Just got this camera and can not find a setting to take decent pictures of my kids. We are mostly indoors this time of year and they are always moving. Shutter does not seem fast and the quality of pictures I'm getting stinks so far. Suggestions?
790038
Have you tried changing the ISO (the equivalent of film speed)? Perhaps it's set too low. I'd try either 400 or 800 if you're shooting indoors. Also try either the sports mode or night (not night tripod) in the Scene Position. I've had no problems with shooting indoors without flash and I get pretty good pics. If the lighting is extremely low, I prop the camera on something. If the kids are moving fast, either use flash or the settings I mentioned above. I've not had any problems with the picture quality indoors with mine. Hope this helps.
648775
I love my camera! I've never really used it for that type of pics, but for me it does great. I took some pics of my brothers wedding, Kind of an indoor outdoor setting & I'd did great both ways. I think you'll really like it.
1062371
I need a camera that takes good action pictures indoors. My daughter is a dancer and my point and shoot pics are always disappointingly blurry.
142358
Hi,I don't have advice- but have the same problem! I'm frustrated that I purchased this camera and now can probably not return it!!! Good luck!! let me know if you find any tricks to get better pictures.
900743
Sorry but I am not happy with this camera. I had one before like it that was great so I purchased the same one again after mine went kaput but unfortunately it doesn't take that great of pictures. Ourside are better than inside.
876047
I bought mine in September of 07 for 399. It has been the hardest camera to use, my pics are blurry on every setting except the sport setting. The flash will not pop up unless it is set on twilight but then it is blurry. I do not understand why the price is going up.
1857606
Mr.V, if you can't get good pictures indoors with the A630, please have the camera checked. I can get perfectly good shots by the light of a single candle. Something's not right if your camera is blurring everything indoors.
1215025
We have had many dissapointing 'fuzzy' pics as well. Especially indoors with the flash. Please see my review here (if they print it)! Essentially, our old 2 megapixel 'FujiFilm' cam puts the Olympus pics to shame. Maybe we got a defective unit?
646120
Hello,On EXR and Auto mode I've found my images in low light to be sub par without using the flash - which then can unfortunately cause it's own set of problems. However, as I learn the camera I find adjusting the settings and really depending on the manual as a reference guide, along with youtube tutorial videos that my low and dim light photos are improving. I'm an Amateur at this stage of course but more advanced photographers would have an effortless time taking great shots in low light conditions. If you're shopping around check out the Panasonic FZ200 and the Sony DDSC-HX300 both have won tremendous accolades for low light performance. Hope this helps! Hello,On EXR and Auto mode I've found my images in low light to be sub par without using the flash - which then can unfortunately cause it's own set of problems. However, as I learn the camera I find adjusting the settings and really depending on the manual as a reference guide, along with youtube tutorial videos that my low and dim light photos are improving. I'm an Amateur at this stage of course but more advanced photographers would have an effortless time taking great shots in low light conditions. If you're shopping around check out the Panasonic FZ200 and the Sony... » Read More Hello,On EXR and Auto mode I've found my images in low light to be sub par without using the flash - which then can unfortunately cause it's own set of problems. However, as I learn the camera I find adjusting the settings and really depending on the manual as a reference guide, along with youtube tutorial videos that my low and dim light photos are improving. I'm an Amateur at this stage of course but more advanced photographers would have an effortless time taking great shots in low light conditions. If you're shopping around check out the Panasonic FZ200 and the Sony DDSC-HX300 both have won tremendous accolades for low light performance. Hope this helps! « Show Less
793193
Try setting the camera to Shutter Priority and setting the shutter speed to 1/30 or faster. If the images are too dark set the ISO to a faster setting.
216037
Hey Mark, Try setting the camera to the "P" on the dial (stands for Program AE). Once you do, click the Q. MENU button on the bottom right of camera. Select the ISO setting and change it to 200 or 400. I'm having the same issues as you with this camera and its poor low light performance. To get better shots indoors, it helps to crank up the ISO to a higher setting. The downside is that the picture may come in a bit grainy. The higher the ISO, the more grain, but at least you'll have a brighter and clearer picture. At ISO 200 and 400, you shouldn't have too much grain for it to ruin the picture. Let me know if it works!
1689349
Yes, I hate this feature. We just got this camera for xmas and I am really disappointed. I cant get the pictures of the chilren's faces before they move. I like to sit with my camera focused on the boys when they play or are doing something to get them making cute faces. My the time I push the button, delay and then actually get the picture, they have moved. I am seriously considering sending this camera back. Any ideas. The sports setting doesnt help here.
101125
Thank you for your response. I seem to do OK with close up but longer focal lengths give me a hard time. I may send it in just for them to check it out. I like the camera but I havent ever been so stymied before.
362580
I suggest getting fastest SD card you can. I only see that kind of slow time on these types of camera if you are shooting RAW+ and using slow SD card or continuous shooting mode. If this is supposed to be normal I'd complain to Sony.
2206681
Hi there Angela I recently bought this camera after doing a lot of research. One of the only things that people would sometimes say was bad about the camera was that under certain conditions, the pictures came out in a condition like the one you described. There are a few things that you can do to help get rid of this "noise": 1. Choose a lower ISO setting. This setting changes the sensitivity to the light. You cannot change this value in the "Simple" mode, but in PASM and scene you can. The lower the ISO level, the more likely you might need to use flash, so open the flash and turn it to Auto (the default setting) when you use a lower ISO in poor to moderate lighting. 2. Change the internal Noise Reduction to High. You can access this setting in the PASM or Scene modes only as well. Changing this may make the picture a little less detailed, but probably only noticeable in something bigger than a 4 x 6. Access this setting by hitting the "Set" button, and then go down the menu to the third page, to a setting called Pict. Adj. and hit the right arrow. Noise reduction is the last choice. 3. If at all possible, take photos in good lighting. This will limit the use for internal brightening and adjusting, which will keep the natural colors and less noise in the picture. Hope this helps!
116521
Digital cameras selling for less than $500 do not have "instant" response, so taking photos of moving children and pets requires some "tricks". With the S1800, you can "lock" the aperture at f/3.1 and lock the ISO at ISO 200 to get higher shutter speeds. Pre-focus the camera on a location and keep your finger on the shutter. When the kids run across the picture frame, release the shutter. Also, the S1800 has a "burst" mode that lets you take three photos in about one second...a good way to capture motion. Digital photos are essentially free. At a kid's baseball game, I might take 200 photos with the goal of getting five or ten photos that are "great"...and then I format the SD memory card and start over.
2136215
I'm also looking for a camera to take photos of children and was considering this model. If this is not the one, what would you recommend?