Ideal settings for my SD700is

[Winnipeg Shooter]

Could someone offer me advice on this one...

It is now school Christmas concert season and I have never had any luck with taking clear pictures at these kind of events. They either turn out too dark or everything is blurry. Having extolled the virtues of a new SD700is the boss finally approved the purchase a few weeks back so now it's time to produce the goods. Fantastic shots are expected this time around. Would you use Automatic, Manual, or one of the Scene modes? Flash on or off? ISO setting? Should I play with the exposure settings? Any other tips on taking shots inside darkly lit auditoriums would be highly appreciated.

This forum has the best posts on the net. Thanks in advance!

[august23]

Iso usually high, and the ISO800 on the sd700 is completely usable, I have the camera myself, the pictures still come out pretty sharp. NO FLASH, flash is what causes pictures to be dark in dim auditoriums because the flash cant reach that far, and the camera isnt depending on outside light sources. stick in manual, exposure at around +1, no flash, iso 400, and a STEADY HAND! =)

[CRE@TE]

Frankly, I find anything beyond ISO 200 too noisy on my SD700.

[august23]

really? thats odd. maybe im just not at a professional level like you, but i find the images at 400 and even 800 most of the time to still be clear. 400 definately, 800 its very noticeable but in an emergency situation it gets the job done

[CRE@TE]

I doubt if it has anything to do with professional or otherwise. I'm far from being a professional. You can just see how noisy it is getting.

Here is a review that has some samples:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd700-review/

Here is a sample- 100% crop @ ISO 400

[Winnipeg Shooter]

Thanks august23 and CRE@TE. I will use your recommendations. Do you think the blurriness is more a factor of hand shake or subject movement? Or are they equal in the eye of the camera?

[Jon]

I doubt if it has anything to do with professional or otherwise. I'm far from being a professional. You can just see how noisy it is getting.

Here is a review that has some samples:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd700-review/

Here is a sample- 100% crop @ ISO 400
Underexposed or shadowed areas will always show more noise than lighter, brighter areas. Your example will, since it's got large black areas, and it's being thrown off by the backlit LCD panel, accentuate that.

[CRE@TE]

Underexposed or shadowed areas will always show more noise than lighter, brighter areas. Your example will, since it's got large black areas, and it's being thrown off by the backlit LCD panel, accentuate that.

This is true, but, most times when I shoot higher ISO with a P&S are in those low light conditions.

[CRE@TE]

Could someone offer me advice on this one...

It is now school Christmas concert season and I have never had any luck with taking clear pictures at these kind of events. They either turn out too dark or everything is blurry. Having extolled the virtues of a new SD700is the boss finally approved the purchase a few weeks back so now it's time to produce the goods. Fantastic shots are expected this time around. Would you use Automatic, Manual, or one of the Scene modes? Flash on or off? ISO setting? Should I play with the exposure settings? Any other tips on taking shots inside darkly lit auditoriums would be highly appreciated.

This forum has the best posts on the net. Thanks in advance!

Perhaps you can get as close as you possibly can without having to zoom the lens. When you have zoomed the lens, your camera is generally at a higher f stop requiring more light.

Just a thought.

[Jon]

This is true, but, most times when I shoot higher ISO with a P&S are in those low light conditions.I didn't say "low light". I said "underexposed" or "shadow". Try opening up a bit. Just guessing but the silver bezel around the LCD looks at least a stop underexposed based on what most computers use for their silver trim.

[august23]

as to his question, if somethings moving, its pissing ur camera off, plain and simple lol.

[Pogi]

I got mine at Best Buy here in Winnipeg last July. Took it to Hawaii for holidays, took over 2000 pictures and most of them good. Normal, 4x and unbelievably even 16x from the 19th floor of hotel to ground came out clear. Unfortunately, the coating of LCD came off and had to bring to Precision Camera here in Winnipeg to have LCD replaced. After I got it back, never took a good picture again. Taking picture of walking people came off blurred. Even the slightest movement came off blurred. I think the camera got worst after it came back from Precision. Tomorrow I will call Canon Canada to see if they can do somthing. Tried reset to no avail. I'm glad I still have my very reliable Canon A70. To all SD700is users....good luck.