Any advice on how to use a digital camera ? (sorry am new)

[Diablo]

Hello everyone

Names Matt and I wondered if someone could help me with something.

I am going to a Motorcycle show this weekend at the NEC, Birmingham and while I am there I am going to be wanting to take lots of pics of the latest bikes.

However last year I went and took some pictures and they all came out really bad, most were just out of focus.

The camera I have is a Panasonic DMC-FZ20.

It will be an indoor arena and while the camera is good outdoors it doesn't like taking pics indoors.

Trouble is I do not understand iso, exposure, etc and how to get the best outta me camera so I was wondering if theres a crash course where I could learn how to use this camera for the weekend ?

Any help much apprecaited.

Cheers.

Matt

[alanS]

Hello.

I suppose that you've tried reading the manual?

Other than that, the camera will have an Automatic mode so you could just use that and leave everything to the camera. Hold the camera as steady as you can (I believe that this camera has image stabilisation so make sure that it's turned on) and always press the shutter down halfway to allow the camera to set the exposure and focus and then press the shutter fully down.

I'm not familiar with your particular camera, but if you can not use Auto mode and flash it will probably have a P (programme) mode so you could use that and increase the ISO to a high setting to allow you take a picture quickly enough to avoid blur.

Practice before you set off.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

...
However last year I went and took some pictures and they all came out really bad, most were just out of focus.

The camera I have is a Panasonic DMC-FZ20.

...

Most compact cameras have some indication that they have acquired proper focus. On my Coolpix 4500, a small green LED by the side of the viewfinder stops flashing and glows steadily. Yours will probably have something similar - get used to noticing it. Also, the flash needs time to recharge, so be prepared to wait a few seconds for it to get fully charged.

[Chris Cool]

Hi - just a few ideas that might help with shooting in low light...

1. Don't use the zoom (keep wide at 36mm - crop later)
2. Do use the 2 second timer (this will stop the jerk when pressing the shutter button)
3. Try Party mode (which assumes your shooting in poor light).

Good luck

[Chris Cool]

On my Coolpix 4500

Ah, still got mine - classic in its time

[Malcolm_Stewart]

On my Coolpix 4500

Ah, still got mine - classic in its time

Mine's had lots of document copying jobs over the years. (For serious stuff, I moved on to an Eos 10D 6 months after buying the 4500.)
I found the tilting body / lens feature and reducing the flash output was fine for taking excellent snaps of all the forms my elderly aunt had to complete, and it saved me lugging a scanner (& laptop) with me on my visits to her.

[Chris Cool]

For serious stuff, I moved on to an Eos 10D 6 months after buying the 4500.

Ah, I never went serious

[Learning]

I think that your query is too general for a forum. You cannot expect us to write a whole book. Find a course at a local college of FE or do a course from one of the camera manufactures (Nikon do overpriced one day courses on their products) or do the AP course and get a bigger discount off Photoshop than the price of the course. We will help with specific queries, but please be reasonable.
One of our other members suggested RTFM. I was tempted to do the same but hope that I am being more constructive.

[Chris Cool]

I am going to a Motorcycle show this weekend at the NEC, Birmingham and while I am there I am going to be wanting to take lots of pics of the latest bikes.

So how did it go?