I hate my Canon powershot Sd750!!!

[dixiegirl]

Ok sorry for the title but its true!!!
Ever since I got the camera It has'nt taken crisp and crytsal clear pics...
To me once they are developed it looks like they were taken from a roll of film versus a digital camera ( very very grainy)..My fuji camera which died last year took the best pics ever and it was only a 4mp camera..I read so much about the canon camera and how great they are....Well I'm unhappy....Yes I know the camera is only as good as the person taking the pics ......can anyone give me some insite???? I'm almost ready to go and spend another 300.00 on a another camera....!!!

 

[wdwmagic]

If you are saying its very grainy, it sounds like you are running on a high ISO level. Have you tried ensuring you are at ISO 100? Also worth setting the camera to full auto and see what happens there (incase you have mande a setting change).

Post some samples here and let's see how it looks.

 

[k.hunter30]

Also, have you played around with the image file size setting on the camera?

 

[Fluxuated]

You think it's bad now with that Canon, try getting Support for it, then you'll really hate Canon.

 

[dixiegirl]

Here are a couple of pics....To me they look very grainy...They're shot with the iso on auto...which I believe is 400.....now if I was to really blow these us to say a 8/10 pic.......very bad.....On screen it may not look bad, but on paper.....Bad!! And they were printed on professional paper...They were sent out ...Also I tried to different places to see if maybe it was where I was getting them develped, same thing.....I did email canon...they told me to reset camera back to factory settings(which we've done before..no help)..Then they said if that does'nt help to send the camera to them so maybe they can see the problem.....(I really don't like that idea)...Anyone help me??

 

[myhappyplace]

I don't know-do mine look grainy? I use a PowerShot SD750-I just got it a month or so age, but I've been happy with it so far. Mine is set on Auto, if that helps.

 

[KeithVH]

OK. Auto only if you need it quick. Here are some sample settings to try:

Image Size - largest (3072 x 2304)
Image Quality - Superfine
Keep the ISO at 100 or 200, especially outdoors, Auto for inside when needed and you don't need flash
SET THE AF TO SINGLE POINT! (The newer Canons have AIAF - not the most reliable tech under many circumstances) - this is one of your culprits
Metering - Evaluative
Exposure - Use the Special Scenes modes - start with Portrait and Kids&Pets
Sharpness - bump this up
Saturation - bump this up
Contrast - leave this alone for now

OK. Try those settings for a start. This is a fairly automatic camera so you have to max the settings that affect your needs. Since you aren't post-processing, that doesn't help. Do you use any software like PaintShop or GIMP?

Also, you need to REALLY practice handholding, especially with no viewfinder to hold the unti to your eye and provide an extra steady point. Try shooting with your upper arms and elbows tight against your ribcage. This will help reduce shake. Put your thumb on the bottom and press up when you press the shutter down. And be more careful when you zoom, this will accentuate any camera movement.

unfortunsately, there will be some noise. The sensor in cameras this small is 4x6 mm. VERY small compared to a 35mm negative. That is a tough thing to overcome.

 

[dolbyman]

Well I can't see grain but they seem out of focus (not sharp at all)... have you ever tried (just for a test) manual focus ?

 

[dixiegirl]

Definatly gonna try those settings,....Tried manual, that was not good...But will try those settings....Don't have photoshop or another photo enhancing program other than what came with my camera....Never tried those either , just because in the past I had no need....also I take at least a few hundred pics when I go away..Specially this last time (over 500, I know probably small amount compare to some)..We did a cruise/disney combo....Hubby almost bought a new camera on the ship beacuse he was so agravated with the camera..After many attemps and deleteing pics (lucky for us the manager at shudders on ship was able to retrieve most and also gave us a mini tutural on our camera) Like I said, to see pics on the camera they don't look bad..but once on paper....uhh!!! But will try the settings you guys suggested....Any one else feel free for more insite!!!

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Well I can't see grain but they seem out of focus (not sharp at all)... have you ever tried (just for a test) manual focus ?

I think Dolbyman is on to something. As near as I can tell the most focused part of either picture is several feet behind the people your trying to photograph.... it might lead me to think that the camera is jacked up.

I think you might want to do some test shots to verify that the camera is focusing properly... tape a newspaper to the side of your house... have your wife/kid/whoever stand in front of it with another news paper.. take a picture with the camera focused on her newspaper... have her step a few feet further in front of the wall and you step back a few feet.... keep doing that and if the paper she is holding is in better focus than the wall then that isn't the problem... but from what I see in those pitures I think your going to see that the wall is better focused than her... and that means the camera has a problem... possible the sensor is not in the right place in the camera.

 

[wdwmagic]

It looks like you h ave a lot of JPEG compression going on. Can you post an original picture out of the camera?