Grainy pictures

Could you post a pic so we can see the "grainyness"?

 

Please don't feel stupid! Don't delete the thread - like nikita said, post some examples - both where you can and cannot see the grain. And let us know how you're taking the shots - lighting and such! It may be that you need more light!

 

I'd like to see examples too - I have the same problem. I did decide that my camera was dying & ordered a new one, but am definitely interested to see a few of your shots to compare to mine.

 

I have an Olympus FE-170 with a large LCD screen and digital zoom. It's a really nice camera with lots of inane settings like "document" and "cuisine" O_o.

I had a Kodak easy share but I was annoyed crazy with it because it took over a dozen tries to get a non-blurry stable picture without using flash even when I was holding the camera as still as possible. Plus, the photographs were grainy. Now I have this Olympus, and it takes beautiful outdoor shots and the macro works well. However, the indoor quality isn't that great. I've tried changing the photo size from large to small and changing it from High Quality setting to regular setting, but all I get indoors is grain grain grain. Without flash, my pictures don't come out stable at all. I'm extremely cranky. I'm highly considering going with switching it in for a Sanyo Xacti C40. Wonton, a user on this forum, took some pictures of my doll with it and I love the grainless quality. Does anyone have any input if I should try a third time for a camera or if there's a way to get rid of this annoying grain? And if there's a way for you to get stable clear pictures without flash?

Thank you^^

 

"Cuisine?" Haha!

I had an Easyshare and had trouble with it, too.

I am by NO MEANS an expert, but: I can't recommend a tripod enough. It makes such a humongous difference. And, with all the cameras I've used, lighting really helps - not enough light tends to give me that grainy problem. I actually hold a desk lamp in my hand while shooting photos and what looks overly-bright to my eye tends to look nicest in photos.

 

as soon as my tripod arrived i bunged it on my easyshare.
most of my graininess (is that even a word?) vanished.
i spent a while with the macros and adjusted a few bits n bobs, but i think that the tripod makes a difference.
now all i need is better lighting...

 

Using a lower iso also reduces grain. But of course, to keep it from being even blurrier, you'd definitely need a tripod.

 

Okay, I looked up the specs on your camera, because though I know nothing about BJDs, I do know my way around a camera.

Your grainyness probably stems from the ISO your camera is using. In film cameras, the ISO is the "speed" of the film - how fast the film absorbs light. It works the same in digital cameras. The higher the ISO, th faster the camera absorbs light. But, the higher the ISO, the grainier the picture. To compensate for low indoor lighting, the camera is having to use a high ISO, which is making your pictures grainy.

Also, in low-light situations, cameras must be held extremely still, much more still than humans can possibly hold them. This is because the shutter has to stay open longer, to let more light in. If you move the camera, the picture will blur.

You can fix this by getting a tripod, and then manually setting the ISO to something around ISO 200 or below. The camera will figure out what shutter speed to use. When the camera is on a tripod, you won't have to worry about blurring, either.

so, to sum my essay up (sorry about that!) the grainynes is NOT the fault of the camera. It's the result of insufficient light. Getting a new camera won't help fix the grainyness, either.

 

I agree with Annoyed Wabbit, definitely get a tripod and manually set your ISO to 200 or below, I try staying in 100 when i'm on tripod and shooting still objects

 

Just to reiterate what everyone else has said. Tripod, tripod and tripod. Low ISO, Low ISO, Low ISO.

That sums it up.

 

Bringing the speed of the digital film lower WILL help with grainyness - but there is still the issue of insufficient lighting going on with these photos. Changing the iso, using a tripod - great tips! However, photography is about capturing LIGHT and that should be the first thing altered. These photos just have subjects that are not adequately lit.

Tripod use is the single most important part of beginning to create a perfect portrait. I never shoot without a tripod. NEVER. And my typical film speed is 1600. I LIKE grainy photos - but I still use a tripod. Hand held photography is for the paparazzi, holiday snapshooters and war photographers.

Proper lighting is the second main ingredient. Less lighting does not create low-key or moody photos - properly placed lights do that. On-camera flash can be used correctly - diffuse it.

