Slow Camera

[Daltond95]

I have a little point and shoot, and while being pretty advanced, (even having a PASM-type dial) it has a fatal flaw: It's really slow. The lens just refuses to let any light in.

Anybody have any advice, other than the obvious, "Use a flash, you idiot..." on how I can better expose my photos?
Also I really don't like to raise the ISO because its ISO performance is less than great.

[scootermcq]

You need to understand the exposure triangle. There are 3 things that affect exposure, shutter speed, aperture and iso. If you can not get the aperture wide enough, shutter speed low enough or iso high enough to expose the image you need more light (use the flash). I would try your A mode and see how small of a number (larger aperture) you can select and let the camera choose the shutter speed. If you get camera shake or motion blur when you don't want it, then you will need to increase ISO or turn on the flash.

[inkista]

Get a tripod. Learn to use the timer. Long shutter speeds are going to be your friend, since a P&S is going to limit you on aperture and iso.


Canon Powershot S30 (3MP P&S ca. 2001).
iso 80. f/3.5. 2/5s. bench, ultrapod, timer.

I just have to say... that is a real good point and shoot shot. Wow!

[inkista]

Thanks! Sheer dumb luck the guard never moved. I think the main thing with a P&S camera is to know what its weaknesses are, and then either use them or work around them. Thinking of a P&S as a "bad" camera is a mistake.