What shooting mode should I use?

[C.Whalen]

I am completely new to photography and this is my first camera. It is a FujiA350. I bought it mainly to take pics of my pets, however the photo is always blurry. I am shooting in sports mode while my subject is moving. What am I doing wrong? I try and hold the camera as steady as possible. I do realize that this is a very inexpensive camera compared to what most people have here, I guess I am wondering if I have to get one that is a few hundred dollars more than this current one.

[JLV]

If you are shooting indoors or in low light, the camera may be setting a slow shutter speed. Outdoors on a sunny day, do you get the same results?

[David Metsky]

You may be doing everything right and still getting blurry shots. In low light the camera can do two things to get more light: raise the ISO or slow down the shutter. Some cameras have better sensors or better lenses, plus IS to help minimize hand shake, but if your subject is moving then you need a fast shutter speed.

As JLV said, do you have the same results in bright light? If so, then there is something wrong with the camera. If the bright shots aren't blurry, then you may have found the limits of that camera.

-dave-

[C.Whalen]

Two examples here. Outdoor on a sunny day and the shot isn't too bad for focus. The second on an overcast day and focus is crap. How do I fix it? Thanks David and JLV for your input.

[BowerR64]

If your ever in doubt select "P" mode. If its to dark or to bright you can raise or lower the flash a few clicks as well as the EV. Its such a quick and powerfull mode

[David Metsky]

The focus is not the problem, at least I don't think it is. The problem is that the shutter speed is too slow. Have you tried looking at the EXIF information to see what shutter speed the camera is choosing? Or, manually set the ISO to 200 and see what you get.

-dave-

[wh0128]

Have you just tried using the Auto mode, or maybe Portrait Mode?? also you can go in some cameras manually and bump up the ISO to 400-800-1600 if needed. From my pov, it doesn't seem like the pictures are taken in low low light, and with the flash, it should be taking somewhat sharp photos. If the sun comes out, try shooting then cuz it looks like there is snow on the ground which will make everything brighter.

[TNB]

Two examples here. Outdoor on a sunny day and the shot isn't too bad for focus. The second on an overcast day and focus is crap. How do I fix it? Thanks David and JLV for your input.
Have you read the following review? Check out "Timing and Performance".

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A350/A350A.HTM#specs

[Colin T]

Hi C.Whalen

your camera is fine for what you want but I would recommend avoiding the sports setting unless you are in full sun. Just use the camera on auto and you should get reasonable shots. When the camera is on sports, it increases the shutter speed and this means less light can get into the camera. In low light areas, such as a cloudy day, the combination of a fast shutter speed and low light will always give you poor or blurry pictures.

The other thing to do is not zoom the lens out too far. The shorter the lens length the easier the light can enter the camera. If you zoom right in on your dog's face it is going to be harder for the camera to pick up the light and it will take longer for the light to travel thru the lens. Lower light levels mean slower shutter speeds and more blurry pictures.

Let the animal fit into the frame and then crop the image on a pc if you have to. One thing I did notice was how you got down to your dog's level, you can look it eye to eye. That is the best way to photograph them, at their height, it makes for more interesting and better shots.

Also try using your flash when you take the pics, if you are within about 10 feet it should help to brighten things up a bit and give you sharper images.

[Vich]

When the camera is on sports, it increases the shutter speed and this means less light can get into the camera. In low light areas, such as a cloudy day, the combination of a fast shutter speed and low light will always give you poor or blurry pictures.

The other thing to do is not zoom the lens out too far. The shorter the lens length the easier the light can enter the camera.

Colin, umm, hua?

Sport mode will lean towards faster shutter speed, but will never cause under-exposure.

Fast shutter speed on low-light giving poor and blurry shots? Are you saying slow shutter speed will give better shots? Of course not, but that's how it reads.

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that getting correct exposure, while also going for the fastest possible shutter speed (at least up to an acceptable level of say, 1/500th) is desirable to avoid blur for action shots.

So the camera has ISO, Shutter Speed, and f-stop to play with. I've not looked into that particular camera's configuration, but I'm guessing it will up the ISO, use it's widest f-stop, and then adjust it's shutter speed to offer the correct exposure.

Using wider angle to allow more light, then cropping later? I'm not aware of the focal length being a factor on the EV tables? True that most cheaper lenses have lower f-stop minimums (max aperture width) when it's more tele so you do have a point, but it makes for a less cropable image too. I wouldn't leave the OP with the impression that this is a technique practiced by experienced photographers for all low-light circumstances.

My advice would be - use Sports mode, or if you have Av mode (aperture priority) then use that with the setting at the lowest number allowed. Also; set your ISO to 200. Most consumer cameras give terrible results above ISO 200, but some of the Fuji's are a stark exception and can be used at up to ISO 800 with good results.

Otherwise; try to find better light, use a flash, and find ways to hold the camera steadier.

If the camera displays the Shutter Speed prior to the shot, then make adjustments (wider aperture, higher ISO, more light) until it goes to at least 1/60th, but 1/250th is more sure-fire.

The acceptable shutter speed does vary depending on how far you have zoomed. The rule of thumb is 1 to 1, for example; at 250mm (EFL) anything below 1/250th will produce shaky results.

Your shots both used ISO 64, and the 2nd was aprox. 1/40th shutter speed and f4.7. At ISO 200, that means your shutter speed could have been about 1/125th.

Also; the entire photo was verrrry shaky, even for 1/40th. You need to learn to keep it steady during the shot.