So, get a tripod. And use more lighting.

Keep going!

 

Agreeing with the others; more light, and a tripod! You don't have to spend a fortune on a tripod, either. I have one that's only about 8 inches high, that I got off eBay for around $10. Before I had that, I set the camera on a cardboard box. It's not as stable as an actual tripod, but it's much more steady than human hands. ^_~

I'm no expert, but on my camera a smaller photo size means less detail, not more. A smaller photo size and lower quality means the files are smaller (to cram more photos on a memory stick at one time), and therefore use fewer pixels to store information. Turn that photo size back up and set it to High Quality (after you increase the lighting and get a tripod) and see if that helps as well.

 

Zagzagel, I agree that better light is always going to lead to better photos. But even with low lights a good long exposure won't result in as much grain as a shorter exposure at a higher ISO.

:cough: I shoot handheld :cough:

 

Also! If you get one of those "pure white" bulbs to light the setting for your photographs, it helps with white balance issues that a lot (although it doesn't look like yours does) of digital cameras have.

Personally, I always just wait until the morning to take my doll pictures, since natural light tends to work the best in my experience.
I don't often use a tripod, but I do a lot of the time use the edge of a table or something to stabilize my shooting hand.

 

Oh, definitely - a long exposure is what would be needed with this current lighting - but it won't be able to be handheld and I don't think an ISO of 200 is going to improve these photos to the degree that it would be worth trying.

More light!!!

And, hey, if you can handhold and get razorsharp image - I envy you and say Go For It!

 

Truly - this is something to really, really consider. Natural lighting is gorgeous lighting and can be manipulated in all manner of ways. I use natural lighting for 90% of my photography. And believe it or not, overcast days are the best days to shoot - the sky is like a ginormous reflector!

Using a tripod and a reflector of some sort outside in open shade is the way to go!

 

100% Agreed!

 

I am having issues with my camera...When I take picture with it, they look excellent on the camera's LCD screen..but when I upload them to my computer..they are grainy and look poor quality..

My camera is a sony cyber shot 12.1mp dsc w200
its fairly new - got it at x mas. And my computer is not that old, about 2 years.

I have no idea why the images look like crap when i upload them and its really upsetting me ><

I am so frustrated...I don't understand what I am doing wrong so if anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it!!!

 

I can't help you.. T__T I'm very sorry... but I have the same problem (different camera)


And I just really wanted to say.... Grainy or not, your boy looks fabulous, and I want to touch him. ;__; Shinyaaaa....! His style is so great~!!

 

I fixed the problem!! I think it was problems with the ISO or IOS..or whatever..i need to have it set lower to 100 ..the higher it is set the more grainy it is.i had it at 400 for those pictures.

and thanks for the complement ^_^

 

Ya I am still getting to know my camera and messing with the settings however I had no idea you could effect the graininess of an image..i was so frustrated i was wanting to go out and by a canon 40D DSLR XD

 

Yeah, I was going to suggest ISO.

That's basically "film" speed or the old ideal of what the cameras used to be. You need to set your camera for indoor or outdoor use. So, if it is outdoor, you'd want to set the ISO to maybe 80 to 100 in full daylight. If it is grayish or overcaste, MAYBE 200. Darker areas, like shade, 400. If you shoot in utter darkness, like by candlelight or indoors, you can shoot at 400 or 1600 if there is just no light or little light, however you will probably get grain.

And BTW, I don't know about anyone else, but your pictures didn't look grainy to me. If you are "pixel peeking" or looking at the shots close up and you see grain on like the cheeks, well, I don't honestly think that's a big deal. If it's distorting the picture at a normal view on the web, sure, then I would worry about it.

But I understand wanting to take the best picture possible.

Good luck to the both of you. Understanding the ISO is important. Experiment with it and what you find comes out best for your camera. Each camera is slightly different.

 

I have the same problem.
but i've fixed it after reading this thread.
i'm not good at photography
so thanks guys

 

Definitly use a tripod in low light situations like this and as you have discovered set the ISO to the lowest number. Point and shoots have smaller sensors and are more prone to noise, and some brands are worse for noise than others.

