Digital Camera taking blurry pictures

[plk21]

Ok, I've had my digicam for about 15 month now. Just took a vacation to Atlantic City and Washington, DC. about half of the pictures came out very blurry, like i was shaking the camera. I know almost nothing about photography, but I was thinking a monopod might help stabilize the camera? Most of the shots that were blurry were where I was taking pctures ata distance, or at night, or both. I took 9 or 10 pictures of the Washington Monument from the Lincoln Mem at dusk, and only 2 came out ok.

Confused,
PK

 

[Viper GTS]

You should have been using a tripod.

Viper GTS

 

[iamwiz82]

you need a tripod in low light times, such as dusk. It happens to the best of us.

 

[blackdogdeek]

when conditions aren't as well lit the shutter has to stay open longer, iirc. that means that any movement during the time the shutter is open will result in blur of the subject.

 

[conjur]

At dusk? What was your aperture setting (the f-stop)? Have you tried 'pushing' the exposure (some cameras have a little dial with +/- adjustments for overexposing or underexposing)?

Sounds like it's just going off at a slower shutter speed (longer than, say, 1/30) and since your arms aren't steady like a tripod you get blurry pictures.

 

[Doggiedog]

Using the zoom lens can also cause blurry pics especially if it is dark and your camera is set on auto.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
you need a tripod in low light times, such as dusk. It happens to the best of us.