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Photography Question 

Vickie Dunn
 

Blurry Pictures at Football or Basketball Games


 
  Night Football picture
Night Football picture
Blurry

Vickie Dunn

 
  Basketball picture
Basketball picture
Blurry

Vickie Dunn

 
 
When I take pictures with my digital camera at my son's football game or basketball games they all come out blurry. I am holding the camera as still as when I'm taking pictures around the house. Also outside night shots do the same thing. Please help!


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October 11, 2001

 

doug Nelson
  It could be that you're asking this camera to do something it just wasn't designed to do. You want to stop action in a fairly dark place, with a flash that's good to about 10 feet. This situation would be challenging to a pro. A sports photographer would use really fast (light-sensitive) film, and a powerful flash, and as fast a shutter speed as the set-up would allow. Your pics are better in the house because the flash lights the smaller area up, and the motion involved is probably not as fast. Could someone who has used digital cameras in this situation offer any help?


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October 15, 2001

 
BetterPhotoJim.com - Jim Miotke

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  Yes, you are right, Doug. The solution when shooting digital depends upon the camera being used.

Vickie, I see from the database that you are using a Olympus C3000 digital camera. This camera has ISO film speed equivalents of 100, 200, and 400. First try setting your film speed up to 400 (check the manual to find out how, if you need to).

If the blurry still happens, you will need to find a way to keep the camera as steady as possible. You can use a tripod or monopod (basically a tripod with only one leg - used often by sports photographers). Alternatively, you can make a "human tripod" out of yourself by leaning against a wall or resting your elbows on something when shooting. This will at least solve some of the blur problem.

If nothing works to your satisfaction, the only solution is to buy a more advanced camera - one that will allow you to set the film speed up higher and/or use an external, powerful flash. Hopefully it won't come to that :)


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October 15, 2001

 

Paul Cramp
  Just a thought... On the night football pic nothing seems in focus this could mean that the auto focus couldn't settle on anything because of the constant movement so manual focus may be an option.
On the basketball pic the player in the middle seems to be in focus. My camera has a set up option for single person/multiple people/landscape images maybe your camera is on single person mode and that is why only one person is in focus.

Maybe some help?

Paul Cramp


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October 17, 2001

 

Vickie Dunn
  Thank you very much Paul and Doug. I appreciate your help. This was my first question I've posted here and you have giving me some great info. I'll definite come back to this site often as I learn how to use this camera.


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October 17, 2001

 

Vickie Dunn
  Thanks Jim for your help as well. You've given me great things to think about!!!


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October 17, 2001

 
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