Need advice on settings

[theshooter]

Hi all,

I'm new to photography and have this very bugging problem.

I usually take photos of people, but the problem is i always have problems getting the images clear. Yes, once the subjects move a little, my image is super blur. I do not take those standards stand there photos, but rather, those random pics of people i find interesting and nice.

I use Aperture priority, and most of my images are blur. When i use shutter speed priority, when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black.

I'm at the end of my wits now... please help

Oh btw i'm using a Canon 450D with the kit 18-55 lens and a 50mm 1.8 lens.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tanandrew]

i use P mode and play with the ISO some time use M mode speed 125 to 160 depen but with flash, this is just my suggestion ;p

 

[Reportage]

Its the lens not fast enough. Try rapid fire a moving subject or using panning.

learn by shooting birds or cars. or even water droplets.

 

[Titan10k]

Try the 50mm f1.8 wide open (@1.8). If the photos are still dark, bump up your ISO.

 

[teebs]

Hi all,

I'm new to photography and have this very bugging problem.

I usually take photos of people, but the problem is i always have problems getting the images clear. Yes, once the subjects move a little, my image is super blur. I do not take those standards stand there photos, but rather, those random pics of people i find interesting and nice.

I use Aperture priority, and most of my images are blur. When i use shutter speed priority, when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black.

I'm at the end of my wits now... please help

Oh btw i'm using a Canon 450D with the kit 18-55 lens and a 50mm 1.8 lens.

Thanks in advance!

1) once the subjects move a little, my image is super blur => Shutter speed is too low. Image blur due to two factors usually, movement of the subject you are taking and camera shake. To minimise both, shutter speed should preferably be 1/125s and faster. Using Aperture Priority mode, set aperture to f4 - f5.6 for use in daylight conditions, ISO 200 - 400.

2) when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black => Aperture & or ISO is set too low. Generally speaking using above settings in (1) you will be able to take pics from 8am to 6pm without any problem.

 

[night86mare]

I usually take photos of people, but the problem is i always have problems getting the images clear. Yes, once the subjects move a little, my image is super blur. I do not take those standards stand there photos, but rather, those random pics of people i find interesting and nice.

I use Aperture priority, and most of my images are blur. When i use shutter speed priority, when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black.

logical deduction would actually tell you what is wrong.

you have 3 perimeters to control in your camera. light is really not a limitation unless you are shooting indoors. the 3 are iso, aperture and shutter speed. one side one called focus.

for the first case, once the subjects move, your image super blur. that can be for TWO reasons. misfocusing, or shutter speed too slow. how do you make the shutter speed fast eonugh? how do you make sure focus is good? what sort of aperture are you using?

for the second case, the images are pitch black because they are underexposed.

if none of this makes sense, please read more about photography and get your basics down pat. no use asking people what is wrong if you will not understand their answers. if you do not want to get the basics right.. then just shoot on auto. :dunno:

best if you could post up pictures with regards to what you mean.

 

[theshooter]

i use P mode and play with the ISO some time use M mode speed 125 to 160 depen but with flash, this is just my suggestion ;p

hey andrew, i dont have an external flash and i dont really like the built in flash so i think im avoiding flash for the moment. and besides without flash looks nicer also..

Its the lens not fast enough. Try rapid fire a moving subject or using panning.

learn by shooting birds or cars. or even water droplets.

Woh thats a tough technique to grasp, but i think for slight human movements alot different from birds flying right?

1) once the subjects move a little, my image is super blur => Shutter speed is too low. Image blur due to two factors usually, movement of the subject you are taking and camera shake. To minimise both, shutter speed should preferably be 1/125s and faster. Using Aperture Priority mode, set aperture to f4 - f5.6 for use in daylight conditions, ISO 200 - 400.

2) when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black => Aperture & or ISO is set too low. Generally speaking using above settings in (1) you will be able to take pics from 8am to 6pm without any problem.

Hi teebs, thats a very comprehensive help. Yes i usually use ISO 200 or 400 in the day, and usually shutter speed above 1/60. Sometimes, when shooting indoors, it still gets dark i dont know why. like, pitch black dark. So when i try to edit it with LR i see all the grains and noise when it it brightened

Teebs, you got any suggestions for night shots? night shots with people, without flash? i tried ISO 800 + 1/10 - 1/30 sometimes can, sometimes cannot. cant get the consistency i want

logical deduction would actually tell you what is wrong.

you have 3 perimeters to control in your camera. light is really not a limitation unless you are shooting indoors. the 3 are iso, aperture and shutter speed. one side one called focus.

for the first case, once the subjects move, your image super blur. that can be for TWO reasons. misfocusing, or shutter speed too slow. how do you make the shutter speed fast eonugh? how do you make sure focus is good? what sort of aperture are you using?

for the second case, the images are pitch black because they are underexposed.

if none of this makes sense, please read more about photography and get your basics down pat. no use asking people what is wrong if you will not understand their answers. if you do not want to get the basics right.. then just shoot on auto. :dunno:

best if you could post up pictures with regards to what you mean.

Bro, i've done my reading just that my practical skills are sucky. the pictures are of my friends, not sure if its convenient to post it so i shall not. i'll just try and try myself

 

[catchlights]

if you die die must shoot at f1.8,
if you die die must shoot at indoor low light,
if you die die must shoot at lowest ISO,
if you die die don't want to use flash,

without understanding what is exposure, and the lighting condition of the environment.
this is what you will usually get.

..................., my image is super blur. I do not take those standards stand there photos, but rather, those random pics of people i find interesting and nice.

I use Aperture priority, and most of my images are blur. When i use shutter speed priority, when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black. ...............................

get out to outdoor, if you are indoor during day time, or
up your ISO till you can getting decent handheld speed, or
ask your subject to stay still if you want to shoot at f1.8 or
use flash with slow sync, plus a steady hands if you want to pick up some ambient light.

 

[aryanto]

I usually take photos of people, but the problem is i always have problems getting the images clear. Yes, once the subjects move a little, my image is super blur.

I use Aperture priority, and most of my images are blur. When i use shutter speed priority, when i set the shutters fast enough to get it non blurred, the images are usually pitch dark/black.

You seems like to enjoy candid street shot or something?

You said if subject move a little then you get blur picture, then this is not your problem but subject's problem. Move on, there will be others to take.

If you can control the subject, tell them not to move. I usually ask count: "smile, one ... two" and I snap before I say "three" cos some people close their eyes at three when I use flash.

If you cannot use flash then you must combo the 3rd setting that is ISO.
If you can use flash and you want some action movement then use 2nd curtain is best.
You probably need ISO 400 or even ISO 1600.

Increase the ISO, use A mode and C-AF (or whatever you call that in Canon - I got no idea cos I am Olympus DSLR user), so once you lock focus on the subject the camera will try to follow. Set your apperture to the min you can and happy snapping.

For the S mode you select too fast speed like 1/1000 probably it is impossible to shoot indoor with ambient light (assuming no spotlight) with that speed. That is outdoor sunlight setting.