Digital cameras 101

[kayls]

I am an avid concert goer an love taking pictures. I still haven't found the proper settings to take a great picture.

I have a Canon Powershot SD790 IS

I'm going to see Incubus tomorrow (thursday july 30th) its at a fairly big venue and lots of lights.
I will be fairly close, but any advice would be fantastic.

I'm happy to upload some of my previous concert pictures if that helps.

Cheers

Kayley

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi there Kayle,

This article may help:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/how-to/places-events/concerts/

Take some test shots before the concert begins, so you can adjust the white balance to match the lighting. You may also have to raise the ISO, but try not to go over 200 or 400. I also suggest that you don't use the zoom unless the lighting is very bright. You can always crop later when editing. The widest angle has the largest lens opening so you won't have to use a very high ISO number and, therefore, avoid noise.

Yes, let us see some of your previous shots and we can give you additional tips.

If you have additional questions, let us know. Enjoy the concert and hope you get some great shots!

Related reading:

ISO
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-features/advanced-settings/iso/

White balance
http://www.digicamhelp.com/taking-photos/advanced-techniques/white-balance/

Spot metering:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-features/camera-modes/metering/

[kayls]

Here are some pictures of previous concerts. Each in different venues. I've tried to change my white balance. my camera doesn't seem to want to let me.

















<- this is at the same venue as incubus



so is this

anyways i know its a lot of pictures, but i thought i'd give a variety

[ShutterbugGail]

Actually, I think most of the pictures are very nice. To me, the white balance is as expected and may be the best you can get because of the differing colors of the lights in the room. So I'd probably keep it set to Auto White Balance.

Some of the photos are blurred because of camera shake, so try to keep the camera as steady as you can when holding it. In some instances, the blur is due to the movement of the subject. In some of the scenes, the performer is not well-lit so they appear dark and blurred.

Question: are you using using Automatic Focus mode? If so, switch the camera to Program mode (also called Manual mode on these SD models). It is fully automatic, however it will let you adjust basic settings such as white balance and exposure compensation.

If you're using multipoint focus (AiAf) or Face Detection mode, switch to center point focus!! It will give you more control over where the camera focuses.

Consider setting your camera to Auto Hi-ISO, HOWEVER, understand that some of the photos will contain noise. If you want to avoid noise (and chance getting blurred images), put the camera on Auto ISO.

When you press the shutter-button halfway to lock focus, you can check the shutter speed on the LCD. Expect some camera shake anything below 1/60th of a second.

Related reading:

Holding a digital camera
http://www.digicamhelp.com/taking-photos/basic-techniques/hold-digicam/

Noise
http://www.digicamhelp.com/taking-photos/basic-techniques/noise-in-digital-images/

[kayls]

I really appreciate all your help! ... I had the concert tonight and it was amazing of course. But my pictures still aren't coming out how i'd like them to.

I will post a few this weekend. I really should invest on a camera tutor. 

[ShutterbugGail]

Post a link to the recent photos at your hosting site, so we can take a look at the EXIF data.

[kayls]

I just made a Flickr account. I hope this is what you meant.

Here is the link for the pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41139043@N02/sets/72157621945593334/

[ShutterbugGail]

Yes, it is what I meant. But there are a lot of photos to sort through. It would be more helpful for you provide links to a few sample photos that you'd like evaluated, or embed them in the post as you did above.

[kayls]

Here are five that i've chosen, I will give the links of the photos and embed them as well.

1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/41139043@N02/3788947553/

1a.

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/41139043@N02/3789838134/

2a.

3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/41139043@N02/3788983227/

3a.

4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/41139043@N02/3788966035/

4a.

5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/41139043@N02/3788960113/

5a.


Thanks so much for helping me out. I really appreciate it.

[kayls]

Bumb

[ShutterbugGail]

kayls, I'm so very sorry we somehow missed your post. Glad you bumped it.

I think your photos are much improved over the first batch you showed. Don't you agree?

