Help needed

[big dub]

I've mainly been a point a shoot type of person, mainly because of the overwhelming number of alterations you can make to a camera.

I've recently purchased a new digital compact camera, a Canon IXUS 65. My main problem is with lighting and 'white balance'(?). I went to the M.P.H show last year for the camera's christening, and as you can see from the link below the pics came out quite grainy.

http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m1

I did use quite a high ISO setting, as I tended to use a 400 ISO film with my 35mm, no mono/tri pod was used and I didn't use the flash, as the pics came out quite dark when I did use it.

Could anyone please give me some tips to take some better pics.

p.s I'm quite pleased with this one.

[GetCarter]

I think your pics are fine, you just need to buy a decent DSLR - which will do the legwork for you



edit to add - IMHO

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 5th January 19:49

[LongQ]

I'm with Mr Get on this one. I think a DSLR would really complement your would shots.

Meantime - ISO 400, even on Canon who are pretty good at the ISO game, is pushing stuff a bit and is worth avoiding if possible. 200 is just a stop down and should be quite workable. I think if you leave the camera on Auto ISO (if it is like the ones I have) it will select 100 (or whatever it has) or 200 according to need. Cheat and underexpose if neet be - you will probably be able to balance the exposure back to something more realistic in post processing.

You mentioned white balance once. The auto settings wil normally pick up most regular light sources but if you get a mixture of sources shot to shot results might be a little unpredictable.

If you are working under Mercury Vapour lighting all bets are off and you will rarely find a 'standard' white balance setting that will look right across all colours. In my experience. The pros may know better but thaty is what I have found to date. Even setting a custom white balance was not a full proof solution where I was shooting.