Hello! I have no idea whether or not this is a stupid question, I really have absolutely no knowledge of cameras at all. For Christmas I got a Nikon Coolpix S220, 10 megapixels, etc.
The problem is, it ALWAYS shoots in ISO mode, when I don't use flash (which I don't use most of the time.) I'm not sure what ISO means, but apparently it's supposed to "compensate" for a lack of lighting. And the pictures always come out kind of shaken, and over-saturated, and not at all the color they are in real life. It's quite ugly. So my question is, does anybody know if there is any way to take this camera OFF of ISO mode, so that I may shoot pictures in normal lighting without the flash? Thanks so much for your help!!!
ISO is a measure of how "sensitive" the "film" in your camera is, in terms of digital it basically sets the sensor to be more or less reactive to light.
A high ISO number will mean you can have a faster shutter speed (this is what you need for low light). A low number means the sensor is less sensitive and the shutter would need to stay open longer to capture the same amount of light. The longer the shutter is open for the more "shake" you will see.
In low light conditions you will need a higher number (this can increase the amount of "noise" you see in photos), in bright conditions a low number will be fine.
The discolouration you are seeing may be because the lights in your house (i presume) are not daylight balanced, this means they give off a kind of orangey glow (typical of most tungsten bulbs) your camera should try and detect the best white balance for each condition, but often in low light they are pretty poor at this.
If you are shooting indoors in relatively low light you may find the only option you have is to shoot with the flash on. Alternatively you can try bouncing the flash off a wall (using a mirror) or diffusing it using a piece of paper, to try and remove the obvious flash effect and soften the lines a bit.
I guess there's no single way to fix the issues you are having, just play around with your new toy and experiment.
Jacklyn, after a million years of this stuff (wow, I am older than I thought), I am still getting used to digital (still love film).
Ross is spot on. Every camera has more buttons and nuances nowadays, that one wrong button push ,and everything is screwed up. I am what they call a "Nikonian" but I do not know this camera. They are typically very easy to use,and give excellent results. In other words, they are made so a non-photog (as you admit) can use them with little thought. Heck, they are also great for a pro, in my opinion. I love them! Then again, am not a pro. Any ol way...
Nikon usually has a "reset" feature, that will put the camera back to original factory settings (much better than Cannons confusing buttons and stuff.) I recommend you check the owners manual for this.
If it doesn't correct itself, go to the camera store (no, not Best Buy, or Costco). A real camera store where people know the inside and outs of this stuff. Even if you didn't get it from them...(sorry for saying this) LIE! They will help you, as they want your business in every facet (imaging, accessories, etc.) A good store WILL help you. They are camera geeks. They love to talk about this stuff, no matter what level. Go that route. Let me know the results! Seriously.
Thanks you guys for your suggestions! It comes naturally with the ISO mode, so I'm slowly learning how I can adjust it and use the different scene settings to achieve what I want. I guess all I can do is try to work my best with what the camera gives me and figure it out over time. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it xD
Thanks again for your help, if I find anything out while tinkering with my Nikon I'll be sure to update :3
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ISO is a measure of how "sensitive" the "film" in your camera is, in terms of digital it basically sets the sensor to be more or less reactive to light.
A high ISO number will mean you can have a faster shutter speed (this is what you need for low light). A low number means the sensor is less sensitive and the shutter would need to stay open longer to capture the same amount of light. The longer the shutter is open for the more "shake" you will see.
In low light conditions you will need a higher number (this can increase the amount of "noise" you see in photos), in bright conditions a low number will be fine.
The discolouration you are seeing may be because the lights in your house (i presume) are not daylight balanced, this means they give off a kind of orangey glow (typical of most tungsten bulbs) your camera should try and detect the best white balance for each condition, but often in low light they are pretty poor at this.
If you are shooting indoors in relatively low light you may find the only option you have is to shoot with the flash on. Alternatively you can try bouncing the flash off a wall (using a mirror) or diffusing it using a piece of paper, to try and remove the obvious flash effect and soften the lines a bit.
I guess there's no single way to fix the issues you are having, just play around with your new toy and experiment.
Hope this helps a bit. :-)
Ross is spot on. Every camera has more buttons and nuances nowadays, that one wrong button push ,and everything is screwed up. I am what they call a "Nikonian" but I do not know this camera. They are typically very easy to use,and give excellent results. In other words, they are made so a non-photog (as you admit) can use them with little thought. Heck, they are also great for a pro, in my opinion. I love them! Then again, am not a pro. Any ol way...
Nikon usually has a "reset" feature, that will put the camera back to original factory settings (much better than Cannons confusing buttons and stuff.) I recommend you check the owners manual for this.
If it doesn't correct itself, go to the camera store (no, not Best Buy, or Costco). A real camera store where people know the inside and outs of this stuff. Even if you didn't get it from them...(sorry for saying this) LIE! They will help you, as they want your business in every facet (imaging, accessories, etc.) A good store WILL help you. They are camera geeks. They love to talk about this stuff, no matter what level. Go that route. Let me know the results! Seriously.
And no, I do not work at a camera store.
Thanks again for your help, if I find anything out while tinkering with my Nikon I'll be sure to update :3