Shutter speed?

[MelissaP]

Not sure if this is placed in the right place. If not please place it in the right spot .

So I have recently discovered my manual settings, been learning to use it. I've figured out the shutter speed and how it's worked with like water and things like that. I am having issues though when it come to children playing. Some reason my photo's always turn out very blurry, or a lot of noise. It didn't take me long at all to figure out the water photo's. Children are a different story. I went to a football game to watch my niece cheer, and I tried to capture the girls cheering. Only one photo turned out decent for the shutter speed, and it still needs a lot of work. I was basically using the game as an excuse to work with the shutter.

The photo attached is the photo that turned out. Again it needs a lot of work. I know that. I just need some help. I use the Canon Powershot SX130 IS.

[cyber3d]

You need to post a link to an example of your blurry photos.

But, I notice that you shot the above example with your flash on. For daytime action shots turn your flash off. It may be limiting your exposure options.

I also noticed that you were at f8. So, remember that the larger your f-stop number is (ie. f16 vs f2.8) the slower your shutter speed will need to be to compensate for proper exposure and thus causing blur do to camera/hand shake.

Try to experiment by shooting with a smaller f-stop number (ie. f2.8 for example) and observe how your shutter speed changes to a faster speed. And notice, how, as you increase the f-stop number the shutter speed slows down.

Good luck.

[ceremus]

Hard to say what you should be doing differently without seeing the photos that were giving you problems, but just for the sake of examples let's take a look at the exif data from your attached photo,

Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/250 second ===> 0.004 second
Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 8/1 ===> ƒ/8
ISO Speed Ratings = 100
Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/250 second
Aperture = ƒ/8
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, red-eye reduction mode

On this photo your shutter speed is set at 1/250, which is fast enough to freeze most movement in active subjects. 1/250 is a typical flash sync speed, which may be the reason the shutter speed was at that particular value since your flash fired in that shot.

If you're not completely comfortable in manual mode yet, you might keep it on shutter priority (Tv), set the speed at around 1/200 or 250 and let the camera decide the rest.

To go into more detail, that shutter speed with an aperture of ƒ/8 at ISO100 is probably fine in direct sunlight, if it's in the clouds or in darker situations you will want your aperture values as wide as they can be (larger aperture = lower f number). Your largest aperture will vary depending on how far you're zoomed in, that lens is a F3.4-5.6, meaning zoomed out the max aperture is f/3.4 and zoomed in it is f/5.6. Even at the max aperture, f/3.5 isn't very fast, so you'll likely need to use higher ISO values to get a proper exposure, although doing so will introduce more noise into the picture.

[MelissaP]

No edits at all, just how it is when I took it.

[sk66]

what focal length lens were you using? I almost think it's camera shake as nothing is particularly sharp.

[MelissaP]

I use a Canon Powershot sx130 is. So I'm not sure what you mean by lens, I do not switch out my lens, I do not own a dslr just yet.

This was before I started working with using manual focusing. So I'm not sure. I was using my shutter speed, had it set on Macro, and was playing with ISO.

[cyber3d]

I can't see any metadata from the new file she posted. Anyone able to see the data?

[sk66]

Originally Posted by MelissaP

I use a Canon Powershot sx130 is. So I'm not sure what you mean by lens, I do not switch out my lens, I do not own a dslr just yet.

This was before I started working with using manual focusing. So I'm not sure. I was using my shutter speed, had it set on Macro, and was playing with ISO.

Why are you using manual focus? Only reason to do that is certain tricky situations or when the camera gets it wrong (seldom).

I think being set to macro is the biggest issue....most cameras have a very limited focus range when set to macro. From what I can find the SX130is will only focus out to 1.6ft in macro mode.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by cyber3d

I can't see any metadata from the new file she posted. Anyone able to see the data?

Nope, exif is missing.

[MelissaP]

Originally Posted by sk66

Why are you using manual focus? Only reason to do that is certain tricky situations or when the camera gets it wrong (seldom).

I think being set to macro is the biggest issue....most cameras have a very limited focus range when set to macro. From what I can find the SX130is will only focus out to 1.6ft in macro mode.

I'm just trying to get use to all the settings. So when shooting kids, I should just keep it on normal?