TZ1 - any way to force slow shutter speed?

[Jimriddle]

A relative newcomer to digital cameras (just graduated from a coolpix 3100) and am so far really pleased with the TZ1. Is there anyway to take a straight scene in good sunny daylight and force it to use a slower shutter speed and hence smaller aperture for improved depth of field? By fiddling with the iso sensitivity I was able to get a shot at f7 (usually opts for f2.8 or 4) and this definitely showed more sparkle in the definition - but that was the best I could do. The shutter speed seemed to be doggedly fixing around the 1/300-500 mark and the 'Slow Shutter' menu item doesn't seem to work for me in this instance. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. Would appreciate any insights from other users here.

Also, while I'm generally impressed with the image quality of the video, the sound is pretty dreadful - a lot of hiss producing a poor S/N ratio. I notice another user describing the audio as surprisingly good. Are performance inconsistencies possible with digital cameras? Could I conceivably have a dud? Any settings I may have overlooked?

many thanks - Jim

[nrbelex]

A relative newcomer to digital cameras (just graduated from a coolpix 3100) and am so far really pleased with the TZ1. Is there anyway to take a straight scene in good sunny daylight and force it to use a slower shutter speed and hence smaller aperture for improved depth of field? By fiddling with the iso sensitivity I was able to get a shot at f7 (usually opts for f2.8 or 4) and this definitely showed more sparkle in the definition - but that was the best I could do. The shutter speed seemed to be doggedly fixing around the 1/300-500 mark and the 'Slow Shutter' menu item doesn't seem to work for me in this instance. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. Would appreciate any insights from other users here.

Also, while I'm generally impressed with the image quality of the video, the sound is pretty dreadful - a lot of hiss producing a poor S/N ratio. I notice another user describing the audio as surprisingly good. Are performance inconsistencies possible with digital cameras? Could I conceivably have a dud? Any settings I may have overlooked?

many thanks - Jim

The only three ways I'm aware of to alter the shutter speed is through the menu option (which works for me in auto mode up to 1 second), through some of the special modes like night scenery, starry night, etc. and by putting the flash on Slow-Sync mode. In my experience, shutter speed is one of the few things that the camera grants you reasonable control over. As for the video sound... you are correct - it's pretty low. I'm pretty sure the mic is the 4 or 5 little dots/holes on the top so it's not to surprising. The actual video quality, on the other hand, is really impressive.

~ Brett

[John_Reed]

A relative newcomer to digital cameras (just graduated from a coolpix 3100) and am so far really pleased with the TZ1. Is there anyway to take a straight scene in good sunny daylight and force it to use a slower shutter speed and hence smaller aperture for improved depth of field? By fiddling with the iso sensitivity I was able to get a shot at f7 (usually opts for f2.8 or 4) and this definitely showed more sparkle in the definition - but that was the best I could do. The shutter speed seemed to be doggedly fixing around the 1/300-500 mark and the 'Slow Shutter' menu item doesn't seem to work for me in this instance. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. Would appreciate any insights from other users here.

Also, while I'm generally impressed with the image quality of the video, the sound is pretty dreadful - a lot of hiss producing a poor S/N ratio. I notice another user describing the audio as surprisingly good. Are performance inconsistencies possible with digital cameras? Could I conceivably have a dud? Any settings I may have overlooked?

many thanks - JimFirst of all, "SLOW" shutter speed setting simply changes the default lower end of the shutterspeed range, initially set at 1/8 of a second, if you opt for the "SLOW" option, you can stretch it all the way out to 1 second. But mind you, that setting has no effect on the shutter speed chosen by the camera under your given lighting conditions. All it does is allow the time to drop below 1/8, should conditions demand. I have mine set at 1 second, for example, and once in awhile, my camera will hit that, but not often.

You could also juke the shutter speed choice of the camera by setting the EV bias upwards, to over-expose your scene, and you could also make yourself a filter adapter and install a neutral density filter in front to cut down the light entering the lens. I made such a thing from an aerosol can top and an old 49mm filter, as follows:
http://John-Reed.smugmug.com/photos/70477693-L.jpg
It turns out that the cap of the aerosol can shown snaps into place around the lens bezel as if it was made for it. So you cut off the other end of the cap, smash the glass from an old 49mm filter, and glue the threads of the old filter into the cut off end of your cap. Voila! A filter adapter.

[Jimriddle]

The only three ways I'm aware of to alter the shutter speed is through the menu option (which works for me in auto mode up to 1 second), through some of the special modes like night scenery, starry night, etc. and by putting the flash on Slow-Sync mode. In my experience, shutter speed is one of the few things that the camera grants you reasonable control over. As for the video sound... you are correct - it's pretty low. I'm pretty sure the mic is the 4 or 5 little dots/holes on the top so it's not to surprising. The actual video quality, on the other hand, is really impressive.

~ Brett


Many thanks for the reassurance - I was beginning to worry that I might have bought a lemon.

Jim

[Jimriddle]

First of all, "SLOW" shutter speed setting simply changes the default lower end of the shutterspeed range, initially set at 1/8 of a second, if you opt for the "SLOW" option, you can stretch it all the way out to 1 second. But mind you, that setting has no effect on the shutter speed chosen by the camera under your given lighting conditions. All it does is allow the time to drop below 1/8, should conditions demand. I have mine set at 1 second, for example, and once in awhile, my camera will hit that, but not often.

You could also juke the shutter speed choice of the camera by setting the EV bias upwards, to over-expose your scene, and you could also make yourself a filter adapter and install a neutral density filter in front to cut down the light entering the lens. I made such a thing from an aerosol can top and an old 49mm filter, as follows:
http://John-Reed.smugmug.com/photos/70477693-L.jpg
It turns out that the cap of the aerosol can shown snaps into place around the lens bezel as if it was made for it. So you cut off the other end of the cap, smash the glass from an old 49mm filter, and glue the threads of the old filter into the cut off end of your cap. Voila! A filter adapter.

I'm intrigued by your suggestion, and you're confident that this remedy will fool the camera into setting a small aperture? i'll certainly give it a try!.. the only aerosol I have at the moment seems to be a giant one but I will beg/steal/borrow one to fit. I'll also need a filter as you describe. I don't imagine being able to accomplish this without at least one hitch, so please bear with me if I have another future question...

many thanks for the tip.