My New Digital Camera

hi all. i just wanted 2 say that i bought a small compact (spare) digital camera today for $200 and i have 2 say its pretty friggin good. i already have a real nice digital camera (panasonic FZ10) but its almost the size of a normal SLR camera and kinda heavy. its a beautiful camera but its just not convenient to take it everywhere eg. clubbing. so today i bought a cannon powershot A410 cus its much smaller, lighter and has the features i was looking for (AF assist lamp, good image processor, same memory card as my big camera and small and light enough to go in my pocket)

here is a physical size comparison of my old digital camera (more of a professional camera) and my new cannon point and shot happy snap camera. as u can see my FZ10 is quite big and i would probably lose my pants if i tried 2 jam it in a pocket to go to a club, and would possibly denied entry cus it would b used as a weapon

BTW, these photos were taken with my phone (Sony Ericsson Z800 1.3 MP camera)
its a bit crap and i had 2 wind up the compression 2 get the 2 photos 2 fit in the same post.


im interested 2 know what digital cameras other ppl have and if ur happy with it..

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I have a Canon 20D usually using my 50mm 1.8 prime

Ive never any troubles when taking my SLR to a club, to a big event it would be best to clear it with promotors first though, actually usually good idea to clear it with promotors regardless.

1.8 aperature makes for wicked low light shots with no flash that arent blurred to fuck, i usually shoot stopped down to about 2.5 though.

And the putting my flash 1-2 stops down when taking shots with lights in the background make for wicked portraits too, just check out funkylittlechickens av pic, it might be in her profile too.

Downsides of shooting out of full auto is that it usually takes me 30 min or so when i rock up to an event to get the settings i like.

All in all very happy

i got a cannon IXUS V and also a Cannon A40, that GAffio usually runs around with...

I have a Panasonic DMC-LZ2 which I paid $500 for not long ago...its not huge, so can take it out with me, and takes great shots...I am still learning how to use it though...I may have to catch up with you over a coffee one day Ephargy, and you can be my tutor for digital camera usage 101

i got a canon powershot g3, bout 2-3 yrs old now. not too small, not to big. has a sling, so i can just sling it when not in use. as u may of seen me wondering around with it, by my side.

has nice manual control which i luv, like ephargy, i spend the first 30min of a night playing with settings to get the right setting for the particular place and setup.

no flash and using 1/15 - 1/30, F2 (depending on lighting conditions) can get me some lovely results. this shot was taken like that - http://www.perceptible-fallout.com/gallery...?album=9&pos=95

and http://www.perceptible-fallout.com/gallery...?album=9&pos=96

looks like we got some good cameras peoples/photographers in here.

im a basic point and click.. used to get right into it. but now just happy with my digis to point click... point again...

I own a fuhifilm S5000. happy with it, but will want a proper digital SLR camera..

EpharGy you sound like the man @ taking photos. a problem i have is putting my FZ10 in automatic with the flash of in low light it usually uses apeture of 2.8 (the lowest it goes), iso400, but holds the shutter open for like 1/4 of a second in which case everything is blurry.. my FZ10 has ful manual mode so i can use like an SLR, so if u can suggest some settings ill give em a go and see if i get any joy?

i really do want to be good @ taking photos, not just pictures. even taking a course woulf b good but i dont have the $ @ the moment.. i love photography.

can't really tell you settings, it changes for everything.
really need to have a bit of an understanding of the settings, then you can change and experiment.

try using 1/15 <-> 1/40 shutter... have a decent play.

and practice holding the camera in a good steady position, and keep it still until the photo is taken. you'll find that will help with blurryness a heap. lots of ppl just hold the cam shaking all over the place, press the button, and move off. making a nice blur of lights.

its like shooting a rifle. apply the 4 marksmanship principles and you can't go wrong

Im still thinking on doing a course, but many people have told me not too, unless im really looking for a career in it. Can learn just as much from a few good books.

