Hello, I ask for assistance - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/07/2004 12:29:48 PM · #1

I'm coming to you guys in help on how I can make my images better. (I have my own site, for digital camera owners and I don't want to be the other and have shotty photos and make the site look bad).

I just got this camera for my birthday, and I love it to death - but I can't seem to get the right detail on the distance, etc I should be away from something before shooting. Here are my specs.

Camera - Medion MD 40820 (Very tiny handheld)
Resolution - 2048x1536 (3.1 Megapixel) At most.
Sensor Effect Resolution - 1600x1200 (2 Megapixels)
Internal Memory - 116MB SDRAM (Buffer) & 32 MB Flash Memory
External Memory - SD/MMC 256MB max
Digital Cam Still - JPEG Format
LCD Display - 1.5" Color
Digital Zoom - 4x
Exposure - Auto/Backlight
Lens - F=3.0, 8.5mm
Self Timer - 10 seconds - If turned on
Built In Flash Strobe - Yes
Dimensions of the camera - 3.4" x 1.6" x 1.2"

An example of my horrible imagery is here.

Image 1
Image 2

Message edited by author 2004-07-07 12:36:24.

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

07/07/2004 01:19:03 PM · #2

The first image did not come up. The second shows a keyboard that is out of focus. It could simply be, in this case, that you are too close. Find out how close you can get and still be in focus. I selected my Sony, for example, because it could get with an inch of a subject. Your probably has a range of around a foot, or longer.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

07/07/2004 01:22:00 PM · #3

Looks like you were trying to take a macro shot. I wonder if you have macro mode in your settings. If not, I would advice to stay at least 4 feet from your subject.

Do you have another picture because only the second showed? Maybe of a person?

longlivenyhc

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

07/07/2004 01:23:38 PM · #4

heres the correct link to the first picture he was trying to show

clicky

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/07/2004 01:25:20 PM · #5

Wow! That is really bad. hmmm...what do you have the resolution set at and again, do you have macro mode?

Plus digital zoom is really bad. I would avoid zoom at all unless you have a tripod. Optical is the way to go, but I realize this was a gift.

My last camera was pretty close to this camera and if you work with the settings you have you can produce some very nice quality shots. See my top scoring shots in my profile for examples or click here.

Message edited by author 2004-07-07 13:29:06.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/07/2004 01:39:52 PM · #6

On my camera I have a switch on the side. It has a picture of a flower and a picture of a man with a mountain behind him.

The macro on my camera is from 12" - 24", and Micro is 24" = infinate (The sideways 8 lol)

My resolution is set to 3.1 Megapixels (2048*1536)

Thanks everyone.. more suggestions on how I can make my photos look better are welcome. I am definately open to getting mucho better. :)

Sonifo, your images with the MP level is WONDERUL.. I hope to be that good soon. :)

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

07/07/2004 01:57:07 PM · #7

The flower will be the macro (close-up ) setting and the other for general photography.
Experiment with all the settings until you get the results you want Andrew. good luck.
Paul.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/07/2004 01:57:12 PM · #8

Hello, could you tell me if this is any better?

//andrew-west.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-6

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

07/07/2004 01:59:41 PM · #9

Originally posted by AndrewWest:

Hello, could you tell me if this is any better?

//andrew-west.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-6

A little better but the light is too harsh..as you can see it has blown out ( over exposed)the flower.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

07/07/2004 02:00:33 PM · #10

Yeah...anyway i can try to avoid that harsh blowout like that?

willem

Sony Alpha a6700

07/07/2004 02:13:01 PM · #11

I think Medion is a PC hardware manufacturer and your camera is basically a webcam (or just some webcam imaging board) put in a housing so it looks like and can be used as a normal camera, independant from a PC. As such it will have severe limitations in image quality. Don't expect any more than what you would expect from a webcam. I doubt whether you can get much better results then you do now.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/07/2004 02:28:57 PM · #12

One thing for sure to avoid is any sort of zooming. Digital zoom is a major contributor to poor picture quality.

Also, the effective sensor resolution is 1600x1200 (2 megapixels), so turn off any "interpolation" option that tries to increase this to 3 megapixels -- it is the equivalent of digital zoom and also results in poor picture quality.

If you treat it as a 2 megapixel, fixed focal length (non-zooming) camera, the quality may improve somewhat.

07/07/2004 02:33:39 PM · #13

willern,

From what I read on the website of Medion, it is a camera, in which with the proper drives can be used as a webcam. The resolution of the webcam is not half as good as what I have seen from taking videos from the camera driver independantly.

