Canon Powershot S3 IS image stabilization help?

Question

Helloo.

My pictures always come out shakey on my Canon Powershot S3 IS camera. Is there a way I can turn on a "image stabilization" or something?

thanks!

Answer 1

The default setting for the S3 IS image stabilization feature is on continuous. I have found setting it on shoot only is beneficial in most instances, although then the preview picture is shaky ... but the final shot is not.

Some other tips specific to the S3:
If you have it set on "auto", move it to "P" (program) mode.
This camera does not work well on auto .. but it gives fantastic shots on program and manual mode.

Also, set the ISO on 100 for daylight outdoor shots and indoor shots with flash. Set it on 200 for dusk, dawn, and no-flash indoor shots. Experiment with ISO 400 but expect more noise. By default, the camera sets ISO itself ... so be sure to change it to 100 or 200.

Play around with the other settings. Read through the manual, or look up online general photography tutorials to learn more about settings for the best photo's.

Answer 2

Play around with the manual settings. IS only helps up to a certain degree. If the shutter speed is below maybe 1/4 of a second, it might not help at all if you hands are still shaky. You still have to try to hold the camera steady with lower than 1/30 of a second. If you are indoors, set it to Tv (shutter priority) to 1/30 or 1/15 with ISO 200 or 400 and just experiment. You probably don't want to take candid shots of 1/30 or below if people are moving around. Motion will be blurred. You'll need to tell the people to stay still until you point the camera away. If the exposure still comes out way too dark with the shots unusable, then you probably should be using a flash anyway.

Answer 3

The Powershot S3 does have an image stabilization feature. It's probably turned on by default - but your instruction manual would be able to guide you for sure.

When you say "shaky" are you sure it's because of the camera moving? Or is it because your subject moved? Image stabilization only works to correct your shaking hands - it can't do anything for subjects moving.

Here's a test - put the camera flat on a table and take a picture of your subject. Is it "shaky" like you describe? If so, that's your subject moving and image stabilization can't help. You'll want to use other photographic tricks, like increasing your shutter speed. Your manual can help you do this.

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