Photograhy with a compact cameras #1 - Introduction.

[RichardTaylor]

Taking pictures with compact cameras #1 - Introduction.

Quote.
"I would like a tutorial on using a compact camera to get good results."
End quote.

This is an attempt to answer the request posted in the tutorial section of the forum. Not all the pics posted are taken are shot with a compact camera as I don't have enough of them to illustrate a point).

What's a good photograph (result)?.
This is not camera dependant although some camera types will make it easier to capture a technically good image, or capture the moment, especially in difficult shooting conditions.

(1) Technical quality. Is it correctly exposed (not to light or dark) and sharp where it needs to be? Is it noisy? Even some of these technical qualities can be artistic decisions.

(2) Esthetic quality. Composition, & lighting.
Some of this is technical and some of it is "seeing" or developing an eye.

(#2a)This is a combination of 1&2. It is nice & sharp and while the composition is centred the lighting helps make it. This also illustrates the limit of achieving shallow depth of field (zone of sharpness or DOF). Captured with a with a P&S camera.

Camera Canon PowerShot G11
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture f/3.2
Focal Length 8.1 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -4/3 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

(3) Image content - sometimes a photograph may be lacking in (1 or 2) however because the image itself is beautiful or gritty, or funny or has impact, or does it tell a story, it is still a good picture.

(#3a) Shot with a DSLR. Even though the composition is only fair I feel the content makes it a good picture.


(4)The relationship of the subject to the viewer. All of the above can be lacking however if the content helps recall good times, or family or friends. In other words memories. It makes it a good photograph.

(#4a) This is one of the last photographs of my wife & her mum, before her mom passed away so it does have significance for my wife.Pic take with a Fuji 9500 (superzoom) P&S camera.


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If you have all of 1-3 then I feel you have a great photograph and if you have 4 as well even better.

With compact cameras (and I am including all P&S cameras) you have a number of disadvantages compared to DLRS

Disadvantages.

(1) Can be very noisy in low light.
See this post.

(2) Shutter lag, the time taken from when the "button is pushed" to the actual picture being taken can make "capturing the moment" difficult.

(3)Very difficult to achieve shallow depth of field (DOF - "zone of sharpness).

(4)The viewfinder/screen may be difficult to see in bright sunlight.

(5)Adjusting settings can be difficult and slow with some cameras.

(6)Personally I do not usually like shooting with the camera held at arms length.

Advantages.

(1)You can always have one with you.

(2)You can get huge depth of field (DOF)

(3)They can have lenses covering a large zoom range from wide angle to extreeme telephoto.

(4)They can be very easy to use for close ups, especially if they have a flip out screen, because they may have a "Macro" setting and the great depth of field really helps in some cases.

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For part 2 of this seies - Thinking & time; see here.
Taking pictures with compact cameras #2 - Thinking & time

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I mostly shoot with a DSLR, however I do sometimes shoot with a P&S camera.

More to come.

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Thanks for looking and questions, comments or feed back are appreciated.

Richard