Although I can understand where you're coming from, although I would think 3.1 MP is 3.1 MP no matter how you use the system, or what it's for. Am I incorrect on this?

I know they make way higher MP's but stil a 3.1 would be decent enough to take "clear" pictures, opposed to blurry ones.

EddyG, I'll do that, and then will go take another photo of the exact same flower, and tell you how it worked out.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

07/07/2004 02:49:00 PM · #14

Eddy, I went outside, but the sun is so much in my face I can't see my screen good enough nor can I take a photo without massive sunlight on the top of the flower. When the sun changes angles I'll get it up for you. :)

Any more suggestions people?

willem

Sony Alpha a6700

07/07/2004 03:17:34 PM · #15

Originally posted by AndrewWest:

Although I can understand where you're coming from, although I would think 3.1 MP is 3.1 MP no matter how you use the system, or what it's for. Am I incorrect on this?

Since the 3.1 MP is achieved by interpolation from a 1600x1200 sensor the camera is 1.9 MP.

But even then, many 1.9 MP camera's deliver good results, especially for web and normal size prints.

However, the demands for webcam are very different from digital still camera's. I have a digital video camera from JVC which also does still pictures and it has the same problems. No decent photo quality. And probably the lens on the JVC is even better then on a Medion.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to say you can't use it or to say its rubbish just because I have a better one. I just want to say that it will have its limitations and you should not have high hopes for sharp and crisp pictures. Save you lot of frustration and effort. Better spend a bit more, you get what you pay for.

Good luck.

07/07/2004 03:27:07 PM · #16

Oh I understand completely. I know the limitations, but I would still think that I should be getting clearer pictues, ya know? I mean like I'm fine with the quality of that second photo, but that first one sucked.. and it was because I was zooming. :)

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/07/2004 03:37:22 PM · #17

Bring the flower indoors, set it on the table.
Take a few shots of it in normal mode from 1 foot away and then 2 foot away and so on. See what the results are.
Then take a few shots in macro mode which is the flower setting.
Take a few shots with it zoomed in on the flower and then a few zoomed out. Could be interesting to see what happens.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/07/2004 03:37:33 PM · #18

Willem,

A follow up. Maybe I should redirect my attention away from flowers, and do other things. I mean here's an example, and to me it looks very very clear. I'm very happy with the result of it.

//andrew-west.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=23&pos=0

faidoi

Pentax K10D

07/07/2004 03:56:42 PM · #19

Most webcams or lower priced cams have smaller lenses then then regular compact digital cams. I believe most digital cams have at least a 30mm wide lens. The opening is a lot smaller so it tougher to get better details.

The light fixture picture actually looks really good.

Message edited by author 2004-07-07 16:04:16.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/07/2004 04:01:30 PM · #20

Yeah, it is very little (8mm). The camera only cost like 70 bucks. Which is still a hole in the pocket for some, but it definately nowhere near expensive. I have plans to get a digital camera with around 6.1 mp and a 30mm lense, which should run around $700 or more, correct?

Thanks Faidoi. I was like.. I have a funny caption for that so I'll take it. I put the camera in micro mode, and held the camera about 10 inches away.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

07/07/2004 04:10:06 PM · #21

Originally posted by AndrewWest:

You really don't need too much money to find a decent camera. The camera I use is the same as the one Sonifo used for some of her highest scores. Yet my pictures don't happen to come out as nice.

Just like different cameras, photographers are not created equal =P

Message edited by author 2004-07-07 16:15:00.

willem

Sony Alpha a6700

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

07/07/2004 04:19:52 PM · #22

Originally posted by AndrewWest:

It is probably more the light circumstances then the subject you are photographing which determines the result. The light sockets look indeed much better then the keyboard. Sure one can see it is from a low end cam, the corners are soft and there is not a lot of depth due to limited range, but anyway a decent result considering the price. Just make sure you have good lighting conditions with sufficient contrast and you should be o.k.

Mambe

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

07/07/2004 04:27:08 PM · #23

Hi !
Don't worry about your camera , have fun taking photos !
Explore the possibilities , take a lot of photos and then compare between then , a tripod could be a good help and of course a software like PSP (it's not expensive) or Photoshop is a good tool for the edition . It's easy to find "demos" or "try-and-buy" software.
Try to find different points of view of the subject ... You write that it was sunny , shadows are very interesting too .
Hope to see more of your photos soon !

Cheers ,
Mambe

07/07/2004 04:27:47 PM · #24

Thanks willem, and thanks to everyone else who commented. I learned a few things today and hope to enter a few contests before long. :) ALso I do plan to become a full member to the site before too long.