need museum photo tips

[adavem]

i visit a lot of museums and take lots of pictures with mixed results(a lot of bad)i know i should use a tripod but because of crowds its not always possible.i just bought a a620 thinking i would get instant great pictures.and still the same.how about some advice....i really dont understand much about iso,aperture and other advanced settings.any 620 owners that can clue me in would be much appreciated.

[Stefan A]

In a museum where light is dim, you will have to manipulate shutter, aperture, and iso. There may be an indoor setting you could experiment with. Try boosting your iso way up, and then putting the camera in P mode. That would be a fairly simple way to get started But the problem will be long shutter times. Without a tripod, it will be difficult to keep the camera steady. Depending on the exibit, you may be able to lean the lens on something, or actually place it on the glass of the exibit (as long as the lens glass is not touching) Maybe a monopod would work - it's smaller than a tripod but won't be as stable. Maybe you should get a camera with image stabilization, like the S2 or S3. Practice holding the camera really still against your face and keep you elbows tucked against your body. Press the shutter lightly. Watch the focus point and make sure it stays as stable as possible. Of course, it shoild be understood that you must use the eyepiece, and not the lcd to take the shot.

Stefan