow emulsions being used, most lenses didn't have shutters and the
photographers would use the lens cap and a pocket watch to time the
photos.

You mentioned that you might want to make hours-long exposures.
There's a problem with that. Your camera relies on its battery for all
operations. When the battery dies, you're out of luck. My Rebel 2000's
instruction manual says that with new batteries I can keep the shutter
open for a maximum of 4.5 hours, after which the batteries die. I did
a web search for your model, and one site says that the Rebel X can
get 6 hours in a bulb setting. So that would be your maximum exposure
length, assuming you start with fresh batteries.

But there's another variable to battery life: temperature. If you do
your outdoor photography in cool or cold weather, your camera's
batteries won't last their maximum. I can't tell you how much life is
lost in cold weather; it depends on how cold it is and how new your
batteries are. Some people strap small, chemical hand warmers to their
cameras to keep the batteries warm.

And here's another temperature consideration. If it's cool or cold
when you do your photography, condensation will form on your camera
when it gets to a warm environment like the inside of your house. To
avoid all the problems that can cause, seal your camera and lens
inside a plastic bag before you get inside. Then let the camera return
to room temperature inside the sealed bag before you remove it. I take
the plastic bag outside when I start my cold-weather photography, so
it's right there when I need it.

I have some web sites you can refer to for star trail photography tips:
http://www.apogeephoto.com/mag7-6/stars_moon.shtml
http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/I06/I0601/I0601.HTM
http://photographytips.com/page.cfm/5571

Good luck with the star trails, and feel free to ask more questions in
this comment section.

dtc

dancethecon-ga,

As part of my double-misunderstanding (silly me, I forgot that
non-digital cameras still existed) I figured that the questioner was
after a function where she could take time-delay shots, something that
I could not confirm amongst the labyrinth of information available
from Canon websites. I do wish that the big electronics companies
would just have one international site, with one set of info for each
model, and keep the historical info there....

It would be unusual for a quality camera to not offer long exposures,
as there are certain shots that require them, or are more fun with
them.

My camera is a PowerShot A40 - it is the software that I have that is
used for many (digital) cameras.

I wish I had saved your comment so I could repost it myself (as a
comment). It is great to get such detailed answers in the comment
section, from people with personal experience like yourself.  It helps
us bulld a tremendous body of knowledge.

robertskelton-ga

Hi, robertskelton,

So the little A40 shares software with the Canon Digital Rebel?
Interesting! I think one of my friends has an A40, but I can't play
with it, because he recently moved out of state.

Yes, film cameras still exist!  :-)  In fact, I don't even own a
digital cam, though I've used them enough to give tips to some of my
digicam-owning friends. If you've read some of my comments in other
threads, you know that although I've been a photographer for many
years, I changed my professional emphasis several years ago and now do
much more writing than photography. If I were to do full-time
photography again, I know I'd have to get a digital camera or two.
Though digicams aren't ready to replace film cams across the board,
they sure have their uses, both for amateurs and professionals.

I kept a copy on my long comment, so it was easy to edit it and repost
it. On top of that, GA sent me a copy of it so it wouldn't be lost.
Thanks for the compliment about my detailed comment. I'm happy to
help.

Best of luck to you,
dtc