S3 IS image clarity problems -- need suggestions

[gecko5]

Hello all,

New member here and a fairly new owner of an S3 IS. I have been quite happy with one exception..

I find that when i take photos indoors, the photos are very grainy like and i have not been able to determine how to address this. It occurs with flash, without. I always shoot with the camera set to auto. I do not know enough to start fiddling with manual setting (Hence the reason for buying this camera!!!).

Can anyone make some suggestions?

I have included two examples.

Cheers,

[angusT]

Hi, I have the same problem when I take photo's indoor, I'm interested in what others have to say on how to fix this problem as well, I don't know if you have used the sports mode on the Canon S3 IS but I also get a similar looking photo when using the sports mode on the Camera...

Sorry I couldn't be of any help as I'm a new camera owner as well, good luck...

Angus

Hello all,

New member here and a fairly new owner of an S3 IS. I have been quite happy with one exception..

I find that when i take photos indoors, the photos are very grainy like and i have not been able to determine how to address this. It occurs with flash, without. I always shoot with the camera set to auto. I do not know enough to start fiddling with manual setting (Hence the reason for buying this camera!!!).

Can anyone make some suggestions?

I have included two examples.

Cheers,

[jurel]

if you take the photography in automode, the camera automatically set the proper iso speed for the indoor ilumination (usually over iso 200). High iso means noise problems and canon have problem with the high isos and the noise.
The better is always take pictures in manual mode iso 50 and set the shutter speed slow (with a tripod) and the apperture wide open 2.7 or something.

[2Shiny]

Yeah, the auto mode is allowing the camera to do whatever is necessary to properly expose the picture. It will shoot at a slow shutter speed and raise the ISO to brighten the photo. Higher ISO = more noise (grain)

[barosborough]

If you don't want to use manual mode and are taking pictures inside. Try SCN and select INDOOR has your function. In my opinion this is the best feature about the S3. Really has good Auto White Balance in this mode and you can get some great color from this setting.

Also if you are using flash in this mode take advantage of the zoom and step back from your subject and zoom in. This will make it so the flash is not so harsh on your subject but you can still get in close.

[Canon Guy]

Or try putting it into P, and manually selecting a lower ISO.

[whuband]

No point and shoot camera that I know of (with the possible exception of a couple of Fuji models) will allow you to shoot that scene without the noise that you see. To photograph people you will need to use your flash. To photograph just the room or a still life, use a low ISO and a tripod.

In the auto mode I believe the shutter speed defaults to 1/60 with the flash. This will leave the background dark but the subject will be properly exposed. If you use the indoor scene mode with the flash, the balance between flash and ambient light will be better. However, if you have set a low ISO to prevent grain, the shutter speed will be low and you might see motion in the subject before or after the flash fires.

I'm guessing in a photo like the example with ISO 100 you would have a shutter speed of about 1/10 with the lens wide open and the strobe firing. Since the flash duration is for such a short time, if the subject moves during the rest of the 1/10 of a second of exposure you will have a blurred image. If you are photographing kids using the indoor scene mode, just shoot a lot and you will get a few good ones. They certainly won't be still for a photo.

Hope this helps