argh! autofocus!! F10

[cubby]

I am losing some of my BEST photos to focus/blur....It may be because I don't use a flash indoors....but then again, a shirt collar is in focus and the puppy isn't....(moving?)

What can I do??? (besides use flash) I am using the BW mode mostly.

I went back and re-read the manual on using the auto focus (AF/AE light etc, per Stephanie's suggestion) and one thing I noticed is that I usually DON"T get the double beep...but if I move the camera back a foot, I do. So am I too close? (but I'm at least 2 feet away..)

Should I enclose an example? and thank you for your help!
cubby

[sjseto]

Hi cubby,

It could be any of the things that you mentioned. To review:

• If the light is low, the camera can have difficulty focusing. Make sure your AF assist lamp is turned on. I know it can ruin the spontaneity of the moment, but at least the picture will be in focus.
• If the camera is too close to the subject, the camera will have difficulty focusing in normal mode. If you're within 2.6 feet of the subject, try switching to macro mode.
• If the subject is moving, it could be blurry in the photo.
• If the shutter speed is too slow, either camera shake or subject movement can be a problem.

For the last 2 problems, the best thing to do is to increase the ISO to 800 or 1600. If you're in auto ISO (with flash off) or Natural Light mode, the camera should be doing this automatically. If you've manuallly set the ISO, you have to manually change it. But even at ISO 1600, dim indoor lighting will still sometimes require a shutter speed that is too slow to avoid blurriness due to subject movement or camera shake. However your F10 will still usually get you a better no-flash picture under these conditions than just about any other compact camera.

Case in point: I took 5 pictures at this restaurant last month. The lighting didn't seem all that dim, but ISO 1600 was still required to get a fast enough shutter speed if I didn't want to use flash. Although I'd like to think that I'm pretty experienced with the F10 by now, I still managed to mis-focus every shot except for the one below.



And, yes, please do enclose some examples so we can take a look!

Stephanie

[cubby]

Stephanie...what glorious girls!!!!

I will try changing the ISO. I think I pushed it TOO much and got really yellow pictures...I'll experiment.

meantime I will include photos for diagnosis.

thanks
cubby

[speaklightly]

Cubby-

Stephanie has gotten you moving in the correct direction. However there is still one other factor to consider IMHO. Are you attempting to take your sample photos in the "Auto" Mode? If you are, this could really be your problem.

I have a lot of experience with the Fuji F-10, just a Stephanie does, and I ALWAYS shoot using the M for Manual Mode. That let's you select the ISO setting (as Stephanie has related). You have a whole lot more control of the shutter speed when in the Manual Mode and manually setting the ISO speed.

Speaklightly

[cubby]

Cubby-

Stephanie has gotten you moving in the correct direction. However there is still one other factor to consider IMHO. Are you attempting to take your sample photos in the "Auto" Mode? If you are, this could really be your problem.

I have a lot of experience with the Fuji F-10, just a Stephanie does, and I ALWAYS shoot using the M for Manual Mode. That let's you select the ISO setting (as Stephanie has related). You have a whole lot more control of the shutter speed when in the Manual Mode and manually setting the ISO speed.

Speaklightly

nope. manual mode...don't use auto much at all