Low lighting + manual settings = crap

I am having the WORST luck with low light pictures.

I have an S2-IS and the only way I can get a half decent picture is to change my settings to very low (ie. 0"5, f2.7) and crank my ISO to 400. Now, this still gives me high grain, somewhat dark (and blurry without a tripod) pictures, and the flash (if I'm close enough) overblows the pictures every time. And if I'm not close enough to use the flash (most of the time I'm not), it doesn't help anyway.

So I remembered this thread (https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=202918) and noticed that the iso here is at 800, but the exposure is set to f/2, 1/640. SIX FORTY!!

Now I realize that the cameras used here are not comparable, but regardless, the settings are drastically different. WHAT am I doing wrong? Can anyone help?

I don't know anything about the S2, but exposure is exposure. You have to set your aperture, shutter, and ISO so the camera gets enough light to make a worthwhile picture, or use a flash.

You thread is a bit vauge, I think if you post again with more details you'll get more useful replies.

Sorry, I'm not sure how to explain better.

I tried (at 3 in the afternoon, on a BEAUTIFUL sunny day, indoors with no direct sunlight, but lots of windows - ie. lots of natural lighting, but still in the shade), to take a picture in my living room.

Camera was set to the exif above, but when I tried to set it to 1/640 (or even 1/200), with f.2 and 400 iso (highest my camera goes) the picture was BLACK. Zoom (12x optical) didn't seem to make ANY difference.

But you're right. Exposure is exposure, so why am I getting horrible pictures in low lighting, with anything set higher than 0".5?

A picture taken outdoors in bright sunlight on the other hand, turns out great...

OK, the manual settings came out crap. Did you try shooting in one of the camera's automatic modes? What exposure did the camera recommend in the same situation? Let's see what the difference is and then we can try to puzzle out what's going on...

Why are you using manual if you don't understand it? Use aperture priority, P, or auto. The book "understanding exposure" will give you the understanding to use any camera

Tim: Because I'm trying to use my basic knowledge to learn (or relearn). I have no problem with the dummy modes (and auto just never cuts it). I used nothing BUT manual mode on my old film camera, but this camera doesn't seem to react the same. Even my A70 was easier to use in manual mode (which I used almost all the time, when I wasn't using a dummy mode). That was such a great little camera... So easy to use and it took such nice pictures, and I don't think I ever used auto on that camera.

Stewart: I tried that last night and the manual settings were around f.2, 1/40 (a good picture), but to match it in manual I had to set it to 0"5. I definitely missed something because when I tried it again just now (both settings exactly the same), the manual picture came out nicer! I'm guessing the iso was higher (I didn't download the pictures to check the iso in auto).

I'm going to take some test pictures and see if I can figure it out. Can you suggest any photo exercises that might help me understand it a little better? It was so difficult to get a nice picture in manual mode when I first bought my camera, that I almost suspected something was wrong with it.

My main goal is to be able to take pictures of the dogs playing, in lower lighting. And a slow shutter speed just doesn't cut it for action shots. I'll edit in a minute and post an example.

(Edit) This was taken in auto mode, with the flash on (though it never went off because it was so bright outside to begin with - flash wasn't needed). The dogs weren't moving when this picture was taken, and as you can see, it was a beautiful sunny day (even though they were playing in the shade). I had NO luck with manual mode whatsoEVER, which is why I gave up and used auto. And I NEVER used automatic mode before I got this camera. Ugh. Help?

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What’s best for exposure, Gray cards, white paper, expensive attachments for the lens?
Gray Card…White Paper. What’s best?

Need an exposure crutch?
Don’t have a gray or white card, or hand held meter with you? “Film tricks” can help you out.

Virtual Camera
http://www.photonhead.​com/simcam/

tim wrote:
Why are you using manual if you don't understand it? Use aperture priority, P, or auto. The book "understanding exposure" will give you the understanding to use any camera

I enjoy that book by Brian Peterson.

Considering, I 'cheat' a little when using Manual. What I have done is. Set the camera in auto. Read the camera settings. Then I go back to Manual, AP, or TV. Useing the settings AUTO provided me. I set the camera to those settings.Then adjust to the depth of field I am interested in.

Now, I am getting ready for FOOTBALL and Basketball. So I have been playing with ISO and 1/4000 Shutterspeed and focusing.
Today I practiced with a child on a swing. By standing on the side of the swing. I tried to time the swing to the shutter. It was a challange.

Spirit,

Here’s an exercise I used to help get the hang of setting manual exposure. You have three things that effect exposure ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. Try setting ISO at say 400, next pick a shutter speed say 1/200. Now take shots of exactly the same thing in the same light using all of your apertures. Next change shutter to 1/60 or anything else and run through all the apertures again.

Now change the ISO to 200 and run through the exact same shutter speeds and aperture combinations as done with ISO 400. Compare all of your images while paying attention to the EXIF data. Patterns should appear and you'll start to get a feel for exposure.

Hope this made as much sense in print as it did in my head.


Drew

In order to use manual mode you need more then just some examples. What you need is an understanding or eye for exposure. Start w/ the sunny 16 rule. On a sunny day the exposure is f/16 and 1/iso. Now you need to read the ev of the subject and exposure accordingly. You can just pickup a camera and think you're going to learn ev it take time and experience. That is why they invented exposure meter from that they invented AE. Now by using the camera in Av or Tv mode is no way being dumb. Trying to duplicate what some one else did w/ their exposue now that is... just not. Since every scene will differ and require some major or minor exposure adjustment. Try using Av mode and try to recognize the ev so next time you want to try manual mode you'll be able to set it accordingly. Also even w/ AE the camera can still be wrong especially if the scene has HDR.

Or you could do the same thing in the last link I posted, Drew.

I like this idea. I will try this at different times of the day.

I think part of my problem is that I'm not used to dealing with fast moving objects. It still makes me wonder why I'm having so much trouble with my S2, when I had NO problems using manual mode on my A70...

ld: That's a really good point. I do have the basic knowledge on how to set the settings accordingly, but my "eye for exposure" does need a little guidance, I guess.

Thanks for all the help.

PhotosGuy wrote:
Or you could do the same thing in the last link I posted, Drew.

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lol! I experimented COUNTLESS times setting the white balance by using a white card, grey card, colored cards (sky, flowers, grass, etc) to see what kind of results I would get. I think I'm a lost cause on this one. I did bookmark those links though! Thanks!

PhotosGuy wrote:
Or you could do the same thing in the last link I posted, Drew.

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All though a nice little app and it helps to teach the concept it is not the same as the real world. I find it nowhere near the same as doing the real thing. When doing the real thing you get sense for light and where it's coming from. You also get practice of using your camera controls. Where they are which way to turn the knob or which button to press etc… How your camera settings work and what the real effects are.

Also the app can't help me figure-out the right exposure for the vase in the front hall or that I actually like it slightly under exposed and side lit. Only repetition with your camera will get you to be a better photographer, no app can.

Drew

True, but the quote referenced "Patterns should appear and you'll start to get a feel for exposure.", & hopefully get a feeling for the interaction between the controls. Then it's time to go out & shoot & try to get the pic you've visualized?