questions about taking pictures...

savannah

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 4, 2001
Messages
45
We leave in 2 weeks, yea! The thing is, I'm nervous about my camera. It seems inconsistent, sometimes my pictures are pretty good, other times, the colors don't look that great, not the crisp, colorful, great pics I would like. Does anyone have advice about getting great pictures? Do you think the film brand, speed makes a big difference? How about developing. I've been taking them to Walmart. Also, Do you think my camera needs a "tune up", It's about a $200 camera, with a nice zoom lens, probably 3 or 4 years old. It has been dropped quite a few times. Help...I want great pictures for this trip!
 
I used to always buy 200 speed film, then my brother-inlaw suggested I buy the 400 speed film, and boy oh boy, do I notice the difference!!

My pictures are so much clearer and they look so much better! I usually buy Kodak Gold 400 speed film. It costs more, but, it's worth it!!
 
The lower the ISO number (100, 200, 400, 800) the more light is needed for the picture to come out. For example, you really wouldn't want to use 100 indoors, 200 would not do great. 400/800 are all purpose films that work great indoors and outdoors.

Pay attention to the light source. If the brightest source of light is BEHIND your subject, even if your eyes see the subject fine, the camera will capture the subject very darkly.

Also, heed the film manufacturer's instructions and do not try to take flash picture more than about 10 feet from your subject (with standard non-professional equipment) because even though you think the flash is bright enough, it really does not illuminate anything further than about 10 feet.

Another tip: fill the view finder frame with your subject. For example, face or upper part of the body. You'll like the effect better than trying to fit a whole person in the picture -- they'll be too tiny to see the expression on their face
 
Your camera sounds like my old one. It was a pentex point and shot with a zoom lens. I couldn't figure out why some pictures were better than others I took it to the shop and just the cost to look at it and what he thought was the problem wasn't worth the camera. I think it was going to be about $75 repair. SO I got a new camera and it was worth ever dollar. Last thing you want is to take a ton of picturs and not have them turn out. Camera's are pretty cheap now so you may want to look! Oh one other thing as with all camera's if you are shotting of center or a bunch of people remember to focus on what you really want clear, push the shoot button 1/2 way down and keep it that way and then center the pictures. That may also be your problem!

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thanks for the tips, maybe I should go shopping for another camera. How about film developing, does it matter where you go or do they pretty much end up the same place?
 
I have been using www.snapfish.com and love it I think the pictures are great and I then don't have to bother up loading them! They scan the pictures for you some times the scanned pictures may be a little light or not perfect color wise but the prints are great! Not one problem. And the nice thing is I bring the mailers with me on vacation and as I finish a roll I drop it in the box! So by the time I get home they are back or at least on their web site!

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I buy 400 film for everything. I bought 800 for dd, I'll post how they turn out (we are in wdw this weekend). Wal-mart in our area did a great job on our pictures. During our last trip in 1998, I divided up where I took wdw film for developing to three different places. They all turned out great!

SandraC
º0º
1975 - off site
1977 - off site
1987 - Indian Rock Shores
1990 - Holiday Inn International Drive/Daytona Beach
1998 - KIDS VILLAGE, GIVE KIDS THE WORLD, Make-a-Wish trip with 4.5 year old daughter born ill),
2001 APRIL - CBR - ON SITE FIRST TIME! YIPPY! With dd 7 years old, ds 15 months old!
 
We just got back from WDW on Saturday and I took 6 rolls of film (I used Kodak Gold 400) anyways I just picked up the pictures today and they turned out great - the color is very nice! I used to get my film developed at Wal-Mart but I started getting a little disappointed with there quality so I've been taking them to BJ's Wholesale Club and they have done a nice job and they have next day service too! I LOVE pictures and I was sooo excited about mine, I hope yours turn out just as nice! Have fun! :)
 
Don't take your film to Wal-Mart. They come out grainy and blotchy looking they don't "color-correct" I took 5 rolls including Christmas into our new store. Seems like they were a little less than Meijer but cost wasn't a factor. Wal-Mart is closer so I tried - never again.
 
Like the previous poster said focus on what you want in focus by pressing 1/2 the way down and then centering. It is easy to focus between two people and get something in the background in focus. Also the lens needs to detect contrast to focus so sometimes you may have to move around a bit to get focused and then center again. I also think Wal-mart film developing is lacking in quality. I always take mine to Wolf Camera because they will try to correct any problems also because the pictures are developed in house. I have had my pictures lost once, a long time ago, but ever since then I just don't want to risk it.
 













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