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Tons of probs with P712

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claribella said:
First thank you Mike. You are so helpful!

I was told my a photographer friend to use the lowest aperture of
f/2.8, and the highest ISO of 800 and a shutter speed of 1/60th in
dark conditions and on dark rides where I move slowly by the
subjects. Was I mis-advised?

Of course, the carousel photo, the carousel wasn't moving and
neither was I so I guess I should not have used such a high ISO?
Click to expand...
No, it's wasn't bad advice, I think maybe he's used to using Digital SLRs which have much larger image sensors and much lower noise profiles at ISO 800 (and can also shoot at full resolution at high ISOs).

The main issue here, I think, is the ability of the camera to focus in this type of lighting. Using Center Zone focus, aiming at the lights and pressing the shutter button 1/2 way to wait for the focus lock is your best bet. Also, you'll need to hold still when you take the shot. If you don't, the slow shutter speeds that the camera will typically need will result in motion blur which the IS isn't built to compensate for. If you're moving, no matter how slowly, it will be like you subject was moving. The IS can compensate for some of a user's natural shakiness but not for blur caused by motion across the picture.

--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company
 
mike051051 said:
claribella said:
First thank you Mike. You are so helpful!

I was told my a photographer friend to use the lowest aperture of
f/2.8, and the highest ISO of 800 and a shutter speed of 1/60th in
dark conditions and on dark rides where I move slowly by the
subjects. Was I mis-advised?

Of course, the carousel photo, the carousel wasn't moving and
neither was I so I guess I should not have used such a high ISO?
Click to expand...
No, it's wasn't bad advice, I think maybe he's used to using
Digital SLRs which have much larger image sensors and much lower
noise profiles at ISO 800 (and can also shoot at full resolution at
high ISOs).
The main issue here, I think, is the ability of the camera to focus
in this type of lighting. Using Center Zone focus, aiming at the
lights and pressing the shutter button 1/2 way to wait for the
focus lock is your best bet. Also, you'll need to hold still when
you take the shot. If you don't, the slow shutter speeds that the
camera will typically need will result in motion blur which the IS
isn't built to compensate for. If you're moving, no matter how
slowly, it will be like you subject was moving. The IS can
compensate for some of a user's natural shakiness but not for blur
caused by motion across the picture.

--
Mike O'Brien
Eastman Kodak Company
Click to expand...
--

Awesome..thanks so much for your help. I just learned about the holding the shutter button 1/2 way to focus here. I didn't know about that.

Much appreciated.


Still working with my P712
 
Your pic is metered on the dark sky ,so the moon is over exposed.

Set camera to "Center Spot Metering" for the moon. When you're on the moon you will see it darken.
 
What setting did you use for your moon shot. I can't seem to get a good one with my P712. I got awesome ones with my previous DX6590!
--
Sunnie
P712
 
Claribella,

The P712 is capable of taking some great night shots. You must use a tripod or monopod however. Like Mike said you will get much better results using lower ISO's.

This shot using my P712, IS off (because I used a tripod), ISO 64, 6 sec, F5.6. I think it turned out pretty well. A little bit of noise but most acceptable for a 6 second exposure. I used F5.6 because in my opinion the P712 lens is the sharpest at this f stop, notice the lights are very sharp.

If this were printed the noise would be even less noticable. You need to experiment with different settings to find the best for you lighting. That's what is so great about digital you can take 10 shots for the same price as 1.



--
Regards Jim
We All Need Water!

 
Aperture mode
Iso 64
shutter 1/125
focal length 432 mm ( fully zoomed only on tele)
on board ( camera) flash

my last pic was a blue computer power button that I took sitting at an angle.
 
Claribella: (nice name by the way!) I've read through this thread and think you got some pretty good advice. I have a P850, very similar to your P712 in almost all respects. I have found that I can get respectable low light photos with this camera if the subject isn't moving, and if:
1) I use a tripod
2) I use ISO 200 or lower, and

3) I use the half-shutter button approach, by focusing on something bright enough for the camera to focus on, but which is the same distance from the camera as the subject you actually want to photograph, then, either hit the focus lock button or keep the finger down half-way while re-composing the picture. Only then do I push the shutter release down the rest of the way.

I use ISO at 200 or lower because these cameras get pretty noisy at anything above that. If the subjects you want to shoot are moving and in low light at the same time, and you can't use a flash, then you'll have to move to a different kind of camera. The only long-zoom compact digital camera that I know of that shoots good pictures at ISO 800 is the Fujifilm S6000fd (S6500fd in Europe). If you don't need the long zoom, the Fujifilm F30 is very good in low light. Otherwise, you'll have to move to a digital SLR, which is more expensive at all stages, and much heavier, bulkier and generally harder to use.

Anyway, if you follow some of the techniques described here in this thread, you should be able to get some nice low light photos. Just remember that this is not the strongest attribute of the particular camera you own, and it takes a bit of working with it to get the results you want. I don't think there is anything defective with your camera. Enjoy!

Shot with my P850...these people lost their home unfortunately. I hand-held the camera, but leaned against a tree for stability.



Saludos
--
Aficionado
 
nc4z said:
I believe all digitals except DSLRs are considered P & S. .

P & S cameras have a small sensor as opposed to a SLR having a
large one.
Small sensors do poorly in dim light.

Aperature mode is where I keep my cameras set. The camera will then
select the highest shutter speed that will work for the aperature
chosen.

All pics have info called EXIF data. There are a lot of free Exif
readers you can download.

Click my name and send me a email if you want.

