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Stinky
01-25-2008, 10:31 AM
First step will be to learn to post from a photo site.

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9076/hayrackgd0.jpg

Holy C@%P, it worked.

This pics was the day after I got the camera. Just trying to learn what it can really do in auto mode. I never thought it would give a useable pic in this situation.

Fun so far.

Stinky
01-25-2008, 11:14 AM
My oldest daughter (who is deaf) got involved with horses a few years back. She is now all things horses, working at a barn, and showing English saddle, so naturaly I will be taking a few horse pics.
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8818/bentley072cg0.jpg
This pic seemed a little washed out (bright sun, snow) but a little work with the Cannon software (cut the red, boost saturation and contrast, and adjust brightness) seemed to help.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9071/fixeo5.jpg
(we'll see if posting two pics works:rolleyes: )

pyro
01-25-2008, 11:26 AM
In the FUNC (?) menu, set the Exposure Compensation (EV +/-) to -0.7 for those bright, snowy conditions just to prevent large highlight areas from washing out. (You might need to be in Scene mode to set EV) This will make it shoot a little darker.

You CAN always lighten it later in Photoshop if it's too dark.
You CAN'T easily darken large areas that are washed out to pure white.

The farm trailer shot looks great. The AUTO mode is usually right on the mark.

Stinky
01-25-2008, 01:12 PM
In the FUNC (?) menu, set the Exposure Compensation (EV +/-) to -0.7 for those bright, snowy conditions just to prevent large highlight areas from washing out. (You might need to be in Scene mode to set EV) This will make it shoot a little darker.

You CAN always lighten it later in Photoshop if it's too dark.
You CAN'T easily darken large areas that are washed out to pure white.

The farm trailer shot looks great. The AUTO mode is usually right on the mark.

Thanks pyro, thats the kind of tips I'm looking for here.

I stepped outside at lunch and shot these on normal and the -2/3 EV. The subject wasn't really right for a noticable difference, but you can see more detail in the snow in the lower left corner.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2849/mrlightgl6.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1636/mrdarkjd1.jpg

pyro
01-25-2008, 01:34 PM
That camera is pretty smart. The AUTO shot above (first one) actually came out just right, and didn't really need the EV change.

Stinky
01-25-2008, 02:20 PM
Another slick feature is digital macro. And this was hand held under normal shop light.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5627/spark2ty3.jpg

pyro
01-25-2008, 02:43 PM
For more info on taking close-up photos, read my "MACRO" article and discussion here:
http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146356

The horse shot is washed-out for a good reason. The camera gave metering priority to the subject at center (the horse and rider.) Properly exposing the subject of the photo, in this instance, resulted in a great-looking subject, at the expense of the white washed-out snow. The horse has awesome detail, it's not a dark shadow as it may have been with less exposure. ;)

83PREDICTOR
01-25-2008, 02:48 PM
The spark plug shot is great. I have an SD1000 and had no idea you could do that. I'll have to try when I get home. I am learning myself (first dig.Cam.)

Stinky
01-25-2008, 03:10 PM
For more info on taking close-up photos, read my "MACRO" article and discussion here:
http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146356

The horse shot is washed-out for a good reason. The camera gave metering priority to the subject at center (the horse and rider.) Properly exposing the subject of the photo, in this instance, resulted in a great-looking subject, at the expense of the white washed-out snow. The horse has awesome detail, it's not a dark shadow as it may have been with less exposure. ;)

Yep, read the macro thread when it came out.

Maybe I'm using the wrong terms with washed out. (remember I'm new at this).
To me the horse and rider look "washed out" along with the snow. (It probably helps to know what color the horse really is) The horse almost looks like it has grey hairs and the riders coat is kind of dull in the first pic.

The second touched up pic, the horse is more of the right color. (But I turned the snow kinda green.

Steep learning curve, but fun.

jphii
01-25-2008, 03:18 PM
Steep learning curve, but fun.

You ain'ta kiddin!! I've been playing with my Nikon D50 for over a year now and still learn something almost every time I use it.

Scream And Fly
01-26-2008, 02:49 AM
Lee, you're doing very well! The photos look great, and I'm glad you're enjoying the camera.

If you want your images to look punched out a bit more with color and contrast, set the camera to "Vivid" mode - that will give nice results.

Greg

Stoker1
02-03-2008, 04:00 AM
Just picked up one of these on Amazon. Got a combo deal (not that its needed) but still at a good price.

Ps, still saving for the new lens.

Stinky
02-04-2008, 08:23 PM
I played with the camera again this weekend, and I may have found a weakness in point and shoot cameras. Even in good gym lighting, auto gave very slow shutter speeds at low ISO. A slow flying plane was always blured. 1/80 to 1/100 shutter and 100 ISO?

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7141/lowisouj3.jpg

Stinky
02-04-2008, 08:24 PM
Although non-moving objects under same conditions were OK.

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7841/lowisostillbp1.jpg

Stinky
02-04-2008, 08:27 PM
So I went to Manual, and bumped the ISO up to 800 and 1600. It would now stop the plane (1/350? shutter), but the image got grainy at 1600 ISO.

I could not find a way to get shutter priority and keep a low ISO and bigger apature. Can it be done, or is this the relm of the DSLR and good glass only?

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4919/highisofw8.jpg

Stinky
02-04-2008, 08:34 PM
I also played with the video feature. I was pleased with the outcome. This was the default vid setting which was the lowest res and shutter speed.

We'll see if it posts. May be long and large?

<a href="http://img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=heligymtk6.flv"><img src="http://img531.imageshack.us/img531/882/heligymtk6.flv.th.jpg"/></a>

I just looked at the vid as posted. Worked OK, but the quality is much better straight on my computer.

And yes, that heli was upsidedown when it taped the floor.:eek: Turn up the volume.

Stoker1
02-05-2008, 02:19 AM
Cool vid. Can't wait for mine to get here.

Scream And Fly
02-05-2008, 02:25 AM
Lee, that's an awesome video. Those little Canon cameras are extremely versatile. I love mine - I'm even bringing it to Miami for "off the cuff" shots for my weblog (http://weblog.screamandfly.com) site.

stevek
02-05-2008, 07:28 PM
Based on the reviews and the quality of pictures I have seen this will be my next digital camera.