Can I correct low light pixeling out of focus Canon SX30

[disneymarie]

My wonderful camera died during extreme cold weather shooting.

I got a Canon Sx30 IS bundle the dh got as a Christmas gift. I had to have something fast and we found this bundle. I wanted a viewfinder and kick butt point and shoot photo's. This camera was $399 with a great bundle.

My Kodak z812 had no low light issues. On the other hand my job is on the line and refusal to pay for photographs has hurt me financially.
I did not want to learn settings. I wanted my p&s ability.

Today I was told flat out I would not be referred work providing this quality of work. Monday I had a bonus and compliment on the great photos and thanked for upgrading the camera.

It is great when in the real dark and flash setting goes off (manual) but it the room is dim, like dusk, there is so much pixeling and the side items looks like a water painting not crisp.
It is a month and Beach Mountain is not the customer service people for sure.

I need to get the low light setting right or sell on Ebay I guess.
Here are examples some are Internet link, a few my own.

The reg light photos are great, no problems, crisp, but a deal breaker when I do not know what I am capturing.

 

[SrisonS]

In low light without a flash, it can be tough for any camera to get everything in focus when shooting handheld. I'm pretty sure the camera's Auto system picked up on the low light... Maybe kicked up the ISO some... But also used a wider aperture; which in turn increased your shutter speed so that at least your main subject was pretty in focus. So most of the other stuff in the shot would be slightly blurry (which I'm sure can't be easily fixed afterwards).

So if you need to shoot low light without a flash, and you want everything in the picture to be in good focus, you'll need super steady hands or maybe a tripod. Not sure of your camera can do it or not, but using a smaller aperture (larger number) will kinda force your camera to get things in focus. But you'll still need a tripod or flat surface to shoot from. Hope this helps.

Could you give us some info on what your job is, or what types of subjects you need to shoot in these low light conditions????

 

[photo_chick]

These shots are really noisy, high ISO shots. Your new camera probably has a greater ISO range than your old one and that's part of why you're seeing more noise.

A lot of getting good pictures consistently is learning how to take the camera off auto.

 

[klmall]

Just my 2$ worth - If my job depended upon my camera I'd be looking into learning more about it and maybe getting a different camera. There are some great books out there for almost any camera model including the Dummies series and even classes.

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My wonderful camera died during extreme cold weather shooting.

Are you sure it wasn't just the batteries that died from the cold weather? I've had it happen before - @ -1 degree on the top of a mountain looking forward to getting some great shots (and not realizing it wasn't a good idea to leave the camera in the car overnight prior). You need to keep a warm backup in your pocket next to your body in order to get pics. Cold batteries simply don't work. Try your old camera in warmth with brand new batteries.

A second suggestion would be that if you liked your old camera so much, why not just buy another in the same model?

Just about every pns, and even dSLRs, will have some struggling in low light. You've got to learn to milk good pictures out of the camera. Understanding Exposure is a good first step if you want to learn more. Unfortunately, for all of us, a perfect pns (or any other camera) just doesn't exist.

 

[saturndb]

You might want to invest in some photo editing programs. I downloaded the first image (you?) and third image and did a quick 2 minute edit. Using Topaz infocus and lightroom. it does look better. Keep in mind the file size I used was real small and I did not go into adjusting the exposure

before:

after

before

after

But the best way is to take the photograph right when taking the picture. These images would still need more work before I would send the to a client who would be paying for them. You can download a trial version on topaz infocus from their website. If I was getting paid for my images from work, I would invest a few hundred dollars and get a few editing programs. Hope this helps some.....

 

[disneymarie]

Thank you everyone for input and thoughts.
Wow software is something. No not me in the photo I found a site about the low light issue and used that photo to show my issues.

I was using the flash. do I need an external Flash?

Yes i agree too much noise.When I am taking the photos i do not see it. Dummy question. can the ISO be turned off so no noise? Just no photo and a heads up for more light?

I like the size of the camera, similar to my Kodak, which is a Disney favorite....no noise camera.

Some issues are the battery and temp. That is what affected my old one.But I also had water from Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist get in the battery compartment.
My work horse with the lower ISO never gave me a problem, until photographing a fire site in 20* temp for over an hour.
Now it will not hold a charge. Sucks everything out in ten shots.My rechargeable battery stick will not even turn it on anymore.