Not sure if u can change metering mode on your cam, ive been using Center weighted Average, which is good if the light is changing and your subject is in the middle of the frame, also wont be as spoilt by random bright lights or your light source dropping out suddenly as much.

I usually shoot at iso of 800, although some venues (tonic backroom) i have to pump up the iso to 1600, the good thing about canon cameras is the quality of high iso pictures, alot less noise compared to most other makes (shudders at the olympus 8mp), i still pull usable pictures out at full size at iso 800

My biggest downfall is that with my lens, its a prime, so no zooming, not that id want to, its fixed @ 50mm, which on my camera's 1.6x crop factor (standard 35mm/sensor size) = 80mm, which explains why i was sitting by the speaker stack at anthems taking my shots.

I'd recommend putting your camera in Av mode rather than fixing the shutter speed, the reason being, your looking for letting as much light as possible in regardless of light conditions, low aperature does this, then your cam will compensate with an appropriate shutter speed to expose the shot, working the other way and fixing your shutter speed, you may find many pictures dark, due to not being able to get a low enough aperature.

So, shoot with a fairly wide aperature, 1-2 stops back from your widest (lowest number) and see what sort of shutter speeds you get, if you can get your shutter speeds down below 1/10 you will get excellent results. Also, make sure your zoomed out as much as possible, more zoom = more light needed to expose the picture = longer exposure times, so if you need to zoom, step closer to the subject. You may need to have your flash on for a fast enough speed too.

My fav pics from ark anthems, plus settings they were shot with. You'll notice the low aperatures, downside is that alot of my pics are a tad out of focus, since the range of whats in focus is severely diminished at low aperatues, but it makes for wicked blurred out backgrounds. All were focused automatically (a camera gets hard enough to handle in the dark, add a few drinks and its a mess), the 4th pic would be mad if chad wasnt the one in focus.

IMG_2935.JPG
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/13 seconds
ApertureValue - F 1.80
Flash - Flash fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
Metering mode - Center weighted
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Flash details - Rear curtain sync used

IMG_2970.JPG
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/15 seconds
ApertureValue - F 1.80
Flash - Flash fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
Metering mode - Center weighted
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Flash details - Rear curtain sync used

IMG_3072.JPG
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/30 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.20
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
Metering mode - Center weighted
Exposure mode - Av-priority

IMG_3076.JPG
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/25 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.20
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
Metering mode - Center weighted
Exposure mode - Av-priority

IMG_3089.JPG
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/80 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.00
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
Metering mode - Center weighted
Exposure mode - Av-priority



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Ark anthems was probably my 7ish time out at events taking pics.

I now manage to usally keep 2/3 of the pics i take compared to 1/3 at my first event with it. (filled up a 1gb card kept 58 pics :/)

http://www.placidic.net/gallery2/v/EpharGy/Rave-Club/

most are shot with the 20d with the 18-55mm kit lens :/

nice shots kym that top one looks mad
blurred background really sets it off
dont know anything about cameras or photography but i love a good photo

i hate letting my camera decide on shutter speed. it always goes for the nice uber slow 1/4 or slower. i rather change as i go with a flick of the little wheel.

and i only have the luxury of ISO400 as the highest

WHAT A BITCH....... SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN U LEAVE THE ROOM AND YOU HAVE AN EVIL GIRLFRIEND......... what a bitch.

ANYWAY....

yeah i can only go up to ISO 400, and the lowest apeture i have is 2.8 and yeah usually my camera tries to keep the shutter open for 1/4 of a second and eveyrone has moved in that time frame cus everyone is dancing.. i guess thats the difference between an SLR and a camera that has simulate SLR settings.

i can change the light meter mode from average to spot mode, and i can make the flash do backdrop modes. i guess all i can do is take it to a club 1 night specifically just to take photos and really have a good play.. i guess the good thing about digital is if i dont like the pic i can delete and try again.

a problem i have is i get excited with the 12X optical zoom, but usually blur from hand shake is not that much of a problem cus my camera has image stabalizer and i dont lose light when on zoom. it keeps F2.8 all the way through

its just a carse of practice i guess... but like i said b4. i want to take photos, not just pictures.
something i want to be proud of.. the above photos r really good..

hey EpharGy

when u say "Exposure mode - Av-priority" in the above pictures, what do u mean?? its possible i have a similar option but its called something different on my camera..

