Newbie Canon A510

[arnoldss]

Hi Experts,

Hope all are fine.
Iam new to photography.I recently got a Canon A510.Took some photos.
But i have a feeling that the photos havent come too good.I had to take 2-3 photos before i got a unblurred photo.
Please provide me some pointers to enhance my photographic skills.Is Tripod a must for taking night shots??.

Have uploaded couple of pics.

Thanks again.

[mes444]

Try the following settings as a start point and adjust as you feel necessary. 1. Set camera to P mode on the top dial. 2.Turn off AiAF focus and set to center point focus (when you focus, try to get a vertical line in the pic to focus on, the focus works best when there is something definite to focus on, not just a plain flat surface). 3. Metering - evaluative. 4. ISO 100 (I also use Auto ISO quite often for easier exposure accuracy). 5. Picture Setting Vivid (I like the brighter coloring). 6. Exposure Compensation anywhere from -1/3 to 0 to +1/3 see which you like by adjusting). 7. Autofocus assist lamp ON. 8. Red eye mode OFF (it doesn't work anyway). 8. White Balance Auto. 9. Digital Zoom OFF (sometimes I turn it on but it gets pretty grainy if you use it). I saw posted somewhere that for low light photos you can try manual setting with ISO 200, shutter speed 1/10 to 1/20 sec and it will work without a tripod. I don't know about that but you can try. All instructions for changing the above settings are in the book that came with the camera. Have fun, it's a nice camera.

[samanthas]

I'm just getting started myself, but I agree with using p-mode or manual mode. I've gotten some pretty good photos when using p-mode and p-mode with macro. The camera does seem to have trouble focusing when you get very close to the subject, but maybe I was going past the 2-inch mark (probably).

I'm going to have to try without AiAF on, because it gets annoying when it doesn't let you focus where you want it to.

I've also heard that a tripod can help for Macro photos...