Need a camera that will fix my Camera Shake/Manual Shutter Speed problems

[Astro7x]

I have a Canon SD500, normally have no complaints about it... except that i can't change the damn shutter speed on the thing! It has up to 1/2000 sec speeds, but they seem to only be on when I use the flash.

Basically my problem is that when I don't use flash, almost all of my pictures look like crap! Especially action shots or stuff with lots of movement. The shutter speed is so slow, and I have to remain incredibly still, and even then, the camera shake can still be there. Maybe I just have naturally shakey hands, I don't know. I have used other people's cameras with manual shutter speed settings, and I have no camera shake problems.

So what I am asking... what are some recommendations for cheap digital cameras with either image shake stabilization settings, or manual shutter speed options, or something that will fix this problem for me.

I clearly did not know enough about this crap when I dropped the bucks for my Canon and am now regretting it...

[gary_hendricks]

Cheap digital cameras with image shake stabilization settings and manual settings are hard to come by at cheap prices.

The closest camera I can think of is the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. It's not exactly cheap, but its close enough. There is great synergy between the Leica optics and the Panasonic chip set that is simply incredible.

The image stabilization works very well. The ability of the camera to maintain constant maximum f/2.8 aperture at all focal lengths, it yields amazing low-light and action capabilities.

Trust me - this is the camera to get.

[ZCarroll]

I had the same problem with the canon sd500 and did not have that problem with other cameras even without manual control or IS. I have the casio z750 and love, love it.

[timmciglobal]

What type of lighting are you taking these in?

The issue may not be the ability to set manual exposure but the sensativity to light of sensor (ISO speed) whcih won't be helped much by a "better" point and shoot.

In dark conditions you need VERY large apatures and high ISO. ISO 1600 on a F2 lens barly cuts it in alot of situations.

Tim

[coldrain]

One simple remedy is to put your canon SD500 is to use a different program setting on your SD500.

You can put the ISO on 100 instead of 50, (I think it is 50, the lowest ISO?)
and put it in sport mode. That mode will make fast shutter speed priority, not apperture.

Some people just can not hold a camera still so easily, it has to do with more than "shakey hands" but also with your stance, breathing etc.

So, try to use the sport mode first and put the ISO up one notch to see what happens.

You have bought a camera without manual settings and found out one big drawback. There are many camera's that will give you manual settings, just not most ultra compacts that are built for point and shoot stuff.

The Canon A series (A520, A610 A620) will suit you much better and are still relativily compact. The Sony DSC-W5 or W7 might also be more of your liking, all these give you full manual control, and as such control over shutter speed.

Also the follow up to Fuji's F10 might be interesting to you, the F11 will have manual controls. But you would have to wait till december before you will see it in shops, and that may be a bit of a long wait!

So, if the sports mode of your ultra compact does not work for you (I hope it will) the above mentioned Canons and Sony's will give you very good image quality and full manual control.

And don't trust Gary, the FZ20 is not the camera to get ;). You chose the SD500 for its compactness and the panasonic is not at all compact, and there are at least 2 much more attractive ultrazooms on the market right now anyway. I guess he has an FZ20. Panasonic does has small camera's with image stabilization though, I think the current models are FX8 and FX9.
They do not reach the image quality of the Canon or Sony though.

[Astro7x]

Cheap digital cameras with image shake stabilization settings and manual settings are hard to come by at cheap prices.

The closest camera I can think of is the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. It's not exactly cheap, but its close enough. There is great synergy between the Leica optics and the Panasonic chip set that is simply incredible.

The image stabilization works very well. The ability of the camera to maintain constant maximum f/2.8 aperture at all focal lengths, it yields amazing low-light and action capabilities.

Trust me - this is the camera to get.

Well maybe not image stabilization, but manual shutter speed would help a ton.

A friend recommended me the Canon PowerShot A510... it seems low enough in price, and has the manual settings I want. I wish I knew more about this stuff before I bought my SD500... :(

I basically am taking a Digital Photography class, and camera shake is unacceptable. I'm willing to buy another camera for $150 if it means I don't have to retake the class for $630.

I will do more research into this camera though...

I had the same problem with the canon sd500 and did not have that problem with other cameras even without manual control or IS. I have the casio z750 and love, love it.

Atleast I know I'm not alone, thanks!

What type of lighting are you taking these in?

The issue may not be the ability to set manual exposure but the sensativity to light of sensor (ISO speed) whcih won't be helped much by a "better" point and shoot.

In dark conditions you need VERY large apatures and high ISO. ISO 1600 on a F2 lens barly cuts it in alot of situations.