If you take a lot of inside photos, you may want to consider a FujiFilm digital camera with a Super CCD. They are known to be among the best of compact digital cameras for using high ISO without a lot of noise. That way you can zoom in closer by upping the ISO. This one has a five X zoom (your SD has a 3X zoom):

http://www.digicamhelp.com/amazon-store/?apid=B001R23JMQ

On the fourth image, you could have used spot metering. If you did, you probably didn't lock exposure on the brightest area.

I am actually impressed with these shots; they appear free from camera shake and most are well exposed. Keep practicing and, if you're ever in the market for another camera, get one that does well at higher ISO numbers and one with a slightly longer zoom lens.

[kayls]

I actually used to have a Fuji... Right now I just got a new job so I actually will be looking into a new camera.

I have been looking at these two cameras.

Canon PowerShot 10.0MP Digital Camera (SX10 IS)

Canon PowerShot 10.0MP Digital Camera (SX1IS)

Let me know what you think/heard.


I have some more shows coming up and will be posting some more I love hearing your opinion. Thanks for all your help Shutterbug!

LOL.. I don't know how I spelled Bump "BUMB" ... haha too funny.

[admin]

Let me know what you think/heard.

I have some more shows coming up and will be posting some more I love hearing your opinion. Thanks for all your help Shutterbug!

kayls, will be happy to give you some input about the two cameras you're considering. Will get back to you tomorrow or the next day.  Glad you find some of our comments helpful!

LOL.. I don't know how I spelled Bump "BUMB" ... haha too funny.

LOL. That is too funny; especially since I didn't even catch the misspelling. I like the word though. Feel free to "bumb" a thread whenever necessary...though we try real hard so it won't be necessary...but it can happen.

[ShutterbugGail]

Just want to make sure that Shutterbug Gail and Admin are one and the same. Didn't realize I hadn't signed out of Admin after doing some work in the administrative area yesterday.

[kayls]

Haha yup! I figured that out

[kayls]

Let me know when you find out info about the cameras! ..

Also feel free to add me on aim or msn

aim: kaylsthegreat
msn: kayley.luftig@hotmail.com

[ShutterbugGail]

I have been looking at these two cameras.

Canon PowerShot 10.0MP Digital Camera (SX10 IS)

Canon PowerShot 10.0MP Digital Camera (SX1IS)

To be honest, neither camera has rave reviews for low light performance (though they should do very well in good light). I understand that ISO 800 and 1600 are very noisy and of limited use.

However if you can wait, you may want to consider a newer model, the PowerShot SX20 IS super-zoom. It has Canon's new DIGIC 4 sensor, so may be better in low light than the predecessors.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/amazon-store/?apid=B002LITT3I

You may want to consider two new Canon cameras, if you're looking at that brand. Both have large sensors as far as compact digital cameras go, and should do much better overall in low light.

More about the two cameras, fifth post down - the entire thread is related to your inquiries.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/forum/index.php/topic,1688.0.html

[kayls]

Yep, I have to save up some cash first...

As long as the camera doesn't have a detachable lens then we are golden.

But what you're are saying.. is that I should be looking for a camera thats good in low light?


EDIT: do you know when the PowerShot SX20 IS will be available in Canada?

[ShutterbugGail]

But what you're are saying.. is that I should be looking for a camera thats good in low light?

EDIT: do you know when the PowerShot SX20 IS will be available in Canada?

If I took a lot of concert shots, or low light photos, a camera that is good in low light is a must, imho, for all the reasons stated elsewhere in this thread. DSLRs are probably the best but they are big, bulky and expensive. In some venues, a DSLR may not even be allowed inside.

So, if you're looking for an all-in-one camera, the best performance will be from compacts that have a larger sensor and/or a faster lens. All digital cameras will perform well in good light.

No digital camera has it "all" so get one with the features you need most.

Another new camera which looks interesting is the Pany FZ38:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/amazon-store/?apid=B002IKLJU0

Do read some reviews before making your final purchase.

[kayls]

Helllo again,

so my camera is officially done. I had it around my wrist and was clapping for an opener.. it broke off the string, fell to the floor and is now in like 5 pieces.

Any ways, I wasn't sure if I should make a new post.. But I was wondering if there is some sorta of Buyers Guide Magazine... I've done some research on the internet, but it would be nice to have something in hand to refer to.