 Latoya C. Haney-mcgowan |
how do I keep my pictures in focus I have a Promaster 500 Super manual camera with a 50mm lens,35mm. I take a lot of indoor pictures, however I get the green light, supposing my pictures are in focus after adjusting everything, but when I print the instructor says there out of focus,and I need to learn how to use my shutter speed. I usually use 60, can you help me and tell me what I'm doing wrong. the camera is very difficult at times to get a green dot, even in some lit places,why? I'm very ignorant when it comes to this camera business. can you give me some suggestions for taking indoor and outdoor pictures on shutter speed/aperature. I misplaced my handbook on my camera, I need to know if I should be using the 2 slide buttons in front of my camera as well?sorry for so many ?'s. thanks,and I appreciate any response.
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Kerry L. Walker |
I am not familiar with the Promaster cameras but I do love their flashes and flash cords. I do not understand the "green light" confirming focus. Are you sure that is a focus confirmation light and not a light telling you that the exposure is correct? I would suggest you focus with your eyes. Use the split image rangefinder to focus (or the microprism collar or the fresnel screen, whichever works best for you). The shutter speed should be OK if you are holding the camera very steady or if you are using flash. Is it only the subject out of focus or is everything out of focus? If possible, upload a picture and I will see if I can help. If you can't upload, that's OK, just let me know what is not in focus.
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Maynard McKillen |
Dear Latoya: That green dot- is this actually part of the readout for the light meter? My guess is that you see a green dot when the shutter speed and f/stop are set correctly, and that you see a red dot or maybe a red arrow pointing down or up, maybe even a red plus or minus sign, when the shutter speed and f/stop are not set correctly. Is that right? Now, think a minute. Say you set the shutter speed at 60 (1/60th of a second, actually) and you focus on some indoor subject, and you tap the shutter button to activate the light meter. Even if you use 400 ISO film, you could still find yourself looking at a red dot, a red arrow pointing down, or red minus sign telling you there is not enough light. When that happens, what do you do? Do you change the f/stop, or do you change the shutter speed? I ask because you might start out with the shutter speed set at 1/60th of a second, but when you see a red dot/arrow/minus sign, do you actually set the shutter speed to a lower number, like 30 or 15 (1/30th or 1/15th of a second)? If so, that may be the cause of your blurry pictures. It can be challenging to hand hold the camera and get sharp photos when the shutter speed is set to a number below 1/60th. Here's a test. For those indoor photos, use a tripod and have your subjects, if they're humans or animals, stand very still. Adjust your shutter speed and f/stop until you see the green dot, and make sure the subject is in sharp focus, and only then take the photos. Kerry asked if only the subject was blurry or if everything is blurry. That's an important clue to the nature of the problem. If you can't upload a sample image, try to carefully describe what several of the images look like.
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Latoya C. Haney-mcgowan |
Hi,Kerry. The subject is the only thing out of focus. So what should I do? And for Maynard, sometimes I do change the shutter speed under 1/60, or I would change the f/stop until I get the green dot for light, and then I focus.But I do not own a tripod. Any more suggestions from you two or anyone else would be greatly appreciated,thanks.
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Kerry L. Walker |
If it is only the subject out of focus, the problem is not camera shake, it is improper focusing. You need to use the focusing aids, preferably the split image rangefinder in the center of your viewfinder, to focus on your subject. Keep your shutter speed at 1/60 or higher, especially if the subject is moving. Adjust the aperature until you get the green light. You might want to shoot at 1/125 unless you can hold the camera very steady. Focus first and then go for the green light or go for the green and then focus. It really doesn't matter.
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Kerry L. Walker |
If you are shooting indoors with a flash, make sure your shutter speed is at or below the maximum sync. speed. 1/60 should be fine. Check your manual. Your camera may sync. at a higher speed. Maximum sync. speed may be marked in red on your shutter speed dial.
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