I think mine has a great performance in extremely low light.This shot I´m posting was taken with the camera set at macro.The only available light was the one coming from the green led on my speaker on my table and this remote is quite small.I don´t think it made a bad job at all,considering it´s a P.S with a small sensor.I didn´t use any lens adapter.Best wishes.Yod
Click to expand...


Camera:Kodak Z700
 
nc4z said:
Sorry you're having problems but Point & Shoot cameras such as the
P712 are really for outdoor pictures.
Click to expand...
Untrue. The P series Kodaks can take excellent indoor shots. I must have close to 5,000 indoor shots taken with my P850. A P&S is better suited for full-light situations, but that doesn't mean that it can't be used indoors in medium light, it just means that you have to work the camera more and have a good understanding of its limitations.

CK

--
ColoradoKid

http://www.andycliftonandcompany.com
http://windingpathdesign.com/showoff.htm
 
Image #1: Not enoug light! Were you trying to take this picture at night?

Image #2: Wow, did set the camera to ISO 800 or did it do it on its own? My P850 can go to 800, but only if I set the image size to 1. something or other megapixels. Even with an ISO setting of 800 I believe that 1/40 of a second shutter speed is too fast. With my P850 I would probably have used Manual Mode, set the aperture to it's lowest setting (you used 2.8, that is good), used ISO 200 (don't go higher than this or else you end up with a very noisy picture), and a shutter speed of 1/4 of a second to begin with. I try to keep the shutter speed at a point where the image comes out just a touch under-exposed (up to -.7) Myself, I would probably have taken at least half a dozen shots of the carousel all the while tweaking the shutter speed as I went.

Image #3: Essentially the same situation as with image #2. It looks to me like you may want to check what sort of white balance you are using also. 1/8th of a second shutter speed may have been slow enough to allow enough light in, as well as using an aperture of 2.8. I would almost say that there is something wrong with the camera...

Image #4: Way too fast shutter speed to get a decent shot here (1/100of a second). Also, you can really see the noise in the picture due to using ISO 800. Aperture 3.6 gave you a shallower depth of focus, which can be ok in this situation if you had dropped your shutter speed down.

Image #5: Excellent shot! I see you used Shutter Priority this time and it really made a difference! Although essentially a dark situation, the object you were trying to capture, the fireworks, was very bright and using a fast shutter speed did the trick (1/1000 of a second). I'm still at a loss of how you were able to use ISO 800 for all the shots you took.

I saw in one of your responses that you don't know how to look at the EXIF data on each shot. Here is a quick and easy way to do it that does not require you to download and install any software from someone you don't know.
1) Go to where you image is located on your computer.

2) Right mouse click on the image. You will get a menu of options. Chose "Properties" from the list. This opens up a dialog box that has two tabs.

3) Left mouse click on the "Summary" tab. You will either see your EXIF data or you will see a button labeled "Advanced".

4) Left mouse click on the "Advanced" button. There is your EXIF data that shows all the settings used to take the picture as well as some camera data.

Cameras are incredible pieces of work. They not only allow you to capture a scene; they allow you to paint with light.

Happy Snapping!

CK

--
ColoradoKid

http://www.andycliftonandcompany.com
http://windingpathdesign.com/showoff.htm
 
nc4z said:
I believe all digitals except DSLRs are considered P & S. .

P & S cameras have a small sensor as opposed to a SLR having a
large one.
Click to expand...
The Sigma DP1 (compact with a fixed 28 mm equ. lens) has a 20.7 x 13.8 mm CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor like the Sigma SD14 DSLR model.
 
ColoradoKid said:
Image #1: Not enoug light! Were you trying to take this picture
at night?
Click to expand...
Yes it was at night...I realized my mistake there
ColoradoKid said:
Image #2: Wow, did set the camera to ISO 800 or did it do it on
its own? My P850 can go to 800, but only if I set the image size
to 1. something or other megapixels. Even with an ISO setting of
800 I believe that 1/40 of a second shutter speed is too fast.
With my P850 I would probably have used Manual Mode, set the
aperture to it's lowest setting (you used 2.8, that is good), used
ISO 200 (don't go higher than this or else you end up with a very
noisy picture), and a shutter speed of 1/4 of a second to begin
with. I try to keep the shutter speed at a point where the image
comes out just a touch under-exposed (up to -.7) Myself, I would
probably have taken at least half a dozen shots of the carousel all
the while tweaking the shutter speed as I went.
Click to expand...
The camera does go to ISO 800 if I use MP of 1.3 and I usually don't go higher than that because I don't blow up my prints. If I know the shot I'm taking will be printed big..I switch to a higher MP (which I LOVE!)
ColoradoKid said:
Image #3: Essentially the same situation as with image #2. It
looks to me like you may want to check what sort of white balance
you are using also. 1/8th of a second shutter speed may have been
slow enough to allow enough light in, as well as using an aperture
of 2.8. I would almost say that there is something wrong with the
camera...
Click to expand...
Oh...please don't say that......I am really hoping it's just me...! With this shot..I think I just was going crazy with ISO and aperture...I may have figured that out though.
ColoradoKid said:
Image #4: Way too fast shutter speed to get a decent shot here
(1/100of a second). Also, you can really see the noise in the
picture due to using ISO 800. Aperture 3.6 gave you a shallower
depth of focus, which can be ok in this situation if you had
dropped your shutter speed down.
Click to expand...
Ok so 1/200 would have been better? The subject wasn't moving. And I need to calm down on the high ISO?

Note to self...high Aperture must = lower shutter speed?

--


http://public.fotki.com/claribella/
 
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