Getting familiar with my S1 IS...help pleae

[dlifesjrny]

The only way(s) I can get a blurry background is to extend the optical zoom all the way and fill the screen with my subject
OR
Use the manual focus feature, still usualy with the zoom max'd at 10x
Is this normal?
I get the same results in every mode...P,M,AUTO,portrait,distant, night, etc.
When I can afford a DSLR, will I have more control over blurring the background?

[S45_fornow...]

The only way(s) I can get a blurry background is to extend the optical zoom all the way and fill the screen with my subject
OR
Use the manual focus feature, still usualy with the zoom max'd at 10x
Is this normal?
I get the same results in every mode...P,M,AUTO,portrait,distant, night, etc.
When I can afford a DSLR, will I have more control over blurring the background?

One technique would be to move your subject closer to the lens and farther away from the background. Open the aperture as much as the particular focal length you are using will allow.

[flugelboy]

LOL. This is funny. I have the S1 and was thinking the exact same thing yesterday.

I have been able to blur the background by the above suggestion of moving the subject closer the the camera and farther from the background.

This picture was taken from probably 50 feet at about half of the optical zoom. The EXIF data is on the second link for each pic.
http://www.chadwhite.com/Portals/0/TTTGallery/Wildlife/IMG_0856.jpg
http://www.chadwhite.com/Default.aspx?tabid=66&mid=425&path=Wildlife&currentitem=3&currentstrip=1&media=IMG_0856.jpg&ctl=Exif

This was taken probably 15 feet at about half zoom.
http://www.chadwhite.com/Portals/0/TTTGallery/Wildlife/IMG_0831.jpg
http://www.chadwhite.com/Default.aspx?tabid=66&mid=425&path=Wildlife&currentitem=2&currentstrip=1&media=IMG_0831.jpg&ctl=Exif

This was about 6-7 feet with maybe a 2x zoom.
http://www.chadwhite.com/Portals/0/TTTGallery/Wildlife/IMG_0867.jpg
http://www.chadwhite.com/Default.aspx?tabid=66&mid=425&path=Wildlife&currentitem=4&currentstrip=1&media=IMG_0867.jpg&ctl=Exif


These photos are untouched accept for resizing, cropping and borders. The blurring is all from the camera. I hope this helps a bit.

[dlifesjrny]

Maybe I am looking a gift horse in the mouth, and not realising that have the manual focus function is a perk, and this can better aid me in the blurring of the background...