So a few weeks ago I upgraded from a Rebel XSI to a 5DII, which is a lot of upgrading to do for a relative newbie and a slow learner, I know, but I really missed the wide angle view of my lenses from my film days, so I saved up for the full frame body. I haven't been able to use the new camera much yet (day job blues...), but I've had enough experience with it to know I'm doing something wrong--or at least that something of what I learned about exposure and composition with the Rebel doesn't quite translate to the 5DII. Can you help me?


1. I'm overexposing everything. Or something. The colors and contrast of the images I took with the Rebel seem deeper and more complex. It's as though the 5DII is more light sensitive. Or something. Why have I lost so much color saturation and contrast? Why are my blue skies no longer deep blue, but pale and light? ...I'm using the same lenses...


2. ALSO: post processing the RAW files from my Rebel seemed to make a dramatic difference for the better. Not so much with the 5DII. Most of the post-processing changes I make to the 5DII RAW files look overdone--even small revisions! I use DPP, not Photoshop, so my post-processing is pretty basic.


3. Can you recommend a website that might help me understand the nuances of exposure better? I understand the basics, can read the histogram, and I generally use aperture or full manual modes, etc. Ideally I'd like a site that shows me examples of properly/poorly exposed/processed images, so that I know what I'm looking for in my own images. (I found the recent CC on the "Orchid" post very very helpful--thank you!!)


4. What is the best way to resize the 5DII's large files when converting from RAW to JPEG so that I don't compromise image quality? I don't own Photoshop, so I'm relying on DPP.


5. I now have almost nothing in the telephoto range by way of lenses! I'm wondering if the 100mm f2.8 L macro might suffice as a telephoto as well as a macro? I know ya'll love the 70-200 lenses, and I'll probably go there eventually, but I want something lighter and not so conspicuously white for now.


No need to respond to all of these questions, of course. Thanks for any and all advice!! And I apologize for any dumb or repetitive questions--feel free to send me to other useful posts I may have missed in my search.


Gina


P.S. I'm most interested in the challenges of natural light photography, indoor and out, so if it helps your commentary, just know I'm not using flash at all.