Help me...

[alekhp]

I bought a Canon SX10 IS. Please help me for setting it to get good quality pictures. I couldn't understand most of the settings.Is there any easy methods?

[Jon]

Start by setting the picture resolution to "Large Superfine" or Large Fine" (p. 80 in your manual). Set the camera to "P" mode and set the ISO to 80 (p. 84). That's a generally good setting for outdoors in bright sunny conditions. Set Auto ISO Shift to On (p. 85) and follow the directions there to increase your ISO if the "shake" red icon comes on in the screen or viewfinder. Don't forget to return it to the default setting when you're finished. If you're in the shade, you may need to use ISO 100 or 200; indoors or at night put up the flash and, if you're over 10 ft. away from your subject, increase the ISO to 200 or 400.

It's not,strictly speaking, a camera setting, but use the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen on the back of the camera whenever possible. They show the same information, but you'll hold the camera more solidly if you have your arms tucked into your body and the camera braced against your forehead than if you're holding the camera out at arms length. Support the camera from beneath with your left hand rather than trying to hold it and press the shutter with your right hand. And don't stab at the shutter - press smoothly down so you don't jerk the camera.

Download all your pictures and check them out on the computer to see what you like and don't like aboout them. Then look at the settings the camera used (they're stored in the "EXIF Data", which Zoom Browser and most photo editing or viewing proograms will show you). See what worked or didn't work, so the next time you get in a similar situation you'll know what to do differently.

[New_sd]

Not to highjack the thread but just wanted to say thank you. Don't have camera yet. It'll be SX1 or SX20 in few days. I'm new too (used to just click on P&S with auto, no chnge at all) & this will be a very good starting point.

Start by setting the picture resolution to "Large Superfine" or Large Fine" (p. 80 in your manual). Set the camera to "P" mode and set the ISO to 80 (p. 84). That's a generally good setting for outdoors in bright sunny conditions. Set Auto ISO Shift to On (p. 85) and follow the directions there to increase your ISO if the "shake" red icon comes on in the screen or viewfinder. Don't forget to return it to the default setting when you're finished. If you're in the shade, you may need to use ISO 100 or 200; indoors or at night put up the flash and, if you're over 10 ft. away from your subject, increase the ISO to 200 or 400.

It's not,strictly speaking, a camera setting, but use the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen on the back of the camera whenever possible. They show the same information, but you'll hold the camera more solidly if you have your arms tucked into your body and the camera braced against your forehead than if you're holding the camera out at arms length. Support the camera from beneath with your left hand rather than trying to hold it and press the shutter with your right hand. And don't stab at the shutter - press smoothly down so you don't jerk the camera.

Download all your pictures and check them out on the computer to see what you like and don't like aboout them. Then look at the settings the camera used (they're stored in the "EXIF Data", which Zoom Browser and most photo editing or viewing proograms will show you). See what worked or didn't work, so the next time you get in a similar situation you'll know what to do differently.

[dan_bgblue]

Not to disagree with anyone here, but for me, when I bought my first digital P&S camera, I set the dial on top to the dreaded green box and took about 500 shots. Downloaded them to the PC and started looking at what I liked and what I did not. I had a lot of fun taking the pictures and many of them turned out great.

I did not have to worry about any settings at all while I was getting a feel for the camera and reading the manual. All the available settings on a modern digital P&S can be very daunting to someone who has never used one before and worrying about them from the start is no fun at all.

Having the camera is supposed to be fun, or at least that is my opinion. Green box, go out and have some fun taking a LOT of pictures and refine your skills in the coming months and years by using the additional features of the camera you have.

jmho

[JustShootin']

Just a few years ago, I would have agreed with the green box theory, but today's compacts have much higher ISOs than then, and all too often the camera will choose a much higher ISO than needed, which we all knows ruins photos taken with small sensor cameras. So I have to go along with using the program auto mode, rather than full auto. It's still an auto mode with no complicated settings to worry about, but will get better results than full auto.

[macrotech]

I lurk here quite often (and don't post much) but just have to chime in about the wealth of knowledge and tips in this thread. Thanks to Justshootin' and Jon, I've spent the last half-hour tinkering with settings on my A590, my one and only. Got some quality shots and learned some new things about it..

[Persephone]

Just a few years ago, I would have agreed with the green box theory, but today's compacts have much higher ISOs than then, and all too often the camera will choose a much higher ISO than needed, which we all knows ruins photos taken with small sensor cameras. So I have to go along with using the program auto mode, rather than full auto. It's still an auto mode with no complicated settings to worry about, but will get better results than full auto.

The SX1xx series is excellent in this regard. Auto mode picks an ISO between 80-200. You do have to set it to not do Auto Hi ISO, however.