Problems taking pictures in low light + somewhat far away

[gopunk]

so i noticed that my minolta f100 has trouble taking pictures in low light of things far away (like on a stage). it uses flash but the range of the flash is not large enough so the pictures come out really dark. if i turn off the flash, the shutter is opened longer and the image is blurry because i can't stabilize the camera. my question is... is this normal for an ultracompact camera? or did minolta just not do a good job here...

thanks!

 

[isekii]

Use higher ISO settings I think
that should take care of the low light problem.

Maybe get an aftermarket flash

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: isekii
Use higher ISO settings I think
that should take care of the low light problem.

Maybe get an aftermarket flash

does the iso settings basically just turn the brightness up software-like?

what do you mean aftermarket flash? like a better bulb? or something that i have to hold like those old-time photographers...?

 

[Wintermute76]

Does your Minola have a "hot" or "cold" flash shoe? Most on camera flashes are only rated for about 12m or less if I recall. You can use a separate flash which usually have their own power and give greater range.

 

[Zenmervolt]

It's simply a function of a decreased shutter speed. Regardless of the camera, if the situation is low light without a flash then you're not going to be able to hold it still enough, not even with an ISO speed of 3200, much less the 400 which currently seems to be the upper limit on an average digicam. In order to take pictures in low light without a flash and without blur from camera shake, you will need a tripod, or at least a single-leg support rod.

ZV

 

[KC5AV]

The faster ISO speeds just mean that the film is more sensitive to light. The shutter doesn't have to be open as long to capture the image. If this is a point and shoot camera, you are probably out of luck on an off camera flash. There are some slave units out there that will key off of the on camera flash. I've never used them, so I can't really rate them. I know there are several different ones out there, so it's probably just a matter of how much you are willing to spend.

 

[gopunk]

hmmm... thanks for the info guys no flash shoe.... but the reason i ask these questions is because i am thinking of getting a digicam for my mom. so i am trying to get her a camera that doesn't have these shortcomings. thanks

 

[abaez]

Remember the higher the iso the more grainy the picture comes out, I always use iso 50 with my s30 when I can, I mean even iso200 is really grainy (to me at least).

If you're going to be taking alot of low light shots don't buy a canon they are horrible focusing in low light. I know the canon elan7e slr has image stabilization, god that is so sweet it makes me feel funny. The light can be *really* low and the shutter can be slow and with image stabilization the pic does not come out blurry. So awesome but nothing like that for digicams yet.