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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Help me love my P.o.S, er I mean P & S
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 11/27/2007 02:48:06 PM · #1
I hate my point and shoot camera, and hating it more the more I use it, but cannot afford anything else at the moment. I am hoping that maybe there is some hidden talent that my camera has that I just don't know about. I really want to learn more about it so that we can grow together, and by the time I can afford a DSLR, I will be knowlegeable and ready for it. Some of the things I dislike about it...

It very rarely takes photos in poor lighting, I will hold the button, and the camera will focus, but won't actually take the photo.

I have read about/experimented with the manual modes of the camera, aperture, shutter speed, etc., but rarely get good results from shooting in those modes, so typically keep the camera on auto.

I mostly take photos of people, but the color always seems to be a bit bluish when I view them on my computer (that can be fixed in pp, but is there anyway to change that in-camera?)

Anyway, I know I am not the first person to have to learn from a P & S camera, so I was hoping anyone else could give me some pointers on how to learn to love my camera.
 11/27/2007 02:53:19 PM · #2
Maybe this will be of interest..

link
 11/27/2007 02:53:36 PM · #3
Why not get rid of your camera and purchase a used DSLR? They're so cheap now.
 11/27/2007 02:56:21 PM · #4
I started out with a Canon 300D then went to a point n shoot then back to a DSLR. I can't afford the lens I want for my new camera though

:( so i'm still shooting with my S2.

Anyway, It was actually easier for me to learn coming from a DSLR. But the best thing I did is to just read and try as many things as possible. Learn how to use the modes. Changing the settings for shooting in low light will help a great deal. I also learned from other photographers on here. Sometimes you can take the same photos as people with DSLR's as long as your camera can do those settings. I know when I first started I didnt want to learn the modes because it was very overwhelming with all the different things you can do. But once you take the time and learn it will definitely be worth it. I dont really know anything about your camera but my point n shoot has won ribbons, so I knew it wasnt the camera. It was me :/

Message edited by author 2007-11-27 14:57:27.
 11/27/2007 03:07:55 PM · #5
I have read both good and bad reviews on my camera, but I definately know that I am a big part of the problem, so I am continuing to practice...

Thank you buzzrock for the link, it was very informative and helpful, I will refer back to it often.

tommy_t I really wished that were an option, but I literally don't even have $20 dollars to spend on a new camera at the moment. It doesn't stop me from looking at them online everyday, and every time we go to the store =)
 11/27/2007 03:22:53 PM · #6
buzzrock's link is worth reading for anyone! I guess I'm lucky in my first camera - just the right number of parameters to play with; it looks like Moatz's Sony is not the best starting place.
 11/27/2007 09:38:41 PM · #7
Originally posted by tnun:
buzzrock's link is worth reading for anyone! I guess I'm lucky in my first camera - just the right number of parameters to play with; it looks like Moatz's Sony is not the best starting place.


Yeah, the more reviews I read, the worse it got... its hard to read when you invest so much money into something, and it is way past due to return it =0( All the reviews seem to say it takes okay macros, maybe I will just get into that instead of portraits and landscapes...
 11/27/2007 09:43:35 PM · #8
I started with a small P&S, got a dSLR, then recently got another P&S to carry around. The one thing I really dislike about P&S cameras is the in-camera processing they do. Seems to me the results are always kinda "muddy" when you look closely. I find it easier to use a dSLR than a P&S in a lot of ways, but I am learning. Even though you don't like the non-auto modes, play with them. When you have time, set up a situation where you can shoot the same thing in different modes to see what you can do with it. And keep saving those pennies. :-)
 11/27/2007 09:48:59 PM · #9
Originally posted by Chinabun:
I started out with a Canon 300D then went to a point n shoot then back to a DSLR. I can't afford the lens I want for my new camera though

ill sell my 50m 1.8 to you for $200 (its such a good deal) ;)
actually a great deal if you have 75-90 dollars laying around and are in desperate need of a lens... i own one it is a verry nice lens... although takes some getting used to the DOF

ANYHOW...

check out olyimpus... i am a canon fan... but in all seriousness i was at an event a my local camera store, the rep slowly poured a bottle of water over the camera with the kit lens attatched, and immeditly picked it up and began to shoot with it an then pluged it into he isplay tv to shw the quality as well as if it still functioned... not one problem... and plus the olyimpus "Pro" model is quite cheap if ou ever want to upgrade bodies.. and from what i hear, their lens selection is among the best for wildlife and sports...

just my 2 /c
 11/27/2007 09:56:18 PM · #10
Hey Moatz, I know how it could feel to want a better camera, especially here where no matter what you have, it seems like everyone has a better camera.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was that you have really good photos in your portfolio (and a yellow ribbon too)!
 11/27/2007 10:40:06 PM · #11
I know how you feel Moatz.