Thats aperature priority, on a dial wheel it should be Av.

I'll be trying to keep wide at about 2.5 and put my shutter at 1/20 and try shooting in full manual on sunday at Panic Room.

ok my camera has an A S M setting on the dial. A = apeture is in manual mode, you select the ISO and the camera selects the shutter speed. S = i select the shutter speed and ISO and the camera does the apeture, M = i do it all myself.

this has all gone way over my head. but i can see by the photos that u guys know whhat your doing... so umm... make me look good ok!

dam i wish i had a DECENT camera

na DEL thats cool... i know what it all means and i kinda know what im up to but i want to be better is all... i have my big camera with all the settings but i just bought a point and shoot camera cus happy snaps r what im after sometimes. i bought my small camera specifically for my birthday @ ONE cus i dont wanna b carrying my big camera all night with it getting in the way. + if i get drunk and i lose my camera i'd rather lose a $200 camera instead of my $1000 camera.. lol

yeah i know how ya feel.. my cannon IXUS retailed at 1400$ when i first got it... but its a few yrs old now.. can get the newer versions out for about 6-700. but back in the day it was an awesome camera. i lend seven of Gaffio my cannon powershot A40 a fair bit.. i hardly ever see that camera in my ownership... but yeah teh size of the ixus is convenient... still worth too much to me to risk losing tho..

so ill leave it up to u to take some pics and make tyhe rest of us look good in the photos.. and bad behind the cameras

Morph, u sure that your only setting your ap in the A mode, judging by the letters you think that would be your aperature priority mode.

Best thing is to play around and find a rough guideline of settings which work for you. consistency is the key, espescially for people shots, you dont want to have to retake a photo of a group of people 4 times.

ok just lookea @ the settings on my cam.... on the dial it has an ASM setting. in the menue i select what function u want that dial setting 2 do... when i set it to A = i select the apeture and the camera does the shutter speed. S = i select the shutter speed and it does apeture, M = i do it all myself. i had a play around in the bedroom with only the lamp on and yeah ISO 400, F2.8 and around 1/10th shutter was looking not bad although i suspect if it was of ppl actually dancing in a club it would b blurry, i had a play with the night portrait more and it looked great. but thats a setting on my dial so to get to it i have 2 come out of manual mode to get to it. so then everything becomes full auto and i lose control of what im doing. ill have 2 go 2 an event some time specifically just to take photos and have a good play around with it as i want it to look like i know what im doing....

another question i had was.. the photos u posted b4 of the ppl in the club. u had all the shot information 4 each photo. is that information stored in the photo? i know when im looking through the pictures in the camera it can display the informarion IE: shutter speed, ISO. Apeture and the histogram. but i dont know if i can retrieve that info once the pictures are taken of the camera.

PS. i hope i dont sound like a geek with all this camera talk.. lol

ok i had a bit of a play and this is what i came up with.. a pic of jamie, shagsalot's daughter. holding some flashing crap.... lol

the image info is


Exposure time = 1/13
FNumber = 2.8
ISO = 400
Metering Mode = Multi-section
Exposure Program = Shutter Priority
Focal Length = 6 (it dont tell me the focal length in mm)


f2.8 and iso 400 is as good as i can do so i have 2 leave the rest up 2 shutter speed.



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The data is in the exif which is stored in the image, as long as you havent edited the image the data should be there, you just need to use a prgoram to read it, most picture viewers should read it.

1/10th should be fine in clubs, think about how far you can move in 1/10th of a second, not really too far, you should get a bit of motion blur from people dancing, but it would probably add more than detract from the shot.

i have a memory 101