pic taking advice needed... dark pics

[mcewen]

i have the Canon A590IS.

When I take a picture in average light situations, with the flash on... the pic often comes out dark. I don't know how to fix it.

Any ideas?

[GunnerX]

Increase the ISO. Usually the tiny flashes on P&S cameras are only strong enough to illuminate nearby objects making everything behind really dark. If you increase the ISO (assuming you can) it will make the background brighter at the expense of more noise in the picture.

[bluewaker]

The ISO for point and shoots is somewhat bad. You'd be pushing 400. Don't use normal auto flash.

My suggestion is to use the slow synch flash. I think the icon for that is a guy with a star in the background. It requires peopel to stay still and you to be steady with your hand. You will get a brighter background like this.

If you can, also increase the stops so the indicator poitns to +1 or +2 in brightness.

[twotterdhc6]

If the background is dark, try to increase ISO or exposure time as other posters already mentioned.

If the subject is dark, then get closer!

[nuropa]

get more lights.

[slomo]

As per dpreview.com stats page, the flash range in your camera is only 3.5 meter. Try to be closer to your subject if it is further than that.

Also check if somehow the exposure compensation was accidentally set to be lower. According to the same stats page, your camera can have + or - 2EV. Put it back to 0 if it is anything other. Check also if your camera have flash exposure compensation and put it back to 0 if it is not.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a590is.asp

[tdott]

Put the camera on Tv Mode.

Try taking a picture with the shutter speed set to 1/20-1/60. The lower the better, but it will also require your subject to be still and your hands to be steady.

Up the EV, and Play around with the ISO, Start with a mid ISO and move up if the picture is still too dark, but the higher you go up, you loose picture quality. Also try this without the flash, see how it turns out.


By forcing a longer shutter speed like i am suggesting, you subject needs to be still, or your will get blurring. And your hand needs to be still also, since you have IS on your camera that will help.

I would also strongly recommend a tri-pod if taking a picture of a stationary subject. With a tri-pod you can go to a longer shutter speed to let more light in.

[bpopd]

i have the Canon A590IS.

When I take a picture in average light situations, with the flash on... the pic often comes out dark. I don't know how to fix it.

Any ideas?

This is pretty easy to fix with a camera that has a TTL flash... