Camera/film question?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Camera/film question?
9
Mon, 07-09-2007 - 11:26pm

Isn't there someone on here whose DH is a professional photographer? This question is also for anyone who might have advice. I just posted it on the Disney board, so I'll just copy/paste:

Does anyone use Fuji film and has over the past several years?

I'm starting to wonder if it's not so great.

We had a Vivitar camera that we used from '98 to last year. Except for the very first roll (came with the camera), I've always used Fuji film because someone told me that since I was using Wal-mart to process my pics (and they use Fuji paper), it was better (I don't necessarily just use Wal-mart anymore, I often go to Walgreen's now, too--not sure what they use, I'll have to look).

Well, over the past few years, the pictures have been coming out fuzzy and less than spectacular like they had when it was new. We figured it was the camera.

So, we bought a Canon camera last year before we went to Colorado. Noticed fuzziness in the lens (like condensation), but did not have a single problem using the picture in the outdoors, even with the zoom, even those times when the lens (the looking piece, not the actual camera lens) was fuzzy.

Since then, a lot of our indoor pics come out out of focus and fuzzy.

There's no rhyme or reason to the condensation-type problem (sometimes when it was very humid, we didn't have any, other times, like in Colorado where it was so dry my nose bled, there was). There's also no rhyme or reason to when the indoor pictures come out fuzzy (sometimes the camera's not fuzzy and they do, sometimes it is and they don't, sometimes it is and they do, etc). I do know that the Zoom sucks indoors (fine outdoors). I can't say that I've had a single fuzzy outdoor shot without human error such as moving the camera or something of that nature (or focusing on something not in the center on a close-up picture).

I use 400 speed. Would it be better to use 800 speed indoors? And can I use that outdoors too?

I'm seriously thinking of trying Kodak because I'm starting to think it's the film brand. But, if not, I'm totally dissatisfied with this $189 camera from Canon. I did call them within 2 weeks of buying the camera to ask about the condensation/fuzzy view lens. They couldn't really give me any advice on that, though. (or maybe they just didn't try)

So, I guess I have more than just a film-brand question here.

Any thoughts, advice?


















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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 8:44am

You didn't mention the type of camera you are using. Are you using an SLR? Are you properly adjusting your shutter speed for the conditions of your shot? You want the shutter speed to be at least equal to the lense length you are using. ie.. 100mm lense you will want 1/100s.

Now about film. The higher ISO you use 200,400, 800 the faster shutter speeds you can obtain, however,you will end up with a grainer picture the higher you go. 400 speed film is great for action shots but is best used in full daylight without flash.

You can also adjust your apeture. The apeture is the opening that allows light to enter the camera. The larger the opening the more light gets in, but the slower your shutter speed. The fstop number controls your apeture. The smaller your fstop number, the larger your apeture will be. The larger your apeture, the slower your shutter speed will be because the camera needs more time to allow the proper amount of light in.

Blur can also occur when you are dealing with low light situations and no tripod.. or low light situations with a slow flash. Anytime you have a situation where you are using a slower shutter speed, you will need to stablize the camera as much as possible to minimize blur. Using a tripod is a great way to achieve great shots with low light situations. This is especially important if you camera is not an SLR and your using an automatic camera where the fstop is not under your control. Checking light with a light meter may help some in making your apeture adjustments with an SLR.

Personally I like to use an SLR camera with 200 speed film, though I will use 400 for taking shots at a daytime football game.

I hope this helps some.
stacy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 8:51am

SLR means the big lens that you manually turn? If so, no.

This is the camera we have: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Sure-Shot-Z180u-Date/dp/B0002XRWS8

Our outdoor pics come out GREAT with the 400 speed film...mostly still, not action pics. Would a higher speed or lower speed yield better INDOOR pics (not necessarily action pics)?

Thanks!

Also, Mike's indoor pics come out better than mine, and I'm thinking he might have a steadier hand. I've been wanting a tripod, I guess it's time to break down & get one.

Alysha




Edited 7/10/2007 8:53 am ET by alygator

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 9:52am
Shana's (gooboomom) DH is a professional photographer!

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Registered: 06-01-1999
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 10:13am

For starters, you don't want to use 800 outdoors. The higher number the flim, the less light it needs but also produces a less quality print. The ideal is to use 200 outside on a sunny day for the least grainy shot. 400 is a good compromise if you are moving in and out of doors or dealing with lower light levels. Personally I would stay away from 800 unless you are taking darker indoor pictures and you can't use a flash. It's really a grainier print.

I always used Kodak. Kodak is better film for photographing skin and I mostly photographed people. Fuji has it's benefit. It captures color richly and is good for scenic pictures and such. I went digital a few years back though and dropped film altogether. It was a tough thing for me to do as I still love film (I have a 30 year old Minolta camera with automatic nothing and it took some of the best pictures we have.) However, the convience and the freedom to take 300 pictures at a time won me over. I had a little kodak digital which was fine. Now I have a big canon digital with changeable lenses and I've been extremely pleased with it. I've never witnessed a condensation problem with any of my cameras.

Fuzzy indoor pictures could mean the setting is wrong for your film (using 400 speed film but telling the camera it needs 200 light requirements.) If you are using autofocus, there could be a problem with it. Autofocus works much harder inside and with lower light levels. You can try new film but likely it's the camera or some setting that is wrong on it.

I hope something in there helped.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 3:03pm

I would use 200 speed film with a tripod for indoor shots.

stacy

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2004
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 8:30pm

Hi Alysha,


My DH is a photographer, as Laura said.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-11-2007 - 1:21pm

Thanks! Lots of help!!! I'm going to print these responses out.

I do think it's the camera, and I will call Canon back with my complaints. It (viewfinder) really shouldn't be fogging up at the very least--even if the blurry pics are human error.

Thanks,
Alysha


















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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-11-2007 - 1:23pm

And I'm going to go back to the manual to see if it's set for the wrong speed. I seem to remember something in the manual about that.

Alysha


















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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-11-2007 - 1:27pm

I doubt I can work an SLR and your daughter has one?..lol.

Thank you so much for the suggestions...I will print them out. I really think it's the camera now (and human error), so I will contact Canon AGAIN. We have a one-year warranty, so we'll see what happens.

I do like the idea of trying different developers. I want to say that Walgreen's does a better job overall. But I've only used them for about 5 or 6 rolls of film. They are usually easier for me because I hardly ever am IN Wal-mart for a whole hour (I was getting my tires rotated/balanced the other day) and I hate going through that store just to pick up pics. Walgreen's, I can just swing by and it's right up front. And the price certainly isn't that much more!

Alysha


















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