S90 Settings

[NeedACamera10]

I am wondering how people have their settings on the S90. Can someone please assist me with this?

I am mostly taking pix of my 1 year old son (who is always on the go, by the way). The pix are generally either outside in a park/backyard or in the home.

I've noticed that some pix come out a little soft from time to time. How do I adjust the sharpness?

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to photography so the Tv and the Av setting are way over my head.

Right now, my P mode is set to the following:

AF Frame: Face AiAF
Digital Zoom: Standard
AF Point: Off
Servo AF: Off

AF Assist: On, although I'm not totally sure what that does. I'm assuming help wth focusing
Safety MF: On
Flash: -1/3, 1st Curtain
iContrast: off
IS mode: shoot only
ISO Auto
Color: Custom --> Sharpness at +1, nothing else adjusted.

Do any of these settings seem "incorrect" for what I'm trying to achieve?

My main goal is the best possible IQ through a point and shoot.
Thanks!!

 

[gail]

I am mostly taking pix of my 1 year old son (who is always on the go, by the way). The pix are generally either outside in a park/backyard or in the home.

Here are a few suggestions that should get you started.

The s90 is far from a speedy camera so the more light on your active son, the better. More light will increase the shutter speed and help "freeze" the action. When I photograph my grandchildren with my s90, I always take plenty of photos and feel lucky if I get a few keepers out of the batch. I get my fair share of blurred photos when photographing the children are on the go.

In good light outside, when shutter speeds are high, try continuous mode.

In outside light that isn't bright, you may have to manually increase the ISO a tad to get a faster shutter speed to capture the action.

When taking photos inside, if possible, I let as much natural light from the outside stream through the windows, etc. so I can avoid using the flash. I keep my s90 on auto ISO most of the time, but do adjust the white balance if necessary due to inside lighting. I do use the flash if I must, but image quality imho is so, so.

P mode

I use primarily P mode. It should serve you well. Learn Tv and Av mode when and if you need them.

AF Frame: Face AiAF

I suggest using Single Area focus mode rather than AiAF. It lets you control where the camera focuses rather than rely on the camera. If you really want to use AiAF, switch to Kids and Pets mode when taking photos of your active son.

Digital Zoom: Standard

Set it to off!! A digital zoom is not a true zoom. It simply enlarges the central area of an image. Image quality will be reduced in proportion to the digital zoom length. The more zoom, the greater reduction in image quality. I rarely use the digital zoom so crop an image when editing.

I have some shots taken with the s90 in my pbase gallery should you care to take a look. Check the EXIF data to learn what settings were used.

http://www.pbase.com/gailb/canon_s90is

Enjoy your s90 and practice, practice, practice.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

 

[NeedACamera10]

NeedACamera10 wrote:

The s90 is far from a speedy camera so the more light on your active son, the better. More light will increase the shutter speed and help "freeze" the action. When I photograph my grandchildren with my s90, I always take plenty of photos and feel lucky if I get a few keepers out of the batch. I get my fair share of blurred photos when photographing the children are on the go.

This is probably a dumb question to someone who knows about cameras...but, how do you increase the lighting? through white balance?

When taking photos inside, if possible, I let as much natural light from the outside stream through the windows, etc. so I can avoid using the flash. I keep my s90 on auto ISO most of the time, but do adjust the white balance if necessary due to inside lighting. I do use the flash if I must, but image quality imho is so, so.

Our house is pretty light so I'm not too worried about dark images, but thank you for the tip!

P mode

I use primarily P mode. It should serve you well. Learn Tv and Av mode when and if you need them.

I guess I should google what exactly they mean.

AF Frame: Face AiAF

I suggest using Single Area focus mode rather than AiAF. It lets you control where the camera focuses rather than rely on the camera. If you really want to use AiAF, switch to Kids and Pets mode when taking photos of your active son.

I took some pix with the center focus and felt that the other people were a little blurred!

