ISO & focussing issues

[~AJ~]

Ok, so I've just done a basic 8wk course through a community college so far, so I'm slowly understanding basic photography terminology and stuff & I felt I was really improving. But since the course finished just before Christmas, I feel like I've gone downhill.....

I try not to use the flash where I can - mainly coz I love taking close up photos of my kids & when I use the flash, it creates pinprick's in their eyes.... so I try to bump the ISO up if I'm inside & the lighting is a bit dark.... But I'm really having trouble with it - to the point where it's just p!ssing me off & I want to just throw in this whole photography thing LOL!

Sometimes I get the ISO right, but then the subjects won't be in nice, clear focus. Or, they'll be in focus, but the ISO isn't right, so the shot is too dark or something.

Here are some I took on the weekend as an example:
This one I REALLY like (but am always happy to get CC too!)

f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/20sec
ISO: 800

But these ones I'm really upset about as it is my 95.5yr old grandfather with my youngest and I really like the compostion of them as they are precious moments to capture - but they're blurry!

f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/20sec
ISO: 800


f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/15sec
ISO: 800

I should also add that I'm using a Canon EOS 400D & I have it set on the "P" setting, so can only change the ISO. Is that perhaps my problem?

TIA!

[Sterling]

It's not your focus, it's your shutter speed. Your shutter speeds are way too slow to prevent blurring. P usually allows you to set either the shutter speed or the aperture. I don't know what lens you're using, but set your shutter speeds to a minimum of 1/60 and try it again.

Slow shutter speeds are often a trade-off for not using flash.

[~AJ~]

Hmmm... thanks for that Sterling. I just tried it (I need to put it onto "Tv" to change both ISO & SS), but even with the ISO bumped up to 1600, it's now really dark. Although the curtain's aren't open today, as it's letting too much warmth in through the windows LOL! When I put the flash on, however the cushions on my couch were beautifully crisp & sharp! Might have to practice more once the kids are awake!

Thanks again!

[~AJ~]

Oh, I meant to add that I am using the EFS18-55mm lense that came with the camera (it's my mums camera until I can get my own & she got the twin lense kit)

[outamyway]

You need a wider aperture as well. You need to maximize the amount of light getting through the glass. Wide aperture, faster shutter speed and up the ISO and you should be seeing better results. Just remember, the higher ISO produces noise so only go up as high as you absolutely need to.

[inkista]

Scrape together some cash and get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II is my advice. It's around $100 in the US. It has a maximum aperture of f/1.8. That's more than three stops faster than the 18-55 when it's set to 55mm. Three stops means 2³ = 8x the amount of light.

That amount of light is the difference between iso 100 and iso 800, or a shutter speed of 1/10s vs. 1/80s.

As the previous posters mentioned, the problem is that your shutter speed is slow enough to register subject motion blur, even if the IS of the lens can eliminate the camera shake blur. And you're already at iso 800 and your maximum aperture (f/5.6). The only other way to get more light is to use a flash. There are ways of using flash so it looks more natural (and catchlights aren't a bad thing) but for that you need an external flash unit.

In the meantime, try zooming out and stepping in. At the 18mm end of the lens, you can open up the lens to f/3.5, which will give you a little more aperture to work with.

[~AJ~]

Originally Posted by inkista

Scrape together some cash and get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II is my advice. It's around $100 in the US. It has a maximum aperture of f/1.8. That's more than three stops faster than the 18-55 when it's set to 55mm. Three stops means 2³ = 8x the amount of light.

That amount of light is the difference between iso 100 and iso 800, or a shutter speed of 1/10s vs. 1/80s.

As the previous posters mentioned, the problem is that your shutter speed is slow enough to register subject motion blur, even if the IS of the lens can eliminate the camera shake blur. And you're already at iso 800 and your maximum aperture (f/5.6). The only other way to get more light is to use a flash. There are ways of using flash so it looks more natural (and catchlights aren't a bad thing) but for that you need an external flash unit.

In the meantime, try zooming out and stepping in. At the 18mm end of the lens, you can open up the lens to f/3.5, which will give you a little more aperture to work with.

Oh great - thanks for that!!!! There's some great advice in there - and an excuse to spend more of my hubby's money LOL!!!!!!!!!

Oh, don't worry - I love getting catch lights in eyes... I just don't like the little pin prick's that appear from using a flash if you know what I mean......

Might have to look into that other lense & an external flash I think!

[Raoul Isidro]

Bigger lens opening, higher ISO rating and bounce flash from an external speedlight all help to make your shutter speed faster so you won't have motion blur. You got good hands to keep the camera that steady using 1/20th speed!
Cheers onya!

[~AJ~]

Well between help from you guys & some of the girls in a parenting forum I'm also on, as well as just having more of a play, I think I'm improving.... Here's my latest shots http://digital-photography-school.co...tml#post880943

I know you can't give CC in that thread, but please feel free to give me some in here!!!!!

The settings were:
SS: 1/40
f/3.5
ISO 1600
Focal length 18mm
No flash