I am an field adjuster, mainly car accidents and slip and fall. Over the winter it has been collapsed roofs and water damage.

The copiers were in a 18* warehouse with & without the flash all the same.

I think I will try a refund of this Canon, consider a SLR. and buy a used one like my old workhorse.
I have worked 2 years with the employer, and I have my own PI agency so I was thrilled with the huge Zoom of the Cannon with out changes lenses.

So if I upgrade I will always have this noise issue? Originally I wanted a Panasonic with a viewfinder and autoflash.

One more question. I just uploaded the software for the camera but did not restart my computer. Any idea what the Orange camera in two hands means?

klmal
I see that you have the Canon G12. This company has it for $49 more. Perhaps an exchange. Do you find a reduction in noise with this processor?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'll apologize for posting KR here but I think it applies:

Why Your Camera Doesn't Matter

 

[photo_chick]

ISO is a measurement of how sensitive the camera's sensor is to light. It's a universal scale, adopted to be similar to what films speeds are. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the sensor is to light. At the same time, the higher the ISO the more noise you have in an image. Every digital camera has noise. It's part of the medium, just like grain with film.

You can adjust your shutter speed and aperture to try and get a lower ISO. Which is where learning to take it off auto comes in.

 

[SrisonS]

The orange camera in two hands is a camera shake warning. The camera is noticing the low light situation, and bascially telling you that if you don't want the shot to be blurry, you'll need a tripod or to at least hold super steady. Turning on the flash, or maybe even using the 'Sports' setting will also make that orange camera go away.

 

[disneymarie]

Oh thank you, I wonder if using the sports setting will help.

I am just hoping at this point I can return it for something else. Reading reviews for the Canon G12.
Just too many issues and income loss on site photos.

I wanted to order ds a SLR but now I wonder if anything it won't be a problem switching lenses for different shots.
Not my bag of tea, but he is a Train person and really wants to have the equipment to make a hobby out of it.

He loves his Panasonic Lumix, and I have to tell you the photo he took at Christmas holiday train was fantastic. I used it for my Christmas cards.

 

[ukcatfan]

As an adjuster, your subject should be completely non-moving. I think what you need is a camera that has manual settings, a tripod, and a remote shutter release (or two second delay). I don't know if your current camera has manual settings and the ability to use a remote, but you should at least check to see. Every camera has a tripod mount. Since this is your career though, I suggest getting a good one and not a Walmart special. The white balance could also be an issue of yours if you shoot inside a lot. Many cameras have custom WB settings. Check your manual to see if your camera does. This might just be a case of you learning how to get the most out of what you already have.

 

[ukcatfan]

Oh thank you, I wonder if using the sports setting will help.

Easy. No. It will add noise. You need manual settings or at a minimum shutter priority.

 

[DVC Eric]

Canon SX30 IS does not allow for a remote shutter button. On this camera you have raise the flash manually which takes good shots in low light with correct setting it has all the manual settings of a dslr. You need to learn how to use this camera it has unike options just a like dslr it takes time to learn how to use this camera.

 

[disneymarie]

Canon SX30 IS does not allow for a remote shutter button. On this camera you have raise the flash manually which takes good shots in low light with correct setting it has all the manual settings of a dslr. You need to learn how to use this camera it has unike options just a like dslr it takes time to learn how to use this camera.

I had the flash raised, it seems worse in the in between light. When it needs the flash I am okay, if it does not really, or the photo's w & w/o flash are taken, show no difference.

I take between 50 to 100 photos at a site. The tripod was never a need I had before this souped up camera. I guess I can try the club members to see if they can get usable photo's from the camera with a minimal about of brain work. This is PT work, covering in the field. The vehicles and exterior damage are not bad, it is getting into minimal lite rooms, large warehouses, or cloudy or impending dusk time.

I belong to a photography club and they have the nights of learning the camera manual settings. One area of life I really wanted to de-clutter my brain, was taking a picture. I wanted it to be spontaneous and fun, no thinking involved.

Maybe I should just look on Ebay or Craig's list for another Kodak. Some time down the line when life is an experience and not a challenge, perhaps learning manual options will be nice.