grainy pics

[polineedyan]

I recently bought a canon iso a570. On auto mode (flash off), my pics seem to be grainy. Moreso than on the movie setting. Does that mean I should be using manual and adjusting the settings? I thought auto would be fine, but im not really happy with the look..

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It's kind of a loaded question because in order to solve the problem, you need to understand the concept of exposure.

On Auto (including pre-programmed modes), the camera picks the settings. If you move out of Auto, in certain modes, like Program you can pick the settings.

Graininess in digital photography is known as Noise. The higher the ISO, the more noise you get. The reason you're getting a lot of noise is because your camera is increasing the ISO in order to capture enough light to get the shot.

The biggest problem is that these types of shots (low light, no flash) are difficult with almost all point and shoot cameras.

There are a few things you could try. You may need to experiment a bit. YMMV.

Go to Program mode which is like Auto but you can adjust settings. Keep the ISO on its lowest setting that will give you the shot. You may need to use a small tripod or something else to keep the camera extremely still for this, otherwise you're likely to get blur since now the shutter has to stay open longer (see triangle illustration in first link above).

Use a flash.

Get the shot however you can, but run it through Noiseware software which will decrease the noise. This is a nice program to have, but you'd hate to have to run all of your pictures through it in order for them to look halfway decent.

Check out the Canon S3/S5 IS thread. You will find helpful information there which will be similar for your camera.

Hopefully others will chime in that can maybe explain it better of have other ideas for you. Good luck.

 

[jann1033]

I recently bought a canon iso a570. On auto mode (flash off), my pics seem to be grainy. Moreso than on the movie setting. Does that mean I should be using manual and adjusting the settings? I thought auto would be fine, but im not really happy with the look..

what auto settings are you using?, just the green box? some auto modes like a sport mode would raise the iso to help give a faster shutter speed. check in your manual and see which setting they tell you to use for whatever you are doing and if it mentions what settings do not raise the iso espec past 400 or so( 800 is probably getting really iffy for noise). if you are using an auto mode and turn the flash off i wonder if the camera is compensating by raising the Iso. you may be able to use an auto setting more in tune with the shot you are taking( ie portrait, macro whatever) and get better results
if you can use the creative side of the dial all the better as it gives you more leeway, just try to use the lowest iso you can and still get the shutter fast enough to stop action or whatever you are trying to do.

 

[polineedyan]

these answers seem to make sense, because I took the pictures in what I would call, semi light. Meaning, that it was daytime, but we were in the shade..a flash would have probably helped a bit. I am still trying to perfect my navigation of the infamous triangle. I think I get it..good answers!
I find with my model, that I really cant go too far out of the recommended settings, before I get nothing but a black picture..
still trying to get my photo tech on before we get to disney in 19 days..so, allow more light for darker shots by adjusting the iso in program mode, rather than manual mode, use a flash in auto (if theres any doubt) and HOLD STILL. Also, the other "auto" modes allow for more recommended settings, such as sports, landscape, etc. Does this sound like Im getting it?

 

[jann1033]

truthfully except in odd circumstances IE maybe really low light where you should use a flash and don't want to/can't ,you should get decent shots with auto settings if you are using the right one for the job (since it is setting the shutter and aperture you probably would set yourself). I've never used the auto settings on my rebel so i got out my book and looked them up..they also set the metering, AF mode, drive mode.. didn't know that but actually that could help you take a better photo since it appears to set what is optimum for the conditions. for vacation shots i wouldn't dabble to much with the creative settings you might not be familiar with, unless you know the shot didn't work and are desperate
sometimes you might want to use a flash outdoors for fill in a shady type setting . try it ahead of time and see if the faces are to "flashy" looking or put a piece of tissue or something similar over the popped up flash to diffuse it
you might want to pick up a cheap tripod ( IE gorilla pod or something similar) for night shots since it's hard to hold still...if you have a timer on your camera you can use that for the shutter for those occasions as well so you don't move the camera when you press the shutter. if no tripod put it on something sturdy, IE trashcan, fence), you can't really hold it still enough( no one can)

 

[seashoreCM]

Even if you use flash, some cameras will raise the ISO automatically.

YOu need to find out whether there is a selectable setting limiting how far the camera will raise the ISO for indoor shots. (Or honor the single ISO you last selected for outdoor daytime shots.) Such a limit will also limit the flash shooting distance.

Particularly for indoor shots, if you limit the ISO, you will likely find that the shutter speed you get or must use is too slow to hold the camera steady in your hands.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm