What is bright to the human eye, is not to the camera's lens. You probably have an EV (Exposure Value) of around 6 indoors, or at the most around 7. This is how the amount of light is measured (Exposure Value). You must use a flash indoors with your model -- even if the light appears to be good.
The camera must keep the shutter open long enough to properly expose the image. However, when it does this, you're going to get motion blur, because the shutter speeds will be too slow without a flash. That's why exposure is good, yet the shots are blurry.
As a general rule, you will need shutter speeds of 1/focal length or faster to prevent motion blur from camera shake. In other words, if shooting at full wide angle (which is equivalent to approximately 37mm on your camera), then you'll need shutter speeds of 1/37 second or faster. If shooting at full zoom (187mm on your camera), then you'll need shutter speeds of 1/187 second or faster.
However, in the lighting conditions you'll have, even at full wide angle, with the camera's largest aperture of f/2.8, you'll only be able to get shutter speeds of around 1/8 second, and you'll want shutter speeds around 4 times as fast. At ISO 64 (where you'll have the least amount of noise, which is the grain you get), shutter speeds will be even slower.
You can increase ISO speed in the camera to get faster shutter speeds, but this will increase the noise (grain). You'd probably need to use ISO 400 to prevent the motion blur. This would get your shutter speeds up to around 1/32 second (close enough at full wide angle). However, the photos would have too much noise to be useable.
Now, using flash will solve the problem. This is because the flash itself will freeze the subject. If you are using flash and still have the problem, then we need to look at the photos, so I can see what is wrong. Setting the camera to ISO 64 will virtually eliminate the grain (which is noise) if you use the flash, too.
I think you feel that I should look for a camera that the F
number goes less than 2.8 if I'm understanding your reply properly.
You will need to go with a sensor that is less dense (less pixels/square inch), AND have a brighter lens, if you want to take photos indoors without a flash.
You'll need to avoid most cameras on the market. Most of the newer model cameras will be using tiny CCD Sensors. For example, your camera uses a Sony 5 Megapixel 1/1.8" CCD. The pixel pitch is only 2.8 µm. As a result, the photosites for each pixel are so tiny that they don't gather much light. So, they require more amplification of their signal to get the ISO sensitivity needed to produce useable information. This amplfication increases noise (the grain you are seeing).
You'll have a worse problem trying to go with a 6 Megapixel 1/1.8" Sensor (the photosites for each pixel will be even smaller). Ditto for the smaller 4MP 1/2.5" (.40") sensors (like the 4MP Kodak you're looking at), and the 3MP 1/2.7" (.37") Sensors. These use even smaller photosites than your 5MP model.
The best choice for existing light photos would be something like a Canon Digital Rebel, or a Nikon D70. These have DRAMATICALLY larger sensors, and have much higher useable ISO speeds with low noise. You'd also need a bright lens to go with them. You can get a 50mm f/1.8 lens relatively inexpensive.
However, with something like the Canon Digital Rebel (the least expensive DSLR on the market), coupled with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. You'd be investing approximately $1,000.00
BTW, you would not be able to use the LCD display for framing your image with a DSLR. These models require the use of the Optical Viewfinder. The Display is only used for changing settings, and playing back photos. It's also a much larger model than you want.
About the only current non-DSLR model camera that I would suggest trying to use indoors without a flash, would be the Sony DSC-F717. It's got an exceptionally bright f/2.0-f.2.4 lens. This is twice as bright as the lens on most cameras at wide angle, and even brighter when using zoom. It's also using a 2/3" CCD with larger photosites for each pixel, compared to the smaller models you are looking at.
So, you could probably get away with using it at around ISO 200 for still subjects at full wide angle, in a well lit indoor room (provided your hands were very still). But, this is not a "belt worn" camera.
Other than this model, or going to a DSLR, I'd suggest looking for a used Olympus C-3040z. You can usually find 'em on Ebay. This is a relatively compact camera, and uses a 3MP 1/1.8" CCD, with much better noise characteristics than you'll find in current models.
This is because it's 3MP CCD is larger than the 3MP CCD's you find today. Unfortunately, the "megapixel war" is limiting choices in cameras that can function well indoors without a flash. This model also has an exceptionally bright f/1.8-2.6 lens. So, it's more than twice as bright as the lens on your Pentax (or most other cameras on the market). You could set it to ISO 200, and get pretty useable prints at typical sizes.
Now, am I misunderstanding you? Can you use flash, or is taking a photo without flash the objective? If you are using flash, and still getting blur and grain, then I need to see a sample photo to look at what the camera is doing. I can tell the settings, if you can post an unmodified (not edited) image on a site like
http://www.pbase.com
Or, you can e-mail me one. My e-mail address is in my profile (just click on my name to get to it).
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JimC
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http://www.pbase.com/jcockfield/konica_kd510z 