Any photo/camera experts out there?

gemmaj

I hope I don't sound a complete idiot: I'm just a bit confused.

I just got my holiday photos printed and I'm dissapointed with them. Many are slightly blurry, or at least not sharp. Some of them I think its my fault for cropping too much on the PC, but others have just not taken well, even though its in good light and non-moving subjects. Some have focused off-centre, some have overexposed parts or haven't handled differences in light/shade well in the background, but mainly its the not-quite-sharp/ slight blur / lacking detail look that is bothering me.

So is it me and photography skills/camera settings (I mainly use auto/"P"), or is it my camera?

I just spent the evening comparing my 3 digital cameras (long story, there is a reason I have 3!) - my main camera is a fairly new "Canon Digital Ixus 105", but I get better photos (sometimes a lot better) from my older Canon Ixus 95is (which is part-time broken, but sometimes works). I also have a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ28 (bought for long-zoom) but this camera NEVER gets the exposure right - photos are always over or under exposed and I end up manually adjusting it for every photo, so I don't use this camera much. The thing is, I read ENDLESS reviews before choosing these 3 cameras, all had good reviews (by 'pros', like Steves Digicams), and the only one I've been happy with is the Ixus 95, which I broke. So - assuming a better camera would solve my problems - how do I choose one??

aerostar

Regrettably a lot of the problems can be due to the person not understanding the camera, how to set it up, and how to use it, and its limitations. How many people read the manual?

Focus, if the camera is set for centre of picture and your subject is say to the right of the picture, eg person looking at a view, the camera will focus on the view. The trick with most cameras is to make sure that you point the camera at the person or whatever you are interested in, SLOWLY push the button down, most cameras have this 2 position button, the camera will then focus and expose for the item in the middle, then with the button held in that position, move the camera to re-frame and when you are happy complete the button press.

Blurry could mean that the shutter speed is slow, see if your camera has a readout of the shutter speed, to stop camera shake (blurry) then you need a shutter speed 1/125 of sec or higher. Always squeeze the button, not jab at it.

As it costs nothing to look at your photographs on the computer, go out and have a good practice at different subjects etc, you will soon find out the best way of using it.

A new camera would not necessarily give you better pictures, it is always down to the user. Some of the best pictures have been taken with very simple cameras.

One point, if you keep editing a picture and saving, the re-editing the saved picture again, if it is a jpg then every time you save you loose quality unless your editing program can be set to not compress the jpg again. jpg is a lossy compression.

ukcarper

aerostar wrote: »

Focus, if the camera is set for centre of picture and your subject is say to the right of the picture, eg person looking at a view, the camera will focus on the view. The trick with most cameras is to make sure that you point the camera at the person or whatever you are interested in, SLOWLY push the button down, most cameras have this 2 position button, the camera will then focus and expose for the item in the middle, then with the button held in that position, move the camera to re-frame and when you are happy complete the button press.

.

It can be worse that than modern cameras have a multi point focus system and the camera decides what is your main subject and focuses on that. For that reason I set my camera to one focus point the centre one and do as you suggest.

redped

Both aerostar & ukcarper have given you some great info.

As said already, try setting the focus point to centre, and just using that. If the person/object to be focussed on is off-centre, focus on them and then re-centre the frame with them to one side. I've been doing this since learning on an old manual SLR, and still do the same with my current DSLR. Technology can be great, but if you're not happy with the results, then take things back to basics and control the focussing yourself.

As digital photos cost nothing to take, go and take plenty of them of mundane everyday objects around your house. Check them on your PC, and repeat the process until you're happy with the focussing. It can be frustrating looking at great photos online and in magazines, and then looking at your own photos. It's simply a case of keep practising and experimenting until you are happy.

I would suggest you don't go and buy a new camera. If you can take a good in-focus photo, it doesn't matter if it's with a £100 camera or a £1000 camera. On some of the American photography forums you get guys who've only taken up photography, and yet have spent thousands of dollars on the best kit. It's just a pity they don't know how to compose a frame properly, don't understand exposure, depth of field, etc., so when they get poor results they blame their kit, and then feel they have to spend even more money on better lenses.

gemmaj

Thanks for the replies. my camera was set to face auto focus which i've now changed - and i've discovered a whole section of the menu i didn't know i had! Annoyingly to set the focus I have to press a poorly located button rather than just half pressing and moving; but at least i know that now! I am going to do as recommended and do lots of test shots. thanks for the advice!

closed

The chances of multiple camera's all producing poor results points more to the settings or user.

Are these daylight photo's?
Are any using digital zoom (or long zoom) or flash?
any silhouettes?
are fingers getting in the way of any autofocus illumination?

Norman_Castle

I also have a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ28 (bought for long-zoom) but this camera NEVER gets the exposure right - photos are always over or under exposed and I end up manually adjusting it for every photo

This camera may be set to spot metering, check the settings.

gemmaj

closed:

YES, MANY - Are these daylight photo's?
NO - Are any using digital zoom (or long zoom) or YES, A FEW - flash?
any silhouettes? Do you mean am I photographing peoples shadows? Not sure I understand
are fingers getting in the way of any autofocus illumination? Don't think so, but good thinking - I will check as I use the camera.

And re: multiple cameras and poor results - I don't have problems with my beloved Ixus 95, but I accidentally found out its not waterproof (or rather ribena-proof) and it doesn't always zoom now. I thought I'd be fine replacing it with a newer model Ixus 105 but the photos I get are crappy in comparison. Not that its necessarily the camera, it could still be me, but I did manage fine with my i-95.

Norman Castle - thanks for the tip. I will check that on the lumix, but am going to concentrate on the Ixus' for now.



Its good to know that I should be able to get good photos out my cameras - I've been doing test shots today!

closed

Maybe if you posted an example it would be easier to diagnose.

by silhouette I mean with the sun (or something bright) in shot, but behind the subject.

gemmaj

aaah, shooting into the sun. Nope.

Your right, it would be easier if I posted a photo, but all my photos are of me/the kids and unless I get desperate I'd rather not expose myself to the world!

aerostar

Have you checked your lens to see if there are any thumb/finger prints on it !!!! I have seen people wipe their lens to clean it with a finger, you would not do that to your eye would you !!. It should be done with a soft cloth, type that you would clean your glasses with.