Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP |

12.2 Megapixel, 3.0" LCD, Silver. I’m thinking about getting one. will I be able to adjust the settings to blur backgrounds or will I need a different lens to do it? any info is great.

The 18-55 lens will do for background blurring. If you are getting silver, I might want to advise you on getting a black one, it looks better with lenses and I found it easier to sell a black SLR then to sell a silver one. The best lens for background blur is the 50mm f/1.2L. Good focal length, and also good aperture. The f/1.4 and f/1.8 will do too.

I bought a Canon Rebel XT off Craigslist and it came without a battery door (to my prior knowledge). When I charged the camera batteries and put them in the camera the next day, it wouldn’t turn on. Does the lack of a battery door affect the ability of the camera to turn on and off?

The door comes off actually when you connect the camera to the hand grip. So the seller misplaced the door (there is a place for it in the handgrip to "hide it") when you were sold the camera.

Canon can get you a few one for a few dollars. My niece went through the same thing and she was able to get it in about a week. Go to a local camera store that sells Canon cameras (a real camera store, not an electronic store) and they can order it for you.

It is spring loaded–you’d squeeze the little thingie and it pops back in place.

I want to know how to adjust my (dad’s) Canon Digital Rebel XT to a slower shutter speed.

I misplaced the manual and even if I had the manual, I would be to lazy to read it.

I appreciate your help!

In Tv (Shutter Priority) the main dial behind the shutter controls your shutter speed.

In Av (Aperture Priority) the camera calculates the shutter speed based on the user designated aperture. You have no control of the shutter speed while in Av.

In M (Manual) the main dial controls the shutter speed. Pressing and holding the Av button on the back of the camera in conjunction with turning the main dial controls the aperture.

In P (Program) and A-DEP (Auto Depth) the camera controls both shutter speed and aperture. Only the ISO can be set by the user.

All the other modes are "dumb" modes in that the camera controls all functions of the camera, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.

And if you had the manual, you should read it.

Since you said you don’t have it I shall provide you with the link to a copy of one.

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/pdf/EOSDRXT350DIM-EN.pdf

I just purchased an older Rebel XT and cannot upload the pictures using Vista. I have tried downloading the driver upgrade from the Canon website, but it still comes up with an error? Any ideas?

Sure you can … just open "My Computer" and look at the removable drive (which will be your camera) and then just copy the image files over to your computer.

EDIT … my Canon using friends tell me that you may have to buy a $10 card reader and just use it and keep your XT out of the loop.