I hate my new camera. Sorry Lyle and Terah but it's true.
I can't get a clear picture no matter what. I have been reading my manual like crazy and taking pictures of random things and I get the same result no matter how much I change the settings. BLURRY Even on the auto setting I'm having trouble.
I have been frantically trying all different shudder speeds and aperature. Terah said she keeps her shudder speed at 150 or above while photographing people. *check*
So how do I get a clear picture? Anyone? Is it just that I need a new lens for taking pics of the kids? Is it that I just really don't get the whole settings aspect of things? Please help me!
7 comments:
What do you have your iso set at usually? And are they mostly blurry when you're inside, outside, or both?
I kinda felt the same way when I switched from P&S to DSLR. I will probably get shouted down from everyone else but thought I'd offer my meagre suggestions. Try shooting in Tv- you can set a higher shutter speed which should get rid of the blur and let the camera choose the aperture. Or try Av, for the reverse. You could always try shooting in auto, and if you get good results look at the settings the camera chose for those shots (either on your LCD screen or in your exif data). Do you mean motion blur or small depth of field blur? Is there anything in focus or is it all blurry? A higher shutter speed should knock out some blur, but it will result in a loss of light, unless you have a higher ISO which will give you more grain. I'd rather have noise than undesired blur though :) Have you tried using a tripod with a still object in a few different settings to see if it makes any difference? I know with a lot of macro shots even the way I breath will affect whether I get the subject in focus. What lens are you using? The picture of your boys & Justin around the gravedigger didnt look blurry to me.
Dont despair- its a process. Even as our knowledge & skills grow the images we desire to produce continue to change, as does all art. You have a great hobby that can be used to glorify the Lord and is recording wonderful memories for your family for many years to come.
I don't know anything about photography, but I can say this - when we bought the camera, it was "body only" being Terah had a lot of SLR lenses. This was before she knew anything about it thoug, so she has bought some lenses since. That was the only lense I had to sell you with the camera and it predates digital/slr cameras, so my thought is a new lens would do wonders for you. I sent you those links last week...it is way cheaper than snowmobiles and four-wheelers, so don't even blink about it! :) And just so you don't feel ripped off, we the body only for that camera was selling for a lot more than you paid for it in used condition, so I think that you have a good deal, but maybe should use that "savings" to get a descent lens. You have seen what Terah captured with it! ;)
Heidi, this isn't something that comes overnight. And shooting kids at first is EXTREMELY FRUSTERATING.
I promise if you push thru it, you WILL get it.
It is a progress, and it took me 9 months before I felt like I had a decent hold on it. I know that can seem like forever, but really its not.
Post specific examples with your cam settings, AV, Auto, Manual.... ISO, Shutter speed, and Fstop... and we can all pitch in and help you thru it! Maybe where the light was coming from, and the time of day?
Light is the biggest part for me of getting sharp pics. I am still learning to read the light.
Can't wait to see some samples! You are a determined person, you CAN do it!
What kinda camera have you got? Canon or Nikon? After what Lyle said, if it were me, I'd get a new lens. Im not suprised you cant get a decent autofocus. :)
Dont know if you have a canon, but a cheap nifty fifty (50mm 1.8) is a good start and great value for money. Its about $100 and makes decent portraits etc. That way, youre not spending much, but have something to play with while you save up for another lens!
Great! Thanks everybody.
Terah did show me a couple of things tonight when she was here but I'm feeling a tad overwhelmed.
Crystal- Good idea about posting and telling you all my settings. I might be trying that soon.
I know nine months doesn't seem like a long time but it is when you have little ones cuz they seem to change daily. I suppose I could just have someone else take *good* pictures of my kiddos until I get the hang of it.
Karina- I have a Canon. Terah told me to get that lens as well and I plan to pretty soon. I still feel like I'm not really grasping this whole "photography" concept.
:) Yay for Canon! You wont regret buying that 50mm lens. Dont worry about having professional looking photos at first- take photos that come from the heart, and they will always be special captures even if not technically perfect.
I propose an idea to all fellow photogs, once lenses are purchased and babies are born etc- we should start a blogging photog fellowship. We began one of these at church and its really fun. We all take turns to pick a topic for a monthly 'challenge'- it can be thematic in nature, or something technical to get us thinking of interesting ways to use our equipment & develop our skill. At the end of the month we enter in our photos and yah..hopefully learned something taking them, and gained inspiration from others. Just a thought, you know...since we all have SO much spare time and all. :)
Hope alls well with you and yours!
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