FZ 15 washed out colors?

[KRad]

Ok, I am not only new to the digital camera world, but also to photography in general. I purchased my FZ 15 about a month ago, after lurking here and absorbing all kinds of great info! Thanks to all btw! Here's my set up. FZ15, phayee adapter, TCON17. Eventually I will add my C210, as soon as I receive the 55 mm filter (will tap out glass to fit C210, then will be adapter, C210 the TCON17 on last). I bought the camera primarily for taking pictures of birds. Although also great for pictures of the kids. I love the camera, although I still have much to learn.
Here's the problem.Many of my pictues seem to be very washed out looking. I can't decide if it is because of the out door lighting, the printer I use, the photographer (me :o ), or the settings I am using. Mainly I have been using the "P" mode, only using other modes in test trials. The photos that seem to show up clear and bright, don't print out that way.
Here are a few that I have taken: http://kelly8007.fotopic.net/c456844.html
Any thoughts? Oh yeah, printer I am using HP 1200 series (I'm thinking that may be the problem). However I emailed some to a friend they printed out horribly as well, could that be the Kodak software I used to email them?? (they had a cannon ip6000, I think) Any thoughts would be helpful!

Next problem...I need a tripod, and I guess an adapter as well?? Any suggestions, keeping in mind I have spent 2 weeks of pay already to get up and running. Definitely on a budget now!

[thebac]

Hi,

I know that in the FZ3 (don't know the FZ15, sorry) you can change the saturation setting. Increase it, the colors should look richer (you can also change contrast and sharpening).

Also, you might consider adding a polarizer when taking pictures with lots of sunlight.

[genece]

I downloaded the full size pictures of the girl on the bike and the small bird.
Both pictures were over exposed I fixed that in PS, my suggestion would be to use - 2/3 exposure. and both photos were out of focus, my suggestion would be to use spot focus and maybe play with spot meter to see if it works for you.
Oh I printed those 2 photos on a Canon i850 at 5 X 7 and they came out very nice.
My suggestion for that would be to set your printer driver to a better quality. And I can do better printing useing custom settings, but when in a hurry I just leave the Canon software choose its own settings and that works out well, you just need to tell it what kind of paper your using.

Oh ..turn the noise reduction to low.

[KRad]

I downloaded the full size pictures of the girl on the bike and the small bird.
Both pictures were over exposed I fixed that in PS, my suggestion would be to use - 2/3 exposure. and both photos were out of focus, my suggestion would be to use spot focus and maybe play with spot meter to see if it works for you.
Oh I printed those 2 photos on a Canon i850 at 5 X 7 and they came out very nice.
My suggestion for that would be to set your printer driver to a better quality. And I can do better printing useing custom settings, but when in a hurry I just leave the Canon software choose its own settings and that works out well, you just need to tell it what kind of paper your using.

Oh ..turn the noise reduction to low.

I can't seem to figure out how to set the noise reduction to low?

[genece]

page 75 of the USA manual under picture adjustment.
Well that is where it is on a FZ20.

Try this
push the menu button
push the down arrow on the jog dial 11 times to pic. adj
then the right arrow 1 time
then the down arrow 4 times
then the right arrow i1 time
and the down arrow to low
then the right arrow 1 time t
and then the menu button

Again that is the way to do it on the FZ20 ,I can only guess it is similar on the 15.

[KRad]

I found it. Still figuring it all out... long way to go. Thanks again!


Any suggestions on relatively inexpensive tripods?

[genece]

You know I have a slik and a sunpak , both were the more expensive models
in those lines and while they were not too bad for cameras with 3X zoom I would not recommend them for the ultra zooms.
I am saving for a B/M tripod now I would advise you to spend more than you want and get a B/M tripod with a QR plate that should last a while.

This is the one I want
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=351380&is=REG

and after getting burnt on a couple tripods I would suggest getting something at least this good

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=222201&is=REG