This might be too much ask but...

[cane714]

I bought my S3 about 6 weeks ago intending to cram for my vaction on 12/14. Well after Flu, colds work etc. I'm behind. I started to read the manual and not having a background in photography my brain is turning to jello.

I didn't just want to rely on all the preset dial settings. I've read some from the S2 tip thread but am not sure if they are global settings that affect every mode or not.

Does any body think they could talk me through some settings in P mode that would give me better results than being in auto? Someone had suggested to avoid using auto white balance on sunny days....Setting EV to 1/3 for more saturated pictures....Dont set in sharpening to highest setting to avoid jpeg artifacts....Setting AF to single....Setting IS to shoot only.

I guess to sum this mess up I'm looking for a way to go into a simple program (i'm assuming P) and come out better than being in auto. Or can I just change some settings that would help auto to perform better?????????

Thnaks to anyone willing to help.

Eric

[BowerR64]

I dont think you can change anythign in auto.

Are you going to just shoot then when you get home review what you took? or are you bringing a laptop to view at the end of the day?

"P" mode is a good mode to shoot in i think. Unless you bump some of the settings it should be fine. Try vivid and see how you like it compaired to the default settings.

You can bump the flash up if you need more flash in low light indoor distant shots.

[Setter Dog]

I think BowerR64 is right,....I don't believe you can change anything in "Auto". On my A710, I like the vivid color but you must be in "P" mode to select that. I was using the camera in "P" mode but once noticed that I had inadvertently bumped a button which made the toggle switches hot,.....and I changed something or other that I didn't want to change.

I personally have good luck in auto with my A710 but have tried most of the other modes and they are fine too......

[cane714]

I have a 2 gig & 1 gig card I'm just going to load up so I'm not planning on reviewing. I basically shooting during the day at Disney. I guess I'm looking for a mode I can tweek some settings that would help the s3 perform better but i still basically want to point and shoot.

[RebelRat]

P mode is just the better version of auto mode. It give you the option to change some of the settings. It's a great mode to start off shooting. It gives you the options of using flash and changing ISO.

[cane714]

Anybody P mode must have setting suggestions?
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[Wesan]

I prefer to keep the ISO setting as low as possible. The lowest ISO on the S3 is 80, which I always use. High ISO settings use to make the pictures more noisy. This goes for all digital cameras, especially compact cameras.

Hope this helps. :)

[SpecialK]

Read the maual for the P mode. Shoot some shot s and look at what you got, and why. Adjust as necessary.

You learn from experience. One person's tweak is another person's mess.

[BowerR64]

Here is what i usualy do in P mode.

Indoors i use 100 ISO, outdoors i use 50 or 80 depending on the camera. Lowest ISO outdoors, next click higher indoors.

I normaly use custom white balance indoors, and then i use daylight or cloudy outdoors that also depends on how much lighting and sun is out. Sometimes cloudy looks better somtimes daylight does but i always use one or the other never "auto"

I use to use vivid alot because i didnt know how to alter images in photoshop now i know what to alter i just leave it off. I seem to get the same results though so maybe try vivid once in a while.

Depending on the distance i will use medium or high flash settings. I seem to get better results with medium flash about 5-8 feet, then i use high flash if its a little past that. After a while you can judge the distance and how the flash will or wont help.

What you need to do is pay alot of attention to your display. This is what takes time to learn. When you can look at your display and see that its to dark or to bright this will help ALOT on your decision what the images need. If its to dark adjust the "EXP" up or down a few clicks.

[cane714]

thanks for the info thus far. :)