Canon XSi and time lapse

[saykimchi]

Apparently the EOS XSi cameras can do time lapse photography through a PC (Mac too?) and a USB cable ... according to the dpreview website. Does anyone know if this is possible? And if it is, how?

Thanks!

[LensBaby]

I have heard of people doing that with the Canon cameras that will let you do that and this is what most of the people are using. You can find much cheaper ones though on Ebay and other websites. You just have to look. It is a timer/remote. You take a photo every so many minutes/seconds etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-TC80N3-R.../dp/B00009XVA3

[cheekyone]

Yes, there is. Plug the camera into the computer as if you were downloading photos. When the EOS Utility opens, select the "Camera Settings/Remote Shooting" option. Unlike the Canon PowerShot that I have, there is no live feed screen, so you'll have to compose and focus your shot through the camera. Not the best set up, especially if you're working outside.

Personally, I'd rather use a remote, but I haven't looked into those yet.

[rasmussen4]

The cheapest route for this kind of thing is obviously going to be the "Remote Shooting" option with the packaged software that comes with the XSi. I've used it a little before, but never got into it cause I didn't do much with time-lapse photography. If you're wanting to do stuff outside, though, as the other people have mentioned the remote is the way to go. Unfortunately, the XSi isn't compatible with the fancy remote canon makes with a timer in it, you can only get the Canon RS-60E3 remote, which basically only lets you trip the shutter, or lock the shutter open in bulb mode. There are wireless options, and other after-market cable releases, but again, none of them have the timer feature in them. So your best time-lapse option will probably wind up being the software that is included with the camera.