ELPH/IXUS 400: IS ISO 400 THE ONLY NON BLURRY OPTION ???

[SPROCKET]

IS IT JUST ME OR IS IT HARD TO GET SHARP PICTURES USING ISO 50/100/200 ON THE IXUS 400. I KNOW A TRIPOD IS BETTER FOR LOWER ISO BUT I AM FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO GET DECENT HANDHELD PICTURE USING ISO 200. MAYBE DIGITAL CAMERAS HAVE A LONGER SHUTTER RELEASE DELAY THAT RESULTS IN THIS ISO PROBLEM ?

ALSO, ANOTHER THOUGHT I HAD WAS WHETHER CONTINUOS SHOOTING MODE WOULD NARROW THE APERTURE AND GIVE QUICKER SHUTTER TIMES ?

[PeterS45]

What do you mean by blurry, not sharp or due to motion? I always take my pictures (in daylight) using ISO 50 without any problems.

Post a picture and maybe I can tell you more.

[kie]

Yeah I also get plenty of nice sharp pics... you should post an example

[SPROCKET]

I THINK I MEAN MOTION. NORMALLY IF I TAKE A PICTURE WITH 400 AND 200, THE 400 IS ALWAYS NOTICEABLY BETTER ON THE LCD DISPLAY. I THOUGHT THAT ONLY UNDER CERTAIN LIGHT CONDITIONS / MOVING SUBJECT , THAT THE 400 WOULD LOOK BETTER, NOT FOR ALL CONDITIONS. :?

[SPROCKET]

I WOULD LOVE TO POST SOME PICS, BUT WHERE I LIVE THERE IS NO PHONE CONNECTION :( DON'T GET ME WRONG I KNOW THE CAMERA IS CAPABLE OF TAKING SHARP PICTURES, BUT FOR SNAPS ON THE GO I ALWAYS SEEM TO USE 400, AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT ISO OTHER IXUS 400 USERS COMMONLY USE ? MAYBE MY SHUTTER TECHNIQUE NEEDS WORKING ON, BUT I AM ALWAYS AWARE WHEN I TAKE THE PICTURE TO BE AS STILL AS POSSIBLE.
AM I RIGHT IN THINKING THAT WITH A LARGER CAMERA, IT IS EASIER TO KEEP THECAMERA STILL WHILE PRESSING THE SHUTTER ?

[kie]

well first of all please stop using caps


I've taken loads of sharp pictures at less than ISO 400.
Why not set the ISO to auto and see what happens? I doubt you need ISO 400 for normal shooting, especially with good light.

I can be tricky getting used to holding a small camera steadily but with a bit of practice it is possible. I used to use a old 35mm slr - so it took a while to get used to the Ixus 400 but my photos are sharp now ;)

[Tom W]

A lot depends on where you are taking the pictures. Indoors with flash, or other low-light situations, you want the most stable stance you can get. I hold my S-400 something like this:

http://home.comcast.net/~trwilk3/Images/SolidStance.jpg

Notice how the elbows are tight against the body, the left hand is cupped under the camera, and the head is against the viewfinder. This provides a good solid base for taking pictures in low-light situations where the shutter speed will be slower.

The LCD screen is a good tool for framing pictures as you take them, but unfortunately, it doesn't provide as stable a stance as the previous picture:

http://home.comcast.net/~trwilk3/Images/NotSolidStance.jpg

Its fine to shoot this way outdoors, and where there's ample light, but it isn't as stable for indoor or low-light shooting.

Another thing to note - the flash range on these smaller cameras (not just Canon, but most little ones) is not very long. I'd not depend on the flash at much over 9 feet (3 meters) or so without bumping up the ISO to 400. Even at 400, the range is limited.

BTW, I usually shoot at ISO 100, though I do bump it up for indoor photography. The higher graininess is a fair tradeoff for well-exposed pictures.

[SPROCKET]

sorry if my caps are bugging (i have to use them for my work). Anyway, i think i will try both of your suggestions- auto iso and the "tennessee firefighting pose" :P

[atotos]

SPROCKET, I usually use ISO 100 or 50, and hardly ever any higher. Pictures are sharp and crisp. Using the macro feature does greatly improve close-ups, especially in the 5-25 cm range. :)

[acurtis]

I tend to leave my IXUS400 on ISO auto. This usually gives me no problem although most of my shots are outdoors in reasonable light. The ISO actually used doesn't appear to be recorded in the EXIF data which means I haven't a clue to what were the settings used for the shot appart from the shutter speed and aperture. Only a problem for entering competitions though and you can always make it up.

Andy

[Mettleh3d]

I wonder how Tom W got that shot of himself and the camera? Perhaps someone else took it for him?

I tried taking a shot of myself in the mirror (about 2 feet away), and the AiAF was tricked by sensing the mirror was the subject. It focused on the mirror and the camera and my image (theoretically 4 feet away) was blurry. Very funny and interesting concept i stumbled across.

Anyways, I was curious also to finding out the shutter speed settings on the S400. At the higher ISOs, it seems thats the only way to get nonblurry photos when not in daylight. The lower ISOs work well outside, while indoors, even breathing would cause ur picture to look like smeared paint.
Is there no way to manually set the shutter speed. My buddy's Powershot A70 can i believe.

[SPROCKET]

Mettle, I think the s400 is very sensitive to camera shake under low light & indoor conditions. There is no manual settings for shutter speed / aperture. Tripods are a solution when you can use them, or resting the camera on a table. I am not sure if all s400 are like this or just mine. If I had the internet I would post to the forum. Perhaps you could post some to the forum.

[abel]

hmm.. i think it may be a slow shutter speed that is making your images like that...

this was taken with my s400 yesterday...

http://www.nitrocross.com/temp/400hawk.jpg

low light/slow shutter speed pics do work best with a minitripod or something else in order to get a clean crisp image. i never use an iso 400 because the images tend to be way too noisey... i just leave it on iso 50 and shoot away...

good luck.

[rothers]

Great pic, what shutter speed was this taken at ?

[abel]

thank

info is
shutter: 1/50
fnumber: 4.9

it was hand held. no tripod etc.

[Mettleh3d]

That red hawk is a GREAT shot. Good work. Did you flash or use macro?
And sometimes, don't you guys get a little irritated when about 60%+ of your pictures are imperfect because of a little camera jiggle? (ISO 50)

Im beginning to use ISO 50 more often, and practicing to hold a stronger, firmer stance. The use of a tripod is good, but what was canon thinking putting the hole on the far right? the weight isnt evenly distributed! My guess is to make Self-timer 10 seconds your best friend!