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06/21/2007 09:48:32 AM · #1 |
Hello everyone,
I'm hoping to get some tips from you guys. I stopped doing the DPChallenge, mainly because of a busy life. I may get back into it. I did not submit many photos, as you can already see at my profile.
Anyways, I currently own Canon A620. It's less than two years old, I probably took roughly around 2500 pictures with it. I'm disappointed with over 50% of my photos. They all come out looking flat, and grayish. For example: //www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=313064
This is a set of cat whiskers that I find all over my house. This was taken outside in a bright sun. Yet, the pictures is all flat. No shadows or anything of the sort.
I have checked my camera, and I've done "white balance", I have reseted EVERYTHING, I've tried adjusting aperture and shutter speed.
It's the colors that's driving me crazy. I have taken pictures outside in the bright daylight, yet it seems so flat, it seems that the camera takes in all the colors, then balances them. Could it be "Spot Average", "Center Weighted average", or Evaluative issue? (even I have tried all of them).
Any one can help?? Is there a simple test that I can try to see if the color balance in my camera is way off?
Lastly, lately, I've been noticing that even when I take pictures outdoors or indoors, and the flash is on, the Red "shaking camera" icon shows up. The flash is on, yet the pictures come out slightly blurry. It would be like 1/60 at f4.1 (on Auto mode), and comes out slightly blurry. It's not noticeable on the camera screen, but when I have it fully shown on my computer monitor, you can tell.
Sorry frot he long drawned post, but I need to get to the bottom of this before I can say, "I hate this camera!" (it was an xmas present from my boyfriend, and my very first digital camera, so I just don't want to chuck it).
Thanks! |
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06/21/2007 09:57:19 AM · #2 |
The ones you have up look ok to me. The reason, at least to me. your whisker picture looks grey is cause...well they are grey. The flower one looks fine. Do you have any other examples?
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06/21/2007 09:57:39 AM · #3 |
Created the thumb for you...
I don't think the lighting is all that flat on this one. What may be is that it seems a little oversharpened and possibly a little out of focus.
The contrast seems good but you may play with that a little as well.
Message edited by author 2007-06-21 09:59:22. |
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06/21/2007 10:16:45 AM · #4 |
cpanaioti - that's exactly what I mean. I did not do anything to this photo in photoshop, at least that's what I remembered. This was taken outside in the BRIGHT sun. And yes, you see that it's a bit out of focus...that's another issue that I'm having.
Here's a recent photo (well, at least a recent uploaded one!).
This was taken indoors near a window. In my eyes, the colors do not "pop" as it should be. I did no editing.
I just don't want to go through photoshop for EVERY photo I have. It has to be something with the camera.
Message edited by author 2007-06-21 10:22:10. |
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06/21/2007 10:23:28 AM · #5 |
Sorry, here's the link for a larger photo.
The same photo as above post |
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06/21/2007 10:32:13 AM · #6 |
There are parameters on your camera where you can set contrast, sharpening etc. You'll probably have to experiment with the settings to see what gives you the best results.
Also, you may have been too close to get focus. Check what the minimum focusing distance is for the camera and try to stay at least that far away from the subject. |
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06/21/2007 10:33:26 AM · #7 |
This one seems to have good focus but the lighting is a bit flat. Playing with the parameters in different situations will help you get the results you're looking for. |
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06/21/2007 11:50:21 AM · #8 |
What mode are you shooting in? Try shooting in Program Mode (or aperture-priority, shutter-priority, or manual mode), hit function, then go down to colour and select vivid.
Cameras don't see the same way the eye does, and so often times it's difficult to "replicate" the scene as you remember it. Sometimes, you have to post-process the images to get the colours and contrast back how you remember them.
Edit: ...and don't get rid of the camera. You've got a great point-and-shoot. I used the A610 for over a year and loved it.
Message edited by author 2007-06-21 11:51:18. |
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06/21/2007 11:53:34 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by AilurophileDJ:
Here's a recent photo (well, at least a recent uploaded one!).
This was taken indoors near a window. In my eyes, the colors do not "pop" as it should be. I did no editing.
I just don't want to go through photoshop for EVERY photo I have. It has to be something with the camera. |
Had the PSP been better lit, this picture might have "popped out" a bit more. The camera was probably confused trying to expose for the top, but also for the dark PSP. |
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06/21/2007 12:01:43 PM · #10 |
Nothing at all wrong with the shot of the discs, except underexposure. Here, the camera's meter was probably fooled by the predominance of light colors and the result is an underexposed shot.
Focus looks OK, it appears to have locked on the front most discs and the ones at the rear are a little OOF.
Here's a tweak of the shot. The only adjustments are curves (brighten, adjust color balance & contrast) and USM (sharpen).
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06/21/2007 12:07:53 PM · #11 |
FWIW, I've also have the A620, and I get good shots pretty regularly. I also edit them in Photoshop to increase the contrast for entry on DPC.
Whatever you do, don't chuck the camera. It's an excellent point and shoot.
Message edited by author 2007-06-21 12:10:05.
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06/21/2007 12:13:06 PM · #12 |
Thank you all for much help.
I will try the Vivid mode and see if that helps a little.
I just hate postprocessing, it just seems like a chore! LOL! Perhaps I can do that from now on for my favorite photos. I never print my photos out on paper.
Thanks again!
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