Need Help Setting Up My Canon EOS Rebel Xsi..

Here is a step by step I gave to another member for setting up the T2i. Should get you started. I don't own an XSi but I think it will be similar to T2i.

Do you have a stand or tripod to hold the camera steady? Very important! A small, inexpensive tripod will work.

- Install the EOS Utility software that came with the camera onto your PC
- Mount the camera to the stand or tripod
- Turn on Camera and set the following settings:
- Turn top knob to Av
- Press Menu button
- Tab over til you are on the 3rd setup menu (wrench with 3 dots)
- Tab down to Clear Settings and press Set, then Clear all Camera Settings and confirm
- Tab to the first camera settings menu (camera with 1 dot)
- Verify the Quality is set to RAW + high quality L (has a smooth quarter circle to the left of the L)
- Turn Image Review to Off
- Tab to second camera menu
- Set Metering Mode to Partial
- Tab to the first setup menu (wrench with 1 dot)
- Decide if you want auto power off. I have mine set for 15 min
- Turn Auto Rotate Off
- Tab to second setup menu
- Go to Live View settings menu
- Turn Grid Display to "tic tac toe" setting
- Turn Metering Timer to 30min
- Press Menu button twice to get out of all menus
- Press ISO button near the top knob and press the right tab key on back of camera to set ISO to 100
- Press the WB button (it's the tab up key)
- Set WB to Tungsten Light and then press the Set button (it won't change if you don't press set)
- Install the USB cable from your PC to the Camera. EOS utility should start automatically.
- Hit Live View Shoot in the EOS Utility to start Live View and view on the screen

Hope this helps...Ray

To add to Ray's words - I wouldn't change one of them - there are some compromises you will need to make with the lens you're using. I've used that exact lens with that exact camera on coins, and here's what I found:

It has a fairly large minimum focusing distance; at the long end (18mm), you need to be at least 10" from the coin to achieve focus. And keep in mind, is you use the zoom, you need to back further away from the coin as the zoom "fools" the sensor into believing it's closer than it is.

The compromise I liked best was to zoom in to 50-55mm, and set the camera 15-18" from the coin. It gave me more options for lighting, and the lens seemed more easily-focused than when closer and zoomed farther out. This is not a macro lens, and you cannot expect the quality of results to duplicate that of the members with dedicated macro lenses, but it will be an excellent chance to learn the mechanics of coin photography. It will provide acceptable results, and let you decide if additional investment for higher-quality optics is warranted.

Check out Ray's "el-cheapo lenses" thread for options for cheap lenses and bellows. Those are going to be your best bet for value, and are going to get you close to the best possible quality. You're probably looking at $20-40 for an enlarging/duplication lens, similar price for a bellows and $10-20 for the various adapters you need. You'll also need some sort of stable mount (like a tripod).

If you want a dedicated, EF-mount macro lens, you will probably have to pay more. Used lenses are a good option if you need to save money. But the advantage is that you don't need adapters, you can use all the automatic stuff on your camera, and they're good for general-purpose macro like bug chasing (or general photography, like portraits or whatever). All the 1:1 macro lenses available are excellent optically. I like the 100mm focal length for these. Here is a list of good ones:

Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro (Very popular lens, widely available used because of the L version)
Canon 100mm f/2.8L USM IS Macro (fancier, newer version of the above - rarely leaves my camera)
Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro (probably least expensive, really sharp with nice Bokeh)
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro (also very popular)

The Tokina and Tamron come with mounts for either Nikon or Canon and probably other brands, so make sure you get the Canon EF/EOS mount.

A cheap option might be using extension tubes with your existing lens. The Kenko extension tube set is popular. You could also get a "macro filter" which is basically like a magnifying glass for your lens. This is going to be lower quality than other options.