Compact photography tips

[Garry]

I've got a Panasonic FS-62 compact camera, and I'm struggling with getting good shots. I know I'm never going to get stunning pinsharp pics like you'd get with an DSLR but I know I'm not getting the best from it though.

I'm mainly shooting touring cars and buggies indoors but I can't seem to find the right setting that keeps things in focus and detailed without being blurry. The way I'm shooting now is, pre-focusing on an area of track using a fairly wide angle, then finding the car and following it to the area, then shooting. Then, cropping later using the laptop to make the shot tighter.

If I use Sports mode, its blurry (but it the full 10mp 3200dp etc). I can't change any settings for ISO on Sports mode. If I use High Sensitivity mode, its better and I can get some semi-decent shots (but its just 4mp with high ISO, so very grainy when cropped) and can't change ISO. I can change ISO in Normal mode, but not sure how that'd improve things beyond the Auto setting.

Here's some examples of what I've taken, both RC indoors and full-size racing outdoors at Cadwell Park. I'm happy enough with the full-size shots, its the others I'm needing help with. Is it technique or settings? Or just that his is the best I can do without an DSLR?

[hide]

The problem is that the cars are moving quickly, and so you need a fast shutter speed to capture this without them being blurred. You need to use a faster shutter speed, if you can adjust this on your compact it should be better.

However if you can't, it would be worth buying a cheap DSLR.

[JCJC]

hide is right, try to find a 'mode' that gives a fast shutter speed to freeze the car, don't think this is easy indoors with a dslr that has adjustable iso - it aint.

Try to pan with the car, some of the 10th shots have a sharp background and moving blur cars - you want the other way round. On the whole they are pretty good, when you get outside with todays sunshine it will become easier.

Remember you may be able to lighten dark shots in software, but you need to be good to keep it natural.

[tymill]

It seems like you're really struggling to get enough light through the small aperture of your compact at acceptable shutter speeds or sensitivities. Indoor photos are really tough with a compact no matter what settings you might choose, in my experience.

Try some outdoor photography on a nice sunny day, and you'll be amazed at how much better your results can turn out.

Cheers,
Ty

[Big G]

I really struggled to take a good photo with my compact. When I got my DSLR it was so much easier to get a half decent pic. I'm no pro, but our camera has taken some half decent pics. My mrs took the pic in my sig and I think at F5 there was so much light that most photos were selecting 1/2000 1/4000 shutter speeds (Ap prio mode)

[Chillout47]

for indoors make sure you use flash, it will sharpen up the pics no end.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Garry

I want to know how Blitz is in the same heat as Simon?

[JCJC]

Its that slow shutter Stu, Blitz was a couple of heats down...........

[Garry]

I'm sure Graham slipped race control a crisp £20 note....

Thanks for the advice guys. I try not to use flash indoors because of the fear of distracting people, and when I have done in the past, its left a bright car on a black background. I'll have a good look at what settings I can adjust and fiddle with, but I'm not expecting miricles. One idea is one of the Night/Dusk settings? They should have a longer shutter speed to let more light in? Could that keep a car in focus and unblurred?

Heres the PB albums if anyone wants to see other images I've done with the cam, but they all end up pretty samey:

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y96...0Cadwell%2010/

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y96...igns/WB%20Rd5/

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y96...igns/WB%20Rd6/

But I'm v.happy with this :

[Garry]

Just pulling this back up because I went to Ardent yesterday for a camera session. Left it in Sports mode and tried getting lower to the track so there was as much light as possible without flash.

Results:































I'll post some more outdoorsy pics in a mo, but tips/critique welcome.

[Garry]

[Cooper]

best tip for you is get a decent camera (dslr) if you'd like to be a bit serious about action photography, sorry to say but all your pictures are crap.
But that is not your fault, you try your best, it's the camera + indoors + to much crop + lack of photography knowledge.

[mole2k]

The big problem with compact camera's is they don't do low light well at all. Compact cameras can give fantastic IQ outdoors on a nice bright day. Indoors however they really suffer as they cant get the shutter speeds high enough without introducing lots of noise.

The best bet for you would be to pick up a few generations old SLR 2nd hand, SLR's dont hold their money well so you can get a few year old tech for a fraction of the price of a new camera. I bought my 20D new for over a grand in 2006, it's now worth probably less than £150. So for £150, plus a bit for a lens you can get yourself a hell of an upgrade over a compact for shooting indoors.

[Cooper]

check my album from the oople invernational race, not that I photographed cars in action (I did some but they did not end up in the album as it was not up to my standards)
but here are shots from the weekend, all from my Canon S90 compact camera.
Like you can see it's perfectly possible to have a nice memory of a racing weekend without having to buy an DSLR. And that is what it's all about. Most people like the around the track shots more than the cars itself.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bnkoffro...Interventional