I started with a P&S and the battery sucked, it was slow, ISO 200 was as grainy as shooting ISO 3200 with a DSLR in a dark night at like a 4 second shutter speed; the resolution wasn't all that good. Their was a lot I disliked about it. But it lasted me for quite sometime, and I learned to see past it's "negatives" and I forced myself to understand that it isn't about the Camera, it's about the photographer. Equipment is not the most important factor in photography. Yes it's nice to have top of the line equipment, the latest bodies, those lovely APO G 2.8 lens's etc.

But in all fairness, those things were not, and still aren't important in order to produce a nice photo.

Anyone can take any camera and shoot a picture. But a true photographer can takes a camera, any type of camera; even a 1 time use Kodak from Safeway, and take an outstanding shot. This is of course my sole opinion.

I think you should take your camera, and try to push yourself to do the very best you can with it, and to take advantage of what your camera has to offer.

All the best,
-AC.

Message edited by author 2007-11-27 22:41:31.
 11/27/2007 10:45:20 PM · #12
Originally posted by kolasi:
Hey Moatz, I know how it could feel to want a better camera, especially here where no matter what you have, it seems like everyone has a better camera.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was that you have really good photos in your portfolio (and a yellow ribbon too)!


Thank you!

And thank you everyone. AC is right about pushing myself to get the most out of the camera I have now. But I shall still dream everytime we go to Best Buy and I see that beautiful 5D on display =) And as Melethia said, I am saving my pennies, and will one day get my DSLR (not a 5D, but something) =0) Then theres the lenses, the lighting, the props.... yeah, lol.
 11/28/2007 01:08:24 AM · #13
Originally posted by Moatz:
I mostly take photos of people, but the color always seems to be a bit bluish when I view them on my computer (that can be fixed in pp, but is there anyway to change that in-camera?)

See what White-Balance settings you have available; if you have a manual or custom setting, use that with a white or gray card. Otherwise, try to match the WB setting to the type of light you have available.

You might find this tutorial helpful. FWIW I still use my seven year old Olympus D490z all the time ...
 11/28/2007 06:58:38 AM · #14
Thanks, but I have no loot.

Originally posted by Jib:
Originally posted by Chinabun:
I started out with a Canon 300D then went to a point n shoot then back to a DSLR. I can't afford the lens I want for my new camera though

ill sell my 50m 1.8 to you for $200 (its such a good deal) ;)
actually a great deal if you have 75-90 dollars laying around and are in desperate need of a lens... i own one it is a verry nice lens... although takes some getting used to the DOF

11/28/2007 09:09:48 AM · #15
Looks to be a camera in the same class as my Canon S5. I really like my Canon, though I readily admit to dealing with more noise in some shots than I would like. Upgrading to an SLR with a larger sensor (at a lot more $$) is the only total fix for that, but I can fix some of it in post processing. Still, it's the nicest camera I have owned to date and I have done some shots I am very proud of with it.

I think a lot of it is when you see some of the stuff that is posted here, most of the members are using more expensive equipment and it does show. The most important thing, though, is a good eye and I am finding that the most powerful aid to that is looking at what other people have done and figuring out why it does or does not work. I learn more for commenting on others shots than from anything else. I'll go have a look at your photos in just a bit.

If it's a leanrning curve thing, can I suggest finding some online user groups? When I bought my S5, I found a couple of user groups for it on Flickr and we have a very active exchange of ideas and tips going. I looked and found a couple for your camera as well:

//www.flickr.com/groups/dsch9/

//www.flickr.com/groups/sony_dsc-h9/

Message edited by author 2007-11-28 09:41:05.
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