Pictures stink 95% of the time

[mugsisme]

I have the Fuji F10. I have played with all the settings. I have tried taking pictures in auto mode, with out flash, raising the ISO, lowering it, whatever I can think of. Most of my pictures are horrible. The few I get that are good are REALLY nice. But most of them are just awful.

Today we went to the science museum. The kids were riding a segway (sp?). I put the camera in sports mode, and got one out of 20 shots. The rest are blurred.

I have read a bunch of books on taking pictures, but they mostly seem to be for SLR cameras.

If you want to see the pictures, here:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/k_laydee/album?.dir=/dab2&.src=ph

Leah

[tim11]

While I don't have F10, I notice that nothing on these pictures are in focus even the stationary background. Try to focus on the ground before the subject reach that point first and keep the camera still. Unless you want to try panning.
I'm impressed with the colour and detail of ISO800.
http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/43ca6ae5zf1a4d260/dab2/__sr_/62ea.jpg?phIUGREBcs1Fb3Zm
http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/43ca6ae5zf1a4d260/dab2/__sr_/88b7.jpg?phIUGREBFaEIbUb9

[Vich]

Whole shot blurry suggests camera movement - which is often a product of inadequate shutter speed (ie: faster shutter is more forgiving). Proper technique can improve camera movement issues. Some cameras have IS (Image Stabilization) to help counteract camera shake. Sorry; tiny cameras are more difficult to keep still or to rest on your elbow.

Where the background is in focus but a moving subject isn't, it suggests camera was adequately still but inadequate shutter speed to capture the motion.

The shutter speed can be increased by:
- using a flash or waiting until subject is better lit
- increasing ISO
- using a wider aperture
- underexpose photos (use AV+- settings) then use photoshop to add light later. Poorer quality but beats out-of-focus.

We're unable to see what ISO/aperture was selected by the camera, but if you can simply force it to ISO 800 and the widest possible aperture for indoor shots you may see improvement.

Even with a very expensive DSLR and a very nice low-light prime lens attached, DSLR owners usually use a powerful flash for people shots in poor lighting. Some DSLRs have such incredible high ISO performance they can get away without using a flash in OK lighting and get good shots.