Digital Zoom: Standard

Set it to off!! A digital zoom is not a true zoom. It simply enlarges the central area of an image. Image quality will be reduced in proportion to the digital zoom length. The more zoom, the greater reduction in image quality. I rarely use the digital zoom so crop an image when editing.

It's off!

I have some shots taken with the s90 in my pbase gallery should you care to take a look. Check the EXIF data to learn what settings were used.

http://www.pbase.com/gailb/canon_s90is

Beautiful!!

Enjoy your s90 and practice, practice, practice.

How do you increase sharpness?

Will do!

 

[Master Yoda]

I'm sure Gail will respond to all your latest questions. I just wanted to say that Gail's settings have been widely used as a great reference point by many. If you go to her web Blog she has all her settings listed. They are a good collection to use and as she always states, feel free to experiment on your own from those excellent reference marks.

My own addition would be to learn the TV & AV modes as well, as the control of light (exposure) and the relationship of aperture and speed are the fundamentals. A lot of these other settings are kind of gimicky and that is why so many of us simply turn them off.

 

[PaulRivers]

On the s90, I wouldn't say that learning AV (Aperture Priority mode) is terribly important. It's a big deal on a dslr, but on a compact camera with a small sensor it's not nearly as big of a deal.

"TV" (Shutter Priority) mode would probably be useful though.

"Soft" pictures are often the result of 1 of 2 things:

1. When there's not a lot of light, the camera chooses a higher ISO setting. It makes the sensor more sensitive, but it also adds noise into the picture. Cameras now run noise reduction algorithms to reduce noise, but they also tend to make the image softer.

There's not much you do can for that except to learn the camera settings and try to choose the optimal settings so it can use the lowest iso. Sharpening won't help.

2. To low of a shutter speed. The s90 sometimes makes some particularly quirky choices for shutter speeds - taking a picture under 1/60 often results in a blurry picture if your subject isn't completely still. Sometimes the camera is forced to choose low shutter speed if there isn't enough light.

Using shutter priority mode can help. But a somewhat easier solution is to use scene mode and "Kids and Pets" mode, like someone else suggested. It will choose more reasonable shutter speeds - if there's not enough light, it will use the flash if the flash is on "auto".

 

[Master Yoda]

In general you would be correct about AV on most small compacts. Many of them only offer a few apertures and have smaller sensors. However, on the S90 (which by the way is the specific camera of topic here) you very much can achieve more than adequate varying depths of field as has been shown by quite a few posted images.

Also, (aside from DOF issues) by using AV you force the camera to select a certain range of speeds (fast selections vs slow selections) depending on your chosen aperture, which can often work to your advantage depending on subject matter. An example would be if you want to capture the slow movement of a water rapids.

 

[NeedACamera10]

Can someone dumb it down for me even further?

SO....

When there is lots of light (ei, outside) I increase the ISO, increase the shutter speed correct??

Also, as far as the AV mode, I that similar to macro??

I'm sorry, these are all dumb questions but I appreciate the help!

 

[mlewan]

Can someone dumb it down for me even further?

I'm dumb too, so I'll try.

When there is lots of light (ei, outside) I increase the ISO, increase the shutter speed correct??

In the beginning, just leave the ISO to auto and forget about it.

When you want more control, it is the other way round. If you have a lot of light available, you should decrease the ISO. You raise the ISO when it is too dark to get decent pictures on the lowest ISO.

There are three main factors to play with:

ISO: choose high number when it is dark. low number when it is light.
Aperture: choose high number when it is light. low number when it is dark.
Shutter speed: choose high speed when it is light. low speed when it is dark.

However, when you shoot in auto or P-mode, you do not have to care at all about those three. The camera does its best to choose the right values, and it usually does a very good job.

If you go to M-mode, you have to care, and see exactly how each setting affects the picture.

Also, as far as the AV mode, I that similar to macro??

Not at all. It is when you know what Aperture you want, and you want to let the camera choose shutter speed, because you trust that it can do that right. In your case, I would not bother for the time being. Use P-mode for now.

