Canon PowerShot S500 help - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

05/12/2005 10:02:52 AM · #1

OK I got this camera for Christmas. Thought it would be great seeing as it's a 5 megapixel.

It seems that my Fujifilm FinePix 4900Z, which is not even close to that megapixel... takes better shots.

My shots on the canon seem unclear... uncrisp and very full of noise, even the outdoor daylight shots! I never had this problem with the Fuji.

Anyone else have this camera? Was it a bad purchase or am I doing something wrong? I have tried both manual and automatic settings. Seems to only take decently clear pics when the flash is used....

i do NOT understand my crappy outdoor shots. I took these with the camera yesterday with bright sun and automatic settings... see what I mean? help please...

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

05/12/2005 10:05:52 AM · #2

Do you have the camera set to 5MP? They usually ship at the lowest res. Try that and see what happen.

Message edited by author 2005-05-12 10:09:56.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

05/12/2005 10:06:45 AM · #3

What are the default settings for the camera? The images look a bit over sharpened. Also, what ISO are you shooting at? I know on auto you don't get a choice but otherwise try shooting at the lowest ISO that the camera allows, (50?). The higher the ISO the more noise you will see in the images.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

05/12/2005 10:09:34 AM · #4

I have it set to superfine (would that be 5MP?) and yes, I use 50 ISO on manual...

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

05/12/2005 10:11:16 AM · #5

Originally posted by amcfoto:

I have it set to superfine (would that be 5MP?) and yes, I use 50 ISO on manual...

There's usually small, medium and large for the sizes with 2 or three choices for each size to select the quality. Superfine would be the quality setting.

05/12/2005 10:17:01 AM · #6

i had that camera,
make sure it is set to L and superfine.

also when set to the manual modes the camera regularly adjusts itself to iso 100-400 i dont know why the only way to achieve ISO 50 is in manual

sometimes i got better results from <10ft when i set it to macro

good luck and STAY IN MANUAL!

:)

05/12/2005 10:18:38 AM · #7

well then I think I have it set right... guess I should dig out the manual and read through it again...

cause something isn't right. At 5MP, those shots should have been beautiful.

Luckily I work right near the pond so I can go back and try again. I wonder when the swan babies will be born! lol

05/12/2005 10:20:44 AM · #8

that cameras factory default is large (5mp) and fine (higher comression/lower qual)

05/12/2005 10:23:42 AM · #9

Originally posted by lemondster:

OK I have it set to L and Superfine. You had this camera? No longer using it?

05/12/2005 10:28:38 AM · #10

i got a newer camera from canon (SD300) and gave the camera to my dad

not to mention my 20D

05/12/2005 10:31:22 AM · #11

Did you have good luck with the camera when you used it? Did you get good shots?

I am so upset with this camera so far... it seems to take bad photos, I was expecting so much more from it. I am surprised my Fuji seems to take better shots.

05/12/2005 10:33:36 AM · #12

I took this shot with it last night.... better than the daytime ones and I made sure everything was in manual... but I am still not impressed. What do you think?

05/12/2005 10:43:02 AM · #13

i actually did not have the camera that long. i got it through a warantee replacement at best buy for my S410 (same body lower MP). i LOVED the 410 and got outstanding pictures from it. i cant even find any of the pictures that i took with the 500.

but if i can remember correctly they both had the same size sensor and usually when you cram more pixels into a sensor without manking the sensor larger you tend to get more noise.

here are some pictures (full size) from the 410:

Sign (2.0MB)

Parents (1.6MB)

Golf (1.5MB)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/12/2005 10:45:41 AM · #14

your pictures arent what i expect from a canon so depending on where you bought it you may try to bring it back in exchange for another

Edit: (and dont aske me what those people are doing in the background of the picture of my parents)

Message edited by author 2005-05-12 10:47:02.

Links 2 3 4

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

05/12/2005 10:48:19 AM · #15

Ive had my s500 for six months now, and I am pleased with it I have the settings on superfine and iso 50. I really like the color it captures.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/12/2005 10:51:00 AM · #16

hmmm... those photos are far better than mine.

I got it as a gift from my dad, I believe he got it at Circuit City...

let me try again this afternoon and make sure I have superfine and iso 50 and see what happens. if the shots are still no good, i will have to either see if Circuit city will let me exchange it for a new one of talk to canon...

U G H

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/12/2005 12:26:51 PM · #17

When you post the new pics please include the Shutter Speed of the shots...Mode (Auto, Program, Av, Tv etc...) and arpeture would be helpful as well.

I have seen shutter/lighting to be a factor more times than not for not quite sharp photos on prosumer cams. Program mode will kick the shutter down to 1/30sec and wala even at 1/60sec I have seen slight motion blur.

In fact a co-worker yesterday asked me why his pics were so dull on his coolpix 5700...I worked with him (got him off dreaded program mode) using Av and Tv modes and his pics came out a lot sharper with a side benifit of not being overexposed.

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

05/12/2005 03:08:47 PM · #18

OK I took this quick test from my open bedroom window. I set the camera to ISO 50, superfine, daylight and L.

I will have to go back and read the manual becuase I do not see any way to control the shutter speed...

This is at least clearer than the other shots but I am still not happy... although that may be because the photo in general sucks :)

yido

Canon EOS-5D

05/12/2005 06:13:03 PM · #19

hard to tell without a full sized picture to review, but it seems noticibly sharper than your bird pictures

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/12/2005 06:23:59 PM · #20

breezing through your manual it would appear that Manual Mode offers the only controlable options, Like Quick Shot, Macro and Infinity Shot. Have you been using any of those or do you use Auto Mode always? Controlling Shutter Speed looks somewhat limited...I could find no mention of Apeture in the manual, so I'm guessing it will take a bit of practice to get the shots your looking for. I think I would be shooting in M mode with Quick Shot or Infinity mode for faster shutter speeds...I think it will be important for you to learn Exposure Compensation to get the most out of this cam.