Why do I get blurry images?
Blurry images are the result of movement of the camera during shooting (not holding it still) or the camera not firing with a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action.
What is Shutter Speed?
The shutter in a camera blocks light from hitting the CCD (where the image is formed). During exposure the shutter opens for a duration of time expressed as a fraction of one second.
What shutter speed is required to prevent blur?
- To prevent blur due to camera shake when holding it, a shutter speed of 1/60th or higher is recommended.
- If you’re trying to freeze a moving subject, a shutter speed of 1/125th or higher is preferred.
- Always remember: the brighter the available light the faster the possible shutter speed.
Example of blur from camera movement:
Handheld camera in low light. |
Results with flash on. |
Example of blur from subject movement:
Slow shutter speed (1/40th) produces blur |
Fast Shutter Speed (1/250th) freezes action |
Suggestions to prevent blur.
A. Use the flash:
- Whenever you shoot indoors, set the flash to “Fill in" mode to reduce the effect of blur.
- Most built-in flashes have a range of approximately 6 feet. Stay within the range of the flash to obtain the correct exposure.
B. Position your camera on a tripod or brace yourself:
- Use a tripod so your camera remains steady when shooting. Small tabletop tripods can often be found at your local dealer.
- If you don’t have a tripod handy, you can always brace yourself against something solid (i.e., a tree or car) to help keep you still, especially when zoomed out to full telephoto position.
- You can also use the remote to trigger the camera and lessen any occurrence of image blur.
- No remote? Try using the Self-Timer to trigger the shutter.
C. Set your camera mode dial to Sports or S (Shutter Priority):
- Locate the mode dial on your camera and choose the Sports mode to utilize or preference the fastest shutter speed and optimize other camera functions.
- You may also try selecting the “A/S/M" icon on the mode dial and programming it for “S" or “Shutter" priority. If your dial has an “S" by itself, set the camera to that mode and set the highest speed (highest number) possible before you get the exposure warning (usually shutter speed lights up in red).
Still blurry?
If you’ve tried the steps mentioned above and you’re still not receiving the results you want, try changing the ISO setting to 400. The ISO setting is a menu option included with certain Olympus digital camera models. By increasing the ISO, you’ll enable the camera to shoot with a faster shutter speed, thereby reducing the occurrence of blur. However, you may experience more “noise” in your final photo.
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