1. It's a complete blur
Pitfall explanation
This photo has all the earmarks of a great family moment. The white balance is warm, but we've come to expect that from candlelit ambience. Unfortunately, nothing in the shot is in focus, either because the camera set the shutter speed too slow or because it couldn't autofocus in the low light.
Can this photo be saved?
No. Once a photo is this severely out of focus, there's no amount of sharpening that can save it.
How can I avoid this problem?
Tip 1: Use the flash. I'm not a big fan of flash photos, but for dimly lit, indoor snapshots, it can make the difference between a hit and a miss.
Tip 2: Use a tripod. Slow shutter speeds result in naturally softer photos, no matter how steady your hands are.
Tip 3: Focus manually. If your camera supports it, bypass the autofocus entirely. In low light, it'll probably work more quickly and be more accurate.
Tip 4: Use a scene mode. For special lighting such as this, don't leave your camera on Auto -- it will probably make the wrong decisions. Check your camera's manual for modes designed to shoot low-light portraits.
Which cameras handle these scenes best?
What it takes: A camera with decent low-light focus, image stabilisation, or low noise at high-ISO settings, plus a lens wide enough to fit the whole family in the picture.
Suggested models:
Pitfall explanation
This photo has all the earmarks of a great family moment. The white balance is warm, but we've come to expect that from candlelit ambience. Unfortunately, nothing in the shot is in focus, either because the camera set the shutter speed too slow or because it couldn't autofocus in the low light.
Can this photo be saved?
No. Once a photo is this severely out of focus, there's no amount of sharpening that can save it.
How can I avoid this problem?
Tip 1: Use the flash. I'm not a big fan of flash photos, but for dimly lit, indoor snapshots, it can make the difference between a hit and a miss.
Tip 2: Use a tripod. Slow shutter speeds result in naturally softer photos, no matter how steady your hands are.
Tip 3: Focus manually. If your camera supports it, bypass the autofocus entirely. In low light, it'll probably work more quickly and be more accurate.
Tip 4: Use a scene mode. For special lighting such as this, don't leave your camera on Auto -- it will probably make the wrong decisions. Check your camera's manual for modes designed to shoot low-light portraits.
Which cameras handle these scenes best?
What it takes: A camera with decent low-light focus, image stabilisation, or low noise at high-ISO settings, plus a lens wide enough to fit the whole family in the picture.
Suggested models:
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 Read review |
 Fujifilm FinePix F10 Read review |
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Sergei Plishka
11/02/2006 01:21 PM
If you do notice a reflective surface in the background, simply take the shot at an angle to the surface so that flash reflects away from the camera instead of right back at it.
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