The DU Lounge

romantico

(5,062 posts) Sat Mar 17, 2012, 05:01 PM Mar 2012

Argh! Why are My Pics coming Out So Blurry?

My grandma died several years ago and I've been going through some of her items. She had a lot of small antiques I am sure is worth some money. Problem is, no matter how hard I try I can not get any decent clear pictures of these items. Larger items are no problem but when I go in to get some of the details or hallmarks, the pics blur. It is not the lighting and I have tried using two different camera's (A Canon and a Nikon Coolpix) I'd like to list these on ebay or another antique forum but no one is going to be interested if they can not clearly see the item. This is very frustrating. Was even thinking about taking down to my local camera shop and asking them to photograph them for me. Can anyone suggest to me what I could be doing wrong? Thanks!

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Argh! Why are My Pics coming Out So Blurry? (Original Post) romantico Mar 2012 OP

Depth of field issues? Lack of a tripod? Use a timer? CBGLuthier Mar 2012 #1

Are these digital cameras? Duer 157099 Mar 2012 #2

I'll romantico Mar 2012 #3

Usually the symbol for the macro setting is a flower bif Mar 2012 #4

I romantico Mar 2012 #5

The pictures are fine - you're still drunk from St. Patrick's Day gratuitous Mar 2012 #6

If your cameras don't have a "macro" setting ... surrealAmerican Mar 2012 #7

I romantico Mar 2012 #8

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)

1. Depth of field issues? Lack of a tripod? Use a timer?

Reply to romantico (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 05:08 PM

Mar 2012

Macro setting? Is it possible that it is in sharp focus at one point but the depth of field is too shallow. You could be actually getting too close and be better off from a slight distance.

If the lighting is weak then the shutter speed could be too slow and the camera is just plain shaking. A tripod and using the camera's timer so you don't touch the camera when it is taking the picture could help also.

Re reading your post I think you would be better to not get so close and then crop and "enlarge" in the computer.

Duer 157099

(17,742 posts)

2. Are these digital cameras?

Reply to romantico (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 05:09 PM

Mar 2012

Is there a "macro" setting, which is for close ups?

romantico

(5,062 posts)

3. I'll

Reply to romantico (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 05:18 PM

Mar 2012

I'll check about the marco setting. I have in the past used a tripod and I have tried shooting at a further distance. Lighting is not an issue. I have pretty good light and sometimes I will even shoot outside.Thanks for the tips.

bif

(22,702 posts)

4. Usually the symbol for the macro setting is a flower

Reply to romantico (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 05:24 PM

Mar 2012

Also, I'd set to focus to spot so it only focuses on one object. Is anything in the photo clear or is everything blurry?

romantico

(5,062 posts)

5. I

Reply to romantico (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 07:40 PM

Mar 2012

I usually focus on the item I am shooting and the further away I get the more clear it gets. Some of these items are very detailed so zooming in close is important.Here is an example. A Crest/Seal Pendant. This is as close as I can get. I can't get any closer to show the detail of the cret without it getting blurry.