SD700 Newbie needs advice on Flash and IS feature.

Hello to all Canon users,

I just purchased my SD700.
I am definitely a beginner when it comes to photography so
I need some help here understanding the flash as well as the IS feature.

It seems that whenever I am in a dimly lit area, and I take a photo with the auto flash on it produces a picture that is kind of dark, and generally does not look very well at all.
Please follow my link below to see what I am talking about.

This picture was taken around noon time in auto mode with the auto flash turned on:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=160552950&size=o

Now here is another picture taken of the same area with the auto flash turned off:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=160553136&size=o

As you can see, with the flash off, it definitely looks better, the area is actually brighter and looks more natural. This kind of confuses me, as isn’t the flash supposed to help a low lighted area brighten up? How come when using the flash on the SD700 the area actually looks darker? This also occurs in say a hallway that is lit by fluorescent lighting.

Also as you can see in the 2nd picture, although the general area looks good, but there is blurring on several people. I have found that when the flash is turned off, I get pictures that tends to blur, I have read in many reviews about the IS feature working great in low light areas without a flash, but it doesn’t seem so when I try it. When I turn the flash off, and press the shutter halfway, that blinking red camera shake warning always pops up and it seems as if I have to hold the camera really really steady to catch a non-blurring shot, and really the areas im shooting in isn’t even that dark.

I kinda expected more out of the IS feature. Im just not getting the real sharp pictures I was expecting.
Can someone please explain this?

I also took some other photos around the city of Taipei using my SD700, please take a look and let me know if my Camera is operating properly.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75251327@N00/

Definitely, I notice in brightly lit outdoor places this camera takes great photos, but in indoor poorly lit areas, the pictures doesn’t seem that sharp, and when the flash is turned on, it doesn’t produce a very natural photo.

Please help. Thanks.
Ron

No ones got any comment???

I've been using the SD700 and really like the camera. I'm a newbie too so keep that it mind. I recommend using the flash in almost all indoor settings as it will generally produce sharper pictures. However, to avoid washing out subjects in the picture the camera will tone down the exposure which gives you some of the darker looking indoor pictures.

It's really very simple to fix/adjust. You can do it in camera after the picture is taken using the custom "My Colors" (hit menu while viewing the picture). Or you can start playing around with settings and Manual or Scene Modes.

For your indoor shopping area shot, I bet a Manual Mode w/flash, ISO 200 and exposure of +1/3 would have made it look much better. Maybe even just using Auto HI iso or a manual white balance. I also recommend turning the sharpness up a notch using the custom My color settings.

I've taken about 500 pictures of my sd700 and like it a lot, but I always like to fine tune most shots' sharpening and levels (brightness and contrast) using Google's Picasa. It's simple, fast, and allows batch edits.

Really you should check out this blog, Gail's more experienced with the cam and has posted some good tips:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/canon-SD700/index.htm .

Hope this helps.

Ron Chu said:

This picture was taken around noon time in auto mode with the auto
flash turned on:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=160552950&size=o

Now here is another picture taken of the same area with the auto
flash turned off:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=160553136&size=o

As you can see, with the flash off, it definitely looks better, the
area is actually brighter and looks more natural. This kind of
confuses me, as isn’t the flash supposed to help a low lighted area
brighten up? How come when using the flash on the SD700 the area
actually looks darker? This also occurs in say a hallway that is
lit by fluorescent lighting.

Click to expand...

The flash only has a range of 10 to 15 feet. Your subject needs to be within that distance. Since the subject in your photos appears to be the entire marketplace, the flash isn't going to reach those areas way in the background and they will appear dark compared to objects in the foreground.

In the second image, as you noted, the people who are walking appear blurry. While the IS feature will reduce blur caused by camera movement (i.e. shaking the camera while pressing the shutter button), it will not reduce blur caused by subject movement (i.e. people/objects moving). The way to reduce subject movement is to reduce your shutter speed. There are a couple ways to do that using a camera like your SD700:

• Use a higher ISO setting on your camera like 200 or 400 ISO. Read your manual as there are ways to do this automatically and manually.