You can always read up on what effects Aperture and Shutter Speed and ISO have on the pictures, and you can start using them later. It is really fun to play with them in M-mode, by the way, but it is not trivial.

Have fun!

--
http://photophindings.blogspot.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/nmlewan

 

[RAMSII]

Mlewan said it well. Check out this illustration. It might help.

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/part2/2Ag.html

In this illustration, lower sensitivity is lower iso and higher sensitivity is higher iso.

 

[NeedACamera10]

There are three main factors to play with:

ISO: choose high number when it is dark. low number when it is light.
Aperture: choose high number when it is light. low number when it is dark.
Shutter speed: choose high speed when it is light. low speed when it is dark.

However, when you shoot in auto or P-mode, you do not have to care at all about those three. The camera does its best to choose the right values, and it usually does a very good job.

What is the main difference between auto and P mode? i know you have more control in P mode....is that all? meaning, if i'm not worried about Apeture, Shutter speed or ISO in P mode, what WOULD i adjust (besides flash)?

If you go to M-mode, you have to care, and see exactly how each setting affects the picture.

Also, as far as the AV mode, I that similar to macro??

Not at all. It is when you know what Aperture you want, and you want to let the camera choose shutter speed, because you trust that it can do that right. In your case, I would not bother for the time being. Use P-mode for now.

You can always read up on what effects Aperture and Shutter Speed and ISO have on the pictures, and you can start using them later. It is really fun to play with them in M-mode, by the way, but it is not trivial.

Have fun!

--
http://photophindings.blogspot.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/nmlewan

 

[gail]

if i'm not worried about Apeture, Shutter speed or ISO in P mode, what WOULD i adjust (besides flash)?

Exposure Compensation, White Balance and, for some, AE Lock (page 92 in the manual). I take a lot of photos outside in bright light so I register the AE Lock to the Shortcut button (page 153).

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

 

[rkhndjr]

if i'm not worried about Apeture, Shutter speed or ISO in P mode, what WOULD i adjust (besides flash)?

Exposure Compensation, White Balance and, for some, AE Lock (page 92 in the manual). I take a lot of photos outside in bright light so I register the AE Lock to the Shortcut button (page 153).

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions

Gail, I looked at your site and did not see a setting for Sharpness, Contrast on it. I do not have a S90 but may get one some day and always like to have the parameters sat well. Thanks for any help.

--

 

[rkhndjr]

if i'm not worried about Apeture, Shutter speed or ISO in P mode, what WOULD i adjust (besides flash)?

Exposure Compensation, White Balance and, for some, AE Lock (page 92 in the manual). I take a lot of photos outside in bright light so I register the AE Lock to the Shortcut button (page 153).

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions

Gail, I looked at your site and did not see a setting for Sharpness, Contrast on it. I do not have a S90 but may get one some day and always like to have the parameters sat well. Thanks for any help.

I looked again and saw that you said if any features were not mentioned Default was used. Thanks. Good pics, too. Lovely children.

--

--

 

[gail]

Gail, I looked at your site and did not see a setting for Sharpness, Contrast on it.

My settings are on the page listed below. The parameters you mention would normally be listed under Custom Colors. But you will not see Sharpness and Contrast listed because I keep them at the factory default settings. I like to tweak them myself when editing.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/my-canon-s90-settings/

I do not have a S90 but may get one some day

If you can wait til the next upgrade, consider doing so. Hopefully Canon will get the problematic rear control dial problem worked out.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

 

[rkhndjr]

Gail, I looked at your site and did not see a setting for Sharpness, Contrast on it.

My settings are on the page listed below. The parameters you mention would normally be listed under Custom Colors. But you will not see Sharpness and Contrast listed because I keep them at the factory default settings. I like to tweak them myself when editing.

Thanks. To tweak them yourself you need to set them at -2. Default allows the camera to do a lot.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/my-canon-s90-settings/

I do not have a S90 but may get one some day

If you can wait til the next upgrade, consider doing so. Hopefully Canon will get the problematic rear control dial problem worked out.

