S400: Changing Shutter speed ?

[Mettleh3d]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

I was recently reading the canon s400 specs and i read that the shutter speed can range from 1/2000 to 15 seconds.

1) My question is: 1-15 sec exist, but how the hekk can i manually set it to 1/2000 for the those FAST FAST FAST action shots that only come by once?

It's disappointing coz i was at a hi school basketball game and I took the snap, and it came out blurry (flash disabled). However, when i turn flash on, the images are so much crisper. I'm hoping find a way to get those sharp, clean, images without the flash and a shaky hand. (<--- because a little unsteadiness is inevitable)

2) What is ISO speed? I have auto, 50, 100, 200, 400. i dont believe its shutter speed, because I've noticed that it still lags a bit at 400. Is it involved with light exposure?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, i'm a camera newb. Thanks a lot!

[setiprime]

Well first of all, you have to do the painful part and read your manual. Most people don't like to do that (Me too).

ISO is basically the "Speed" of film. The digital people include this in digital cameras as a feature. The higher the ISO number, the faster the setting. Default is probably at ISO 100. You can change this (in your menu options) Try ISO 200. Unfortunately you pay a price for this. You will get increased "noise" with a higher ISO numbers.

The good part is, this will help decrease the amount of time to get the shot.

Next = Aperture. This is the size of the opening that lets the light into your camera sensor. Higher aperture numbers mean a smaller sized opening. lower numbers = wider opening size.

Next = Shutter Speed. This is pretty obvious, it is the fraction of time the shutter uses to open and let in the light, then close to seal off the light.

These three elements are basically what control the operations of your (or any) camera.

1) A higher ISO number say 200 will react twice as fast as 100.

2) A smaller Aperture number( wider opening) say f2.8 will require less time for the (same amount) of light to enter, than a setting of f4.0 (smaller opening).

3) Shutter speed, again pretty obvious the longer it is open, the more gets in.


If you're still with me, I would modify each setting to see what results you get. Then try combinations.
Suggest that you go to some Basketball practice and shoot a ton of shots. Do you know about EXIF information? If not, give me a shout.

I am not familiar with the specifics of your camera so I can't give you precise instructions, like I said, ya' gotta' pay yer dues!

Next Camera control. Action shots are a challenge for anybody. Try tracking your subject, that is, follow the motion and get in time with the movement. This will automatically steady up your camera.
Keep your elbows as tight to your body as practical - this makes your whole body a compact unit and less subject movement in different directions.
Depress your shutter half way to lock focus, this reduces the time required for the camera to "take and process" the shot.

Just keep in mind that you have a nice little camera there but don't expect Magazine cover quality shots.

Kinda like putting a Pony in the Kentucky Derby - it will run its heart out for you but don't expect too much at the finish line.

Good Shooting and keep the questions comin'

[Mettleh3d]

Thanks, but i read the ENTIRE manual + the powershot.com manual.pdf (which is the same thing, in monitor form)
the s400 i got really doesnt offer the array of manual options its A-series brothers do.
i asked because it didnt explain anything about ISO and changing shutter speed, so i was confused as to how i could get sharp, fast shots.

Just keep in mind that you have a nice little camera there but don't expect Magazine cover quality shots.

Kinda like putting a Pony in the Kentucky Derby - it will run its heart out for you but don't expect too much at the finish line.

oh man, i was hoping this camera would do it for me for the next 4-5+ years.

[abel]

setiprime makes some valid points... good info.

mettle, i have a s400 and it is VERY limited on its manual controls. i have a G5 as my main camera but use my s400 for my everyday point and shoot.

the s400/S500 cameras are very limited on manual controls. u can not adjust the aperture manually, u can adjust the shutter speed but ONLY speeds slower than 1 second. there is no way to choose a fast shuuter speed.

the A80 cameras and such have full manual control where u can set ur shutter to 1/400 or so and it will adjust everything else accordingly for the shot. the S50 also has those full manual controls as well.

i chose the s400 over the s50 simply for the size, which many do. but the one thing i do like about the s400 is that i can slow down the shutter at will for some nice night time shots. which is my primary concern...

the s400 shutter will automatically speed up to 1/1250 or 1/2000 if the sport u are taking pictures of is outdoors in the bright sun. the pics u took without the flash came out blurry becuase is was poorly lit and requires the cameras shutter to stay open longer to let more light it. once u use the flash, the camera knows to speed up the shutter to a faster setting because it knows there will be plenty of light...

i too wish the s400 had full manual controls...

i hope this helps some...

[JCW3]

The controls here are very limited, so your not going to be able to adjust much...

Even if you could adjust that shutter speed to 1/2000 or what ever you probably will not get the shot. I would say its going to come out black or so dark you would not be able to see whats there.

The exposure (aperture and shutter speed) needs to work together to get the right exposure time. Say at f2.8 you will get a nice fast shutter speed to help stop that action. Where as if you swithed it to f8, then your going to get a longer shutter speed thats going to give a blur effect. I dont think you can even change the f-stops on that camera, but I was mainly stateding for infomation.

When doing work like this you have two other helpful options. 1- is going to be a good external flash to help light up the area. You may find the on-board flash to do the job, but if you want to do much indoor sports action you will need a external. 2- is to bump up that iso setting. But quality lose will come with this as well. But its not going to give that distracting flash of light everytime a photo is taken.

I would recommend playing around with it to see what looks pleasing to your eyes, since thats often the decideing factor.

[Mettleh3d]

the s400 shutter will automatically speed up to 1/1250 or 1/2000 if the sport u are taking pictures of is outdoors in the bright sun. the pics u took without the flash came out blurry becuase is was poorly lit and requires the cameras shutter to stay open longer to let more light it. once u use the flash, the camera knows to speed up the shutter to a faster setting because it knows there will be plenty of light...

Thanks!! that explains a lot. thanks seti, abel, jcw3 for ur input.

btw, abel, are u in the photography-on-the.net forums too? ;-)
thot i came across ur name before

[abel]

hehe yeah im on that forum too... i kinda stumbled across this one a couple of days ago...

do u know of any others out there that are good as well?

good luck

[setiprime]

You might try "photoTalk.com"

Actually "StevesDigicams" has some pretty decent firums too.