No flash = blurred photos?

[At The Gates]

Hi,

I was after a little photography help with a Nikon S6 (compact digicam, but bear with me!). My sister has just had a baby and i'm trying to take pictures without blinding the little thing with a savage flash going off.

Basically on this camera the flash fires constantly. And i mean in broad daylight, beaming sunshine with no clouds in the sky. I've tried taking some pictures indoors in perfect lighting conditions but the flash still goes off ruining the photo. So...I turned the flash off and tried taking some pictures but every photo is completely blurred, even when using a tripod. I've used ISO 50, 100, 200, 400 and not one photo out of over 100 has come out focus.

Can anyone explain why i need the flash firing to get in focus shots, even in broad daylight and with higher ISO settings? Is it just that digicams are completely useless when it comes to changing any additional settings? I dont suppose it helps that this S6 is outperformed by an old 3MP Canon Powershot, but any help would be appreciated!

[puddleduck]

I'm not familiar with the camera, but if you have a manual exposure mode on it, you should be able to stop the flash firing.

Most compacts have a way to turn the flash off as well.

As to blur - this is caused for two, possibly 3 reasons.

1) The person holding the camera is shaking. Use good technique, brace, tuck in shoulders to ribs etc. Control your breathing.
2) Subject is moving. Use flash to "freeze" motion. Also helps with shake due to poor technique as in (1)
3) Auto focus did not focus where you expect. If you are reviewing on the rear LCD does the subject look sharp. Do the AF indicators indicate focus where you expect?

It sounds like you might need to read the manual too, if you haven't already.

[sideshowbob]

The problem with these cameras is that you tend not to be able to control the aperture or shutter speed, so although you're using a higher ISO you might still get blurry images as the camera's not necessarily doing what you want with these other variables.

Other factors might also be affecting the shot - if you change the metering to center-weighted you might get better shutter speeds as the camera will be metering (and setting exposure) based on the baby, rather than the background - this could help if the room or background is dark ... which would make the camera select a slow shutter speed.

It's also worth remembering that if the camera selects a wide aperture (f/3) and you're shooting from close up, the depth of field (ie how much of the subject is in focus, front to back) is smaller. Combine small depth of field and too-slow shutter speeds and again you're in wobbly picture territory.

Maybe try some shots on something other than the baby (so you and your sister don't get tired of the experience) with the metering as I've suggested (and flash off) and see how you get on.

EDIT- of course, Andy's suggestions about knocking the baby out and using Zen breathing techniques are also worth trying.

[At The Gates]

Just to clarify. The shots i've tried have been in perfect lighting but the flash still fires ruining the shot. Turning off the flash and setting the ISO using the same ISO or slightly higher, on a tripod (or using the 3 sec auto shot from a table) results in a blurred shot of a stationary sleeping baby!

As for the camera there are no manual adjustments for metering, aperture, shutter speed and no manual focus. Although there is AF Area Mode which lets you use a little box to set the cameras focus area.

Exposure can be adjusted manually 2 to +2 EV in 1/3 intervals. So, turning off the flash, using say ISO200 and trying the AF Area Mode focusing primarily on the subject in question and increasing the exposure might help?

[puddleduck]

So, turning off the flash, using say ISO200 and trying the AF Area Mode focusing primarily on the subject in question and increasing the exposure might help?

Possibly, but if you are using a tripod and the bady is sleeping, this eliminates shake / motion blur.

You definately need to make sure focus is where you expect. I goggled this cameras as I've never heard of it, and it has something called "Face Priority" AF.

As most new born babies have faces like smacked arses, maybe this is throwing the camera off? Make sure the AF point is where *you* want it to be, not what the camera thinks.

[DeadKenny]

As to blur - this is caused for two, possibly 3 reasons.

1) The person holding the camera is shaking. Use good technique, brace, tuck in shoulders to ribs etc. Control your breathing.
2) Subject is moving. Use flash to "freeze" motion. Also helps with shake due to poor technique as in (1)
3) Auto focus did not focus where you expect. If you are reviewing on the rear LCD does the subject look sharp. Do the AF indicators indicate focus where you expect?

and most importantly (and the whole point of flash)

4) if there is insufficient light the shutter speed will have to be so low that camera shake will cause blur.

Point 2 is related as by using a flash in low light situations you can increase the shutter speed and freeze motion.

Introduce more light (move outside perhaps if you are indoors) to provide natural light instead of requiring artificial light.

Depending on how this camera works, you may be able to set it to a suitable automatic mode which will control the aperture and shutter for you if it's not already (if it's set to manual or shutter priority that may explain blur if you don't have it set right).

Often these cameras have an indicator which will tell you if it's too low light and needs the flash. You'll be surprised what is low light. Even if you are shooting indoors in daylight it's likely too dark. Outdoors in bright sunlight though I wouldn't expect it to be wanting to use the flash.