Grainy photos and troubles in macro

[rstar]

Originally Posted by Myka

I use Picasa to touch up color on the photos, but I still can't get it even close to the vibrancy of reality.

Thats your problem right there. Unless you export the photos picasa compresses them right down to nothing. The camera should have come with its own software. I use Olympus master, its what came with the camera, but i also think its available for free and should work with any picture type other than raw unless the camera is an olympus. Its simple and does a good job, it will actually allow you to enter any color tempurature you want to alter the white balance. For the hard core editors there is always photoshop.

[RuGlu6]

you will also get grain if your ISO setting is higher then 400, set at 100 and use macro mode .
I get very good macros with canon S3is

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by rstar

For the hard core editors there is always photoshop.

For the less hard core, Photoshop Elements has most features the average editor needs without the Photoshop price. I have PS CS3 and Elements 6.0, and usually use Elements, it's quicker and easier.

[fkshiu]

Phhhphtt, iPhoto is where it's at. Came right on my iMac which Steve Jobs personally built and delivered to my door in between organ transplants.

[Snaz]

http://www.gimp.org/

"GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages..."

I have been using GiMP more and more instead of Photoshop these days. If you know PS then the transition can be tough but a newbie should be able to pick it up easily.

[Myka]

Thanks for all the ideas! I installed the software from my camera, and it really sucks. Or maybe I didn't figure it out...

One of my problems is that no matter what settings I try on Manual Mode the pics are super super dark, so i set ISO at 800 and then it's "normal" brightness, but pixelated. I tried somemore photos and got the best ones just setting everything on auto. Of course... *rolls eyes*

I will try some of these other programs. Thanks!

[Snaz]

Originally Posted by Myka

One of my problems is that no matter what settings I try on Manual Mode the pics are super super dark, so i set ISO at 800

ISO 800 is your problem.. Find some other combination that will bring the ISO down to 400 or less.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by Myka

Thanks for all the ideas! I installed the software from my camera, and it really sucks. Or maybe I didn't figure it out...

One of my problems is that no matter what settings I try on Manual Mode the pics are super super dark, so i set ISO at 800 and then it's "normal" brightness, but pixelated. I tried somemore photos and got the best ones just setting everything on auto. Of course... *rolls eyes*

I will try some of these other programs. Thanks!

If you on manual mode make sure your "F" is wide open at say 2.7 and shutter is not slower then 1/60 if it is slower then use tripod.

Or instead of manual try aperture priority mode and just set on the lowest value i.e. widest opening, you will get nice small depth field and subject will stand out.

[Myka]

I actually just found this "F" adjustment, and did shift it to wide open although it doesn't say a number it is set at. I also cannot find a shutter speed...I will look through the camera manual. I have been playing with the aperture priority mode as well, and find I get some half decent pics with that setting.

This graininess is driving me nuts. From my understanding, this is a decent camera, but I got better pics with my Canon SD500 until I dropped it when I was rappelling.

I will try some of these new settings when the lights come on the tank in 1/2 hour. Thanks for your continued help!!