Blurred pictures

[blackbuddy4me]

I have just bought the FZ20 and am struggling. I've upgraded from the Konica Minolta Z2. I took some nice pictures with that camera but everything I take with the FZ20 up to now seems blurred, (especially attempted action shots of my dogs). I'm obviously doing something wrong with the settings. I'm using the stabiliser and have tried P mode and sports mode. I am shooting in low winter light in the UK but have tried compensating with ISO200. My wife seems to be getting much sharper images with her 4 year old Olympus camedia C730. I need to sort this out as I bought it for a big wildlife holiday. Any advice gratefully received. :eek:

[genece]

Always have to ask , are you sure the switch on the lens is in autofocus.
If you have added a filter remove it for a while to be sure that is not the problem.

I do not think the Light in the UK is much worse than western PA. so I think you should get good photos.

Now for action shots you could try Shutter priority and set the shutter at 1/125 of a second. ANd the ISO on automatic. See how that turns out, I am pretty sure you have a setting wrong but thats just a guess.

The best thing to do is post a photo with the exif included.

[blackbuddy4me]

....for the reply. In shutter priority ISO automatic is not available...I think?

[genece]

I am sorry I was thinking of 2 different things. You are correct and I start at ISO 200 and change whichever way necessary. That should eliminate the blurry thing. One thing I do not like is continuous auto focus , you may want to turn it off for a while to see if it helps.
Also use spot focus for a while just to be sure the camera does focus. I find the three and 9 pt focus picks the wrong thing to focus on at times.

[eureka07]

Always have to ask , are you sure the switch on the lens is in autofocus.
If you have added a filter remove it for a while to be sure that is not the problem.

I do not think the Light in the UK is much worse than western PA. so I think you should get good photos.

Now for action shots you could try Shutter priority and set the shutter at 1/125 of a second. ANd the ISO on automatic. See how that turns out, I am pretty sure you have a setting wrong but thats just a guess.

The best thing to do is post a photo with the exif included.
how do you change the shutter priority, and if you make it faster, will this cause problems on non action shots?

[60mm]

Turn the dial on the top of the camera to S. Then press the exposure button above the LCD which will allow you to change the shutter speed. The camera will automatically adjust the other settings according to what you choose.
It can affect non action pictures in a variety of ways. Generally, the only time you need S mode, is if you are doing action shots, using a flash, you just need to speed it up to avoid blur caused by handshake, or you feel that the camera is using to quick a shutter speed for a low light/night shot you are taking. If you take a non action shot under good lighting with the shutter speed cranked up on S mode, the camera may change from f2.8 or so to f8.0. this does to things noticeably to your photo. The background is going to be in focus more which you may or may not want as it detracts from the photos center of attention. It will also darken the picture. If you have ISO on auto too, it may try to crank up the ISO to make up for less light coming in (due to the faster shutter speed) and changes in your aperature (f2.8-f8.0).
Bottom line, use the S mode when it is called for, do not leave it there!

[tudacee]

I didn't even ask the question, but that was so helpful, the info on using S mode for action pics.

thanks so much!!!
dee