Tim

I am using outdoor light, around 6-6:30pm at night for these pictures I am trying to take... so no flash. The lighting is perfect! I was using a tripod the other day, and the pictures came out unbelievably beautiful! Honestly I was shocked at how crisp and clear they came out, and the lighting was perfect.

Take the camera off the tripod though, and camera shake is my worst enemy.

And I still get some damn good pictures, so I have a feeling it's not so much ISO settings... it's just that 80% of them are usually not usable which is killing me

One simple remedy is to put your canon SD500 is to use a different program setting on your SD500.

Oh believe me, I have tried differnet settings....

You can put the ISO on 100 instead of 50, (I think it is 50, the lowest ISO?)
and put it in sport mode. That mode will make fast shutter speed priority, not apperture.

Some people just can not hold a camera still so easily, it has to do with more than "shakey hands" but also with your stance, breathing etc.

So, try to use the sport mode first and put the ISO up one notch to see what happens.

I will play with the ISO settings just to be safe next time. the SD500 has no sports settings, and the only scene modes that change the shutter speed make it SLOW and not fast :(

I feel like I am pretty competent when it comes to dealing with camera shake, Using my elbows against my chest to balance, breathing in and then taking the picture. Hell... I've even tried it the other way and took the picture after breathing out. I've also started using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to try to reduce camera shake, still have the same damn problems...

Maybe it's the small size of the camera, because I think I might be holding it by my fingertips than with my hand more often than not.

And once again, this still goes back to me not having this problem with other cameras with manual settings, so me just wanting to find a cheap camera with manual settings. Picture Size and Camera Size is not so much an issue, as I want to take good pictures over style of the camera body.

You have bought a camera without manual settings and found out one big drawback. There are many camera's that will give you manual settings, just not most ultra compacts that are built for point and shoot stuff.

The Canon A series (A520, A610 A620) will suit you much better and are still relativily compact. The Sony DSC-W5 or W7 might also be more of your liking, all these give you full manual control, and as such control over shutter speed.

Also the follow up to Fuji's F10 might be interesting to you, the F11 will have manual controls. But you would have to wait till december before you will see it in shops, and that may be a bit of a long wait!

I will also take a look into those cameras and start comparing prices. Thanks!

So, if the sports mode of your ultra compact does not work for you (I hope it will) the above mentioned Canons and Sony's will give you very good image quality and full manual control.

And don't trust Gary, the FZ20 is not the camera to get ;). You chose the SD500 for its compactness and the panasonic is not at all compact, and there are at least 2 much more attractive ultrazooms on the market right now anyway. I guess he has an FZ20. Panasonic does has small camera's with image stabilization though, I think the current models are FX8 and FX9.
They do not reach the image quality of the Canon or Sony though.

Well I am willing to give up compactness in favor of having a camera with good manual settings! Afterall, I will still have my Canon, and the thing works great if I use flash! It's just that I am shooting a lot of stuff for one of my classes with natural light, and found that without the flash, the shutter speed is much slower giving me many problems.

But thanks for all the help everyone! I have some specific models to look at and start comparing. I'll keep checking back though, additional advice is still welcomed

[swgod98]

A trick my friend uses with his SD400 in low light situations is to use the timer function (even when handheld). If you set it to 2 seconds and snap, you don't have as much trouble with camera shake due to pressing the button.

[Astro7x]

A trick my friend uses with his SD400 in low light situations is to use the timer function (even when handheld). If you set it to 2 seconds and snap, you don't have as much trouble with camera shake due to pressing the button.

Never even thought of that... will try very soon. Thanks for the Tip!

[David Metsky]

Boosting the ISO to 200, or putting the camera into Kids and Pets mode are your best options. Kids and Pets is the same as Sports mode. This camera doesn't have manual controls, it's a pretty basic P&S, although IMO a very nice one. It is, however, not an ideal camera for low light no flash situations.

-dave-

[tim11]

What the hell? People are argueing if FZ20 is compact? LOLZ.
I will tell you how compact it is. After having one for a few months, the Canon S2 IS and Pana FZ5 seem cute ultra compacts to me by comparison.
Seriously now.. :)
Astro7x, you can't use high shutter speed when there is not enough light, unless with flash. Average people need a tripod at shutter 1/30 second and under. Either you have to use the flash or longer shutter with a tripod. But you can't use a tripod with moving subjects for obvious reason.
IS helps but is not magic solution and maybe it won't solve your problem. The best camera for lowlight is Fuji F10 with ISO to 1600.

EDIT: you should also check other FUJI prosumer cameras. They have higher ISO than others; the catch with Fuji is they don't have optical IS.