Hi i dunno if this is the right place to open this thread but I did a search and couldn't find what I was looking for.
I'm holding on to a Canon S80 now (for about 3 days) and wish to take photos of my dogs. However they move like nobody's business and anyone knows how unprofessional dog models can be. hmpf.
I've tried maxing the shutter speed but still it results in terrible photos. I keep trying for bokeh(i'm crazy abt this) but I can't get it and the only way I can achieve minimal success is when I use macro mode on my dogs when they're sleeping...
I see some really good photos of cats and dogs around but i reckon the photographer is no newbie and is probably shooting with a dslr.
But still, can someone give me some tips? I'd appreciate anything.
I think raptor84 is the best person to answer your questions. Look up his thread here and drop him a PM:
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=230585
Since I haven't photographed dogs extensively I can't comment in detail, but I'll try to help with some bits.
I don't believe there are such things as professional dog models. In most instances animals will move as they please and position themselves as they like. Some will willingly sit around for a photo though.
I wouldn't consider using an advanced P&S to be a handicap, but you are at a slight disadvantage compared to SLR users because of shutter lag. That is, it takes time for the camera to take the photo as you press the shutter button halfway to meter and focus and then all the way down. With SLRs the delay is much less pronounced and can be non-existent depending on the camera, lens and lighting conditions...and also the distance. In this sense you'll have to anticipate action to a greater degree.
Regardless of what you use, make a habit of changing your composition by zooming or using your legs as the animal moves. Observe it through your viewfinder or the LCD screen and try to predict what its next course of action will be. It's difficult to photograph animals in fast motion, but if you want portraits, then it's all about waiting for the moment when they keep still to catch their breath.
Even at a fast shutter speed that would typically freeze a fast-moving dog (eg. 1/250s), bear in mind that you'll need to pan the camera smoothly, following the motion of the dog, then quickly focus and take the photo, while continuing to pan the camera until after the shot is taken. Assuming you do it correctly you'll get a relatively sharp running dog against a blurred, streaked background. If your camera has predictive focus that follows the moving subject, use it.
Bokeh is definitely nice to have, but in compact cameras the lens is usually so small that the depth of field will be very large anyway regardless of the aperture used, and the subject distance, or the distance between the subject and the background. Using the macro mode as you mentioned definitely helps a fair deal, and it does give a little bokeh because your subject distance has shortened a lot. Put another way, longer, bigger lenses are more likely to give you bokeh, assuming the other factors remain the same.
With the digital camera it is possible to shoot first and then erase if it doesn't go well, so feel free to experiment and maybe even shoot from the hip level, or position the camera close to the ground and photograph your dog without looking through the LCD. If you get it right the results can be quite satisfying. Dogs are naturally inquisitive and will approach your camera, so get your shots while they are at it. But if you can distract them with your free hand, they might actually keep still enough for a split second so that you can get your photo as well.
Both these photos (one of a dog and one of a cow) were taken without looking through the viewfinder. No cropping was needed because I got lucky and the composition felt 'correct' to me to a large extent. Notice that in the dog photo which was done indoors, I used a flash to help. This can definitely 'freeze' a degree of motion in itself if used outdoors as well, but the lighting is of course unflattering and may give you red/ green eye.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/14722934/?qo=45&q=by:infernal-moltres&qh=sort:time+-in:scraps
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/17279505/?qo=36&q=by:infernal-moltres&qh=sort:time+-in:scraps
So while a DSLR is not crucial to obtaining such pictures, it will help a lot because it is more responsive, and produces clean images if you're shooting in dim light and need increased ISO to get a sharp picture. Remember that the prices of DSLRs are also falling rapidly and some are reaching the point where they fetch only as much as some second-hand compact cameras. In such an instance I would definitely take the SLR instead. But you'll need to set aside even more money for lenses after which.
Failing all that, see if you can train your dogs to sit, or lie down on command by using repetition and treats/ rewards. Check out Dog Training for Dummies, for example.