Having problems with indoor shots

[ssh1525]

I'm sorry but I'm new to this sight and I think I posted this message on the wrong forum. Anyway I have a Canon S2 Is that I've been extremely happy with outdoor shots but indoor I've been very unhappy. I don't want to use the flash because it blows everything out and leaves a shadow behind the subject. If I don't everything is very grainy and blurry. I have used the P setting at 400 ISO. Also even the slightest movement (ex with children)results in blurring. My first digital cam was a less complicated olympus and I had no trouble getting excellent shots. I upgraded thinking I would have more features for creativity. Either I'm over my head and don't know what I'm doing or it's my camera. I hate the shots of taken and opportunities wasted. Could anyone help. I've attached some examples. The first is flash picture and the rest are the grainy, blurry ones.

Thanks so much
Sandy

[tim11]

It's not what you did; it's the camera limitation. In fact by raising ISO to 400 you are well on the right track.
I know your situation perfectly with a few very young kids myself with the youngest just over one year old, and like you I either shoot without the flash of bounce the flash off the ceiling. Bounce flash is a technique you should employ should you be able to find a slave flash for S2.

Back to the shots.... indoors at night I can't use anything less than ISO 1600 in a large size room with 2 x 100W bulbs. At ISO400 the shutter won't be quite sufficient for a sharp photos unless the subjects stay very still. You can try Av mode at ISO 400 and put aperture to the max. (the smallest number of 2.7) so that will let available light into the sensor in the shortest possible time. That will be all that you can do with the S2 I'm afraid. Some people will suggest you use Tv mode and put shutter to such and such, but to do so without enough light you will only get under exposed images.

You should be considering a DSLR...?

[David Metsky]

This is a duplicate post - http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37768

Please pick one thread and have Jeff close the other one. It's better to have a single discussion thread then spread it out on two parallel threads.

[ssh1525]

Thats fine...How do I have Jeff do that? I'd like it left on the Canon thread.
Thanks