The dial is one thing I am leery of and will wait. Thanks...

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

--

 

[gail]

This is probably a dumb question to someone who knows about cameras...but, how do you increase the lighting? through white balance?

Inside you can increase the lighting by turning on more lights, opening window shades to let more outside light inside (if it's daytime).

I don't recall if anyone mentioned this but inside I shoot at the widest angle because the lens opening (aperture) is larger and lets in more light through the lens than if you zoom in.

I usually keep white balance on auto, unless taking photos inside or in mixed lighting. There are WB settings for inside lighting, such as tungsten and florescent lighting. As you change the WB setting, the LCD will give you a pretty accurate idea of the color changes. Changing the WB settings can reduce or eliminate a color cast.

I use primarily P mode. It should serve you well. Learn Tv and Av mode when and if you need them.

I guess I should google what exactly they mean.

Sure you can. But if you're a newbie, I personally think you can learn about them at a later time after you become more familiar with the camera and camera settings. P Mode should be fine.

I took some pix with the center focus and felt that the other people were a little blurred!

What was the shutter speed of the photos were people were blurred? If the shutter speed is too slow, you will get blur due to camera shake. If some people were blurred and others were not, then it is misfocus.

If you don't feel comfortable using center, or single area, focus, don't. But I honestly think it works better once you get the hang of it.

A rule of thumb to help prevent blur: the shutter speed should be set faster than the focal length. For example, if you lens is set at 100mm (35mm equivalent), the shutter speed should be greater than 1/100th second.

How do you increase sharpness?

I'd really like to see of few of your photos to better answer your question. Sharpness increases when photos are in focus. You can also increase sharpness by using a smaller aperture (this relates to depth of field, which I think others addressed). But using a smaller aperture also means less light so you may need to increase the ISO.

If you're viewing images at 100% on a computer monitor, they often appear less sharp. When reduced in size, the sharpness should improve.

btw, make sure you press the shutter release button in two steps. Failing to do so could cause camera shake and blurred images.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

 

[gail]

The dial is one thing I am leery of and will wait. Thanks...

I just learned that, apparently, Lensmate has come up with a solution:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=35385514

I've ordered the device and will be reviewing it at my Blog as soon as it arrives. If it works, I'll be a happy camper!

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

 

[gail]

I use primarily P mode. It should serve you well. Learn Tv and Av mode when and if you need them.

I guess I should google what exactly they mean.

Sure you can. But if you're a newbie, I personally think you can learn about them at a later time after you become more familiar with the camera and camera settings. P Mode should be fine.

I don't want to imply that you shouldn't gain a basic understanding about shutter speed and aperture. You should. You can adjust them in P Mode too.

IMHO, it just is not necessary, at this early stage, to learn to use Tv and Av mode.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/

 

[PaulRivers]

btw, make sure you press the shutter release button in two steps. Failing to do so could cause camera shake and blurred images.

I...don't think that's the case. I've never heard of that before.

Half pressing lets you lock in exposure. And one of the side effects of doing that is that you avoid the shutter lag when you actually press the shutter, so it can be useful that way to.

I've never heard of it making any difference in camera shake though.

 

[gail]

btw, make sure you press the shutter release button in two steps. Failing to do so could cause camera shake and blurred images.

I...don't think that's the case. I've never heard of that before.

The OP has been talking about "soft images" and people that are "a little blurred."

Other than looking at images @ 100% or very shallow depth of field, soft or blurred images are caused by primarily two things: misfocus and camera shake.

I've seen too many newbies press the shutter button button incorrectly; by pressing it down too quickly or missing the first step. In the process they may inadvertently move the camera slightly, which results in camera shake.

Page 23 in the s90 manual:

"If you press the shutter button without pausing halfway, the image may not be in focus."

"If the camera or subject moves while the shutter sound is playing, the recorded image may be blurry."

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb

My Canon s90 BLOG: http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/canon-s90/canon-s90-first-impressions/