Quick question from a casual user

#1 · 23-01-2012 12:31PM #1

I am not into photography or anything, but have always found Boards the place to get a quick answer, so here goes.

I have noticed some of the photos I take on my compact digital (panasonic FS3 I think) are very slightly blurred. Just enough to make them look poor. Most are ok (I know my sister also has a similar issue with some of her photos on a Fuji camera). Its not as if people are moving in these bad photos. Often people are sitting still but the photo can still look like they were moving.

I have not really tinkered with any of the settings as most just confuse me:o, and it is set to the Automatic Intelligent mode which is meant to do it all for you.

I am wondering if the problem is with my memory card? Perhaps the data isn't being written fast enough to it? I use a Class 2 and have ordered a Class 10 to rule out that problem.

Or perhaps there's a setting I could adjust?

Paulw · 23-01-2012 12:39PM

NIMAN wrote: »

I am wondering if the problem is with my memory card? Perhaps the data isn't being written fast enough to it? I use a Class 2 and have ordered a Class 10 to rule out that problem.

Or perhaps there's a setting I could adjust?

It can't be the memory card. The camera takes the photo, buffers it in memory before writing to the card. So, it won't take a photo unless it can write it.

It is either a setting or shaky hands. Slight movement of either subject or camera will cause this. Setting a faster shutter speed should overcome this, but it depends on what settings you can adjust in your camera.

pete4130 · 23-01-2012 12:48PM

Avoid using a heavy stabbing motion on the shutter and try to hold it steady with both hands. Get people to stand still and tell them there could be TWO flashes before the picture is taken so nobody moves after the red eye reduction flash.

NIMAN · 23-01-2012 01:00PM

Thanks for the replies.

I always suspected it might be movement and always try to be as steady as possible when holding it, but sometimes its still blurred. Perhaps some cameras are more forgiving than others?

I will ask my subjects to be as steady as possible too in future.

MiskyBoyy · 23-01-2012 03:01PM

NIMAN wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I always suspected it might be movement and always try to be as steady as possible when holding it, but sometimes its still blurred. Perhaps some cameras are more forgiving than others?

I will ask my subjects to be as steady as possible too in future.

Could always be the lens might be a small bit smudged or something you mightn't notice on the lens so try give that a clean with a lens cloth and see if that helps?

Gumbo · 23-01-2012 03:32PM

I would say its deffo one of the settings. ive set so many cameras at weddings, christenings etc for family members who were trying to take photos on the night time setting in the middle of the day, and thus long exposure = people moving and blur!

double check the settings your using and for starters set to auto and take a few pics and see if they improove.

NIMAN · 23-01-2012 04:05PM

As I mentioned, it has been on Intelligent Auto since the day I bought it. I have never touched any of the settings bar that.

Could you perhaps give me an idea of what to adjust in the menu's?

pullandbang · 23-01-2012 04:46PM

As Pete says, I suspect it's heavy handedness on the shutter button. With Point and shoot cameras there is a major delay between pressing the shutter and and taking the picture (major compared to a DSLR).

All too often I've seen people press the shutter and then start to take then camera down to look at the result before the shot is taken - hence camera movement = blurry pics. Try putting the camera on a wall, table or something steady. Use the self timer and take a shot. You should get a sharp shot doing that.

pixbyjohn · 23-01-2012 05:03PM

pullandbang wrote: »

As Pete says, I suspect it's heavy handedness on the shutter button. With Point and shoot cameras there is a major delay between pressing the shutter and and taking the picture (major compared to a DSLR).

All too often I've seen people press the shutter and then start to take then camera down to look at the result before the shot is taken - hence camera movement = blurry pics. Try putting the camera on a wall, table or something steady. Use the self timer and take a shot. You should get a sharp shot doing that.

I will second that. Try the table as a test. The BIGGEST disadvantage of the modern point & shoot cameras are that they are too small and too light to hold steady.

mayo.mick · 23-01-2012 06:04PM

Try setting to sports mode, will give you faster shutter speed's.

Quick question from a casual user

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