PowerShot SD770 IS Problem

[ChrisThieblot]

Hey guys, I'm a noob here, so I apologize if I'm doing anything wrong.
I wanted to ask for advice on taking pictures without flash. Whenever I have flash on, I get very high quality pictures and they turn out great, but when I take the flash off, the pictures turn out bad. It's like if you take off flash, you also take off the IS function too.. Please help!

[Jon]

Well, you're not turning off the IS function, but it can't perform miracles. With flash, you're getting a 1/500 sec. exposure effectively. Try setting the camea firmly on a table and then taking the picture; you'll see a marked difference over hand-holding it. IS can maybe help down to around 1/30 sec. if you're holding the camera out so you can see the picture on the LCD.

[ChrisThieblot]

I've seen responses where it says use a tripod or just on a table, but I want to take normal pictures without flash lol. Why should it effect the quality? or the IS mode?
For example, pictures of myself in a mirror (I know, typical myspace shot). The lighting is perfect, it's just blurry.

[tkbslc]

The process of taking a picture involves exposing light to a sensor or film. To get a proper exposure requires a certain amount of light. In bright light (like outside in the sun) there is plenty of light to go around, so there is nothing to worry about. Well when you are taking an image in a darker area (where your camera would want to use flash) the camera cannot get very much light, obviously. So it has to compensate by leaving the shutter open longer to let more light in. The longer it stays open, the more apparent the subject or the photographers movement can become apparent. IS can help a little, but it can't compensate if your subject moves. It also is only good down to about 1/10 shutter speed for still subjects. The other thing your camera can do to get more light is to boost the ISO (or gain) of the light. This amplifies the light signal in essence. The problem is that this introduces grain and noise to the image and makes it softer. So you are kind of damned if you do and damned if you dont. If you leave the ISO low enough for a clean image, there is motion blur. If you raise the ISO for higher shutter speeds, you get grain. So, the solution is to add more light (or flash), or obtain a camera that can shoot at higher ISO's with less noise (an SLR) with a lens that can let in more light.

Anyway, hope that makes sense. Main points are that your camera has a flash for a reason, and your camera can't see in the dark without compromises.

[Jon]

It's blurry because you aren't as shake-free as you think. That's why I suggested the test, to demonstrate to yourself that you are the problem, not the camera. If you can't hand-hold the camera steadily at slow speeds, no amount of IS will compensate for that. It just extends by 2-3 steps, the range of hand-holdable speeds. By taking a picture while hand-holding the camera and then while the camera is resting on something solid, you'll demonstrate to yourself that it's not the camera. Similarly, if you're outdoors in daylight you get sharp pictures, don't you?

[ChrisThieblot]

I know I am the problem, lol. I'm just asking if there is a way to have IS without flash? Even if the light is good (in which you wouldn't use flash), it still turns out blurry. Everytime the flash isn't on, it is blurry, no matter the light situation. That's why I thought turning flash off also meant turning IS off.

[Jon]

You have IS - just you're expecting too much from it. IS can't keep up with more than a limited amount of shake. Post some examples with EXIF data.

[tkbslc]

You have IS - just you're expecting too much from it. IS can't keep up with more than a limited amount of shake. Post some examples with EXIF data.

x2. And if your subjects are people, they will move slightly even though IS is holding the camera lens still. and if the camera even tries to use flash, the light is not as good as you think.