Frustrated!!!!!

[tfuller317]

I have been having some trouble with getting an even remotely close decent photo of anything. For instance today I was taking a photo indoors in flourescent light using apeture priority and my shutter speed wouldn't get any higher than 1/8 of a sec, my fstop wouldn't go any lower than a 5.6 (lens is a kit lens of 3.5). The built in flash wouldn't kick in. I adjusted my ISO to 800 (was at 200) and it didn't increase my shutter speed or decrease my fstop so I went to 1600 and finally got at least an image that wasn't blurry. I even put it the setting on Program (by suggestion of a friend who says they have photography experience) and that didn't help. I even put on Auto. The flash kicked in but the image was still underexposed. I know I should have used an external flash but don't have one. I even tried exposure compensation to +2. Still not a good image. I had a fresh battery and was shooting in RAW. Until I can get enough extra cash to get an external flash or faster lens what can I do to adjust to indoor lighting. This has me really frustrated to the point where I want to just pack up my camera and put it in the closet. Not sure what I am doing wrong and why all of the sudden I can't even get a good photo. HELP! Please!

[pop]

What camera/equipment did you use?

[tfuller317]

Sorry I didn't include that in my original post...I used a Canon Rebel XTi

[nomorspam]

I'm not a canon shooter but I would guess that the pop up flash should always fire if you pop it up. and as long as there was at least a little light and the subject was within a reasonable distance you should get at very least a usable (read not horribly under exposed) photo.

That kinda leads me to believe that you may have a camera issue. That along with changing iso level not changing any other settings. You may want to have someone look at it.

Edit--Some canon shooters may have some settings you can look at but if all else fails (before have someone look at it) there must be a way to change the settings back to factory default.

[tfuller317]

What else can I test or try to tell if I truly need to take it to someone? Also, where would I take?

[nomorspam]

If you were at 1/8th second changing from iso200-->800 should take you to about 1/30th(ish) and to 1600 should get you to 1/60th(ish)

what shutter speeds where you getting?

[tfuller317]

To be honest I didn't think to look. I shut the camera off and put it back in the bag. I know that probably doesn't help with finding a solution..Sorry

[tfuller317]

looking back on my display i was getting 1/25 at 5.6

[nomorspam]

for ISO 800 that would be about right for 1/8th

The only other thing that I can think of that you may want to check is in your menu there may be an option for you flash setting I shoot with a Nikon D300 and I can set my built in flash to either TTL or Manual. If you have it on Manual it may be at a really low setting (1/64 or less??) That is one thing that could cause you to have issues with the flash not lighting your photo enough.

Good luck hopefully a canon shooter will come in here with some ideas. You could also try posting on the canon board.

[Rogue]

The kit lens is a 3.5-5.6 which means 3.5 at it's widest and 5.6 zoomed in all the way so I would guess you were zoomed all the way which is why you couldn't open it more than 5.6.
You may have disabled the flash (there is a button to disable/enable the flash but I'm not sure where it is on a Rebel).