Camera help needed - dark indoor photos (samsung ES30)

handsewn

Hi everyone,

I bought a Samsung ES30 not long ago and I cannot get it to take decent indoor photos no matter what I do. It does not seem to pick up any natural light at all.

You can adjust the settings but I don't know where to start. The settings that can be changed are light metering, ISO, EV, white balance, contrast balance and image quality (goes up to 12mp)

It blurs out a bit too but you can get good results if you are extremely up close to something (not good when you are trying to get a photo that is arms length away)

I can't afford a new camera at the moment and would like tips on getting the best possible images out of this one.

S0litaire

Basically pick a high "iso" (ISO is the speed of the reaction of the chemicals of the film - i know it's a digital camera!)

Low = slow so requires more light (Bright sunshine)
High = fast so works better in low light

Use a slightly slower shutter speed. (note! slow shutter speeds may cause blurry pics if not mounted or held very steady).

There's a few good posts here:
http://www.digital-photography-tutorial.com/

handsewn

S0litaire wrote: »

Basically pick a high "iso" (ISO is the speed of the reaction of the chemicals of the film - i know it's a digital camera!)

Low = slow so requires more light (Bright sunshine)
High = fast so works better in low light

Use a slightly slower shutter speed. (note! slow shutter speeds may cause blurry pics if not mounted or held very steady).

There's a few good posts here:
http://www.digital-photography-tutorial.com/

Hi, Just had a go and the highest 'ISO' (silly isn't it!) made the pictures really grainy. I've managed to get it looking slightly brighter by putting the ISO up to the point where the grain stops being noticable.

I'm not sure how to change the shutter speed, it just seems to fire at one speed?

ukcarper

How much light have you got, it needs to be quite bright to get good photos indoors you will struggle with most cameras. As S0litaire said you can increase the ISO but that will give you grainy photos. If the subject is moving the only solution is to use a flash, if not you can use a tripod or rest the camera on something solid.

ukcarper

handsewn wrote: »

Hi, Just had a go and the highest 'ISO' (silly isn't it!) made the pictures really grainy. I've managed to get it looking slightly brighter by putting the ISO up to the point where the grain stops being noticable.

I'm not sure how to change the shutter speed, it just seems to fire at one speed?

If you are on auto the camera should set the shutter speed and aperture for you. A thing that might help is not to zoom in as lenses normally let less light in as you zoom in.

S0litaire

think you'll have to work through all the menu options to find the shutter speed.
it's there somewhere, lol
by default it automatically changes shutter speed depending on the mode and iso.
try and find a way to take it off "automatic" and on to "Manual" settings, you should find it eaiser to find the shutter control.

Sambucus_Nigra

You have no manual settings so the camera should adjust them - perhaps your EV is set to a minus number, try adjusting that to zero or a positive. Or try the night portrait setting and put it on a tripod or something to keep it steady.

paddyrg

Fact is indoors is VERY dark compared with outdoors, I suspect you're just seeing the limitations of the camera. The human eye is very tolerant of dark, camera sensors are not!!

handsewn

paddyrg wrote: »

Fact is indoors is VERY dark compared with outdoors, I suspect you're just seeing the limitations of the camera. The human eye is very tolerant of dark, camera sensors are not!!

It may be a fact that being indoors is sometimes darker than out, it still doesn't help me finding out how to achieve a better photo.

handsewn

S0litaire wrote: »

think you'll have to work through all the menu options to find the shutter speed.
it's there somewhere, lol
by default it automatically changes shutter speed depending on the mode and iso.
try and find a way to take it off "automatic" and on to "Manual" settings, you should find it eaiser to find the shutter control.

Thanks, this has made a differance. Found the settings eventually!

Dave_C_2

It's time to bite the bullet and read the manual.

You either have to use flash or

Use night mode with a long shutter time
Ensure DIS (Digital Image Stabilisation) is switched on.
Wind up the ISO several notches as well

Dave