Photography n00b help...

[jtusa]

Bought my first digicam. Canon A75, just a basic point and shoot. Being the noob I am, I just keep it on auto and press the button. However, I want to learn the finer points of how to use it and what all the different settings will do.

The biggest thing is trying to avoid the slight blur I get in pictures when I'm using the ambient light, not the flash, etc. I've googled it and there's only about 2 million pages to look through, and most of them just explain what everything is, not how to properly use it.

Hook a brother up yo!

 

[Anubis]

RTFM

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: Anubis
RTFM

OMGIDIDANDITSTILLDOESNTHELPSOSTFU

 

[Bootprint]

Tripod and maybe a remote release.

Also press gently on the shutter button, so you don't shake the camera.

 

[RaDragon]

I don't think it has anything to do with the camera setting, but with the user.

As suggested by Bootprint, try using a tripod in low-light situations and perhaps set it on timer so that your finger doesn't move the camera during the exposure.

I'd suggest you start by investing in this inexpensive but quite feature-loaded tripod.

Best of luck!

[ e d i t ]

grammar

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Most camera have a "brightness setting", turning it down lowers exposure time, so you can use that in brighter photos that are blurring.

In low-light, tripod.

Some cameras have a shutter remote so you dont have to touch (and therefore shake) the camera to press the shutter. Will also help with blurring.

 

[njmodi]

The problem is most likely that the camera is defaulting to a slow shutter speed due to low ambient light. Welcome to the world of low-end (read: consumer) optics and auto-mode. The only way to overcome that blurring is 1) use the flash, 2) switch to manual mode and set the shutter speed, f-stop yourself. You want a fast shutter speed... typically hand-holding at anything slower than 1/60 will show softness (if magnified enough)... I am assuming you aren't taking sports/moving object photography - so you should be able to do with shutter speeds of 1/60 or 1/100.... the trade off here will be that you need to set your lens aperture to its widest (smaller values = larger aperture), e.g. F2.8, F3.5. This will give you more control over the results - i.e. less blurring, but you might find the pictures to be too dark from underexposure...

 

[pyonir]

Higher ISO setting. You'll get a lot of grain though.

 

[iamtrout]

Tips:

Blur is from movement of the camera while the shutter is open. Correct this by
1. Switching to aperture priority (Av on your Canon) and make the F number as small as possible.
2. Your shutter speed will automatically be adjusted upwards to a faster speed in Aperture Priority.
3. Increase your ISO a little bit, perhaps to around 200.
4. I personally don't like upping my ISO, so I always stay at ISO50 and learn to physically steady myself.
5. Breathing technique: press the shutter button at the moment you've exhaled all your breath as this is your steadiest state. Snipers use this technique.
6. When pressing the shutter release, press, and keep the button pressed down until the shutter has gone through its full motion. Don't just tap the button.
7. Find somewhere to brace yourself and the camera. Lie prone if you have to. Use your knees to support your arms. Use a tripod. Use a tree.
8. Focus hard on being steady.

With some practice you should be able to get perfectly sharp shots up until 1/30sec handheld. Anything below that and I require a tripod or need to lay prone.