• When possible, use wide angle (not telephoto) as this lets more light into the camera which means the camera can use a faster shutter speed.

Your second photo was taken at almost full telephoto, so recomposing the shot using wide angle and using a higher ISO would reduce the blur caused by the people moving. Although, I will say I like the shot as-is as the motion blur conveys the hubbub of the marketplace to me.

In situations like this, you might try experimenting with "Night Snapshot" scene mode (that's what it's called on my SD550). Let's say you had a couple friends in the picture of the marketplace. When you take the picture, the flash will illuminate your friends but the background will be exposed more as if no flash was present (like your second picture).

HTH,

Mark

Thanks for all your advice.
I downloaded Google Picasa and will play around with it.

I also read the advanced manual more thourougly last night and beginning to understand ISO and Exposure setting to take brighter pics.
I know I will take better indoor pictures from now on.

Bengance said:

I've been using the SD700 and really like the camera. I'm a newbie
too so keep that it mind. I recommend using the flash in almost
all indoor settings as it will generally produce sharper pictures.
However, to avoid washing out subjects in the picture the camera
will tone down the exposure which gives you some of the darker
looking indoor pictures.

It's really very simple to fix/adjust. You can do it in camera
after the picture is taken using the custom "My Colors" (hit menu
while viewing the picture). Or you can start playing around with
settings and Manual or Scene Modes.

For your indoor shopping area shot, I bet a Manual Mode w/flash,
ISO 200 and exposure of +1/3 would have made it look much better.
Maybe even just using Auto HI iso or a manual white balance. I
also recommend turning the sharpness up a notch using the custom My
color settings.

I've taken about 500 pictures of my sd700 and like it a lot, but I
always like to fine tune most shots' sharpening and levels
(brightness and contrast) using Google's Picasa. It's simple,
fast, and allows batch edits.

Really you should check out this blog, Gail's more experienced with
the cam and has posted some good tips:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/canon-SD700/index.htm .

Hope this helps.

Click to expand...

This is a pretty standard thing with a digital camera. As much as possible, try not to use your flash at all when you are in a well lit area. You can also increase the ISO if needed and take the photo without the flash. I also like the night snapshot mode. Sometimes you also get some nice shots with the kids and pets setting (it changes the aperture size just enough to give you a brighter shot).

Play with the different scene modes, and your iso settings. You will find the combinations that work best for you. Be sure to play with your camera somewhere before you need to take really important photos.

Thanks for yur help.
On the SD700 there is an option for AUTO ISO and HIGH ISO.

How high is the HIGH ISO? Is that determined by the camera depending on the situation?
Also ISO 80, is that higher than the AUTO ISO setting?

Thanks

Mark Riley said:

• Use a higher ISO setting on your camera like 200 or 400 ISO.

Read your manual as there are ways to do this automatically and
manually.

Click to expand...

Mark is quite right on most accounts but you need to increase your shutter speed to freeze moving objects, not reduce it. Raise your iso rating, and change your metering to suit the subject. Remember, you still need light to make an image.

125/250 sec will stop the blur. To give the illusion of movemant pan with the subject at about 1/60.

Good Luck, JA

JimAWG said:

Mark is quite right on most accounts but you need to increase your
shutter speed to freeze moving objects, not reduce it.

Click to expand...

Argh. Thanks for catching that. I even read it twice before posting it... Mark

JimAWG said:

Mark is quite right on most accounts but you need to increase your
shutter speed to freeze moving objects, not reduce it. Raise your
iso rating, and change your metering to suit the subject. Remember,
you still need light to make an image.

125/250 sec will stop the blur. To give the illusion of movemant
pan with the subject at about 1/60.

Good Luck, JA

Click to expand...

Hello,
Okay so I increase my ISO lets say to 80 or 200.
now how do I increase shutter speed and or change metering?