Though noise can look great in black and white and can make the doll look more life like

edit -> if you don't have a tripod, set the camera on a table or brace it against a wall or something. Use the self timer when possible to get a clearer image in situations like this.

 

I was also having trouble with graininess, and have never even heard of ISO. Thanks, Mercy, for explaining its essentially like film speed. Now I'll have to go home and look for that on my camera. ^_^

 

So.. My christmas Present wasnt what i was expecting.. I wanted a Digital Camera. So I told my dad that a simple Nikon or Canon point and Shoot would work.. well he got me a camera Its a Sanyo Vpc-T1060

and Its super grainy and blurry.. and Im not sure what to do. Ive played with various lights and settings.. but I always get the same results..

Any Advice? Im trying my hardest not to be rude and ask if I can exchange it for the canon powershot I wanted.. ._.

 

It would help if we could see some pictures to see what's going on. It's hard to say what the problem is without seeing it.

Have you tried taking photos outside in daylight? Noise is usually because the camera isn't getting enough light and is therefore shooting at a really high ISO. Some cameras (like a really cheap pocket one I used to have) don't cope very well with anything short of bright daylight.

 

Ill have to try and take some tomorrow.. Even when I did have some daylight in my house while i was testing it.. It was really grainy.. But I deleted the pictures already.. ._.

 

Any photos yet?

 

Sorry no pics :3 I got a new camera!

a canon A590... and Its perfectly fine ^^ Thanks for the help though

 

Grainy photos usually means your ISO is too high. Just so you know with your new camera lol. I believe that model you can change the ISO in manual mode. Your ISO should probably not go any higher than 400 to get clear photos.

 

Well even though When i had the ISO on 100 with the 2 second timer.. i was getting blurry pics... and sometimes grainy..

but I love my new Canon now Its works wonderfully ^^

 

I am currently having the same problem... I had the ISO HI (according to my camera) though at the time I had no idea what it did.
So I played with the ISO and the settings that allow me to do so.
I still have quite a bit of a grainy quiality but not so much as before, though it could just be the lighting I currently have.
If anyone has any ideas/wants me to post pictures, let me know.

 

well..to start...don't set you cam on ISO HIGH... >__<

and then... read this:
http://naiara-photobook.deviantart.com/art/Basic-Cam-Guide-107547090

it is made with a canon a590... but if you have a nice compact you should be able to..with some help of your manual..figure it all out.
Just take your camera.. and start reading.

If you have questions..pm me ;3

 

OO this helps me plenty! I own a Canon A590.. thanks for the link!

 

I changed it but I will got take a look at that.

 

Thanks so much for the link!

My pics are always pretty grainy. I'll have to pull out my manual and read about the ISO speeds.

Thanks!

 

My pics are grainy too and though I've read my camera manual, it didn't help me so much :S (oh! and I always use low ISO, well, auto ISO xD)
I have Canon Powershot A550 and has the same settings of the 590, so the link will help me a lot. Thank you so much Naiara!
Now, let's practice! xD

Edit: It works! Thank you! xD

 

Can you tell me exactly what sort of camera you have?
When i look at your latest photo's during the box opening your photo's also look clowdy.
It seems you might have dirt on your lens or even inside.

Also looks like you havent turned your Macro on.

How low can you set the iso, and how high have you set your photo quality?

 

My digital photography professor said that if you take multiple pics of the exact same thing (My guess is you'd need a tripod to make this successful), you can layer the photos (like in photoshop) and that it would cancel out some of the noise o.o;;! I have no idea if this is true or how you would go about doing it (transparent layers or no?)-but it'd be worth trying I guess?

 

Thanks for the tip on ISO. I hadn't even thought to check what mine was set to and it was set at about 500 X.x My photos were very grainy.

 

OT, but in some cases I actually like graininess in photos. It can really help set a certain mood, you know?

</OT>

 

Gyah! I wish I had come across this post much sooner! Grainy pictures were making me about ready to tear my hair out!! Guess maybe I should have cracked open the manual for my camera.. even if was only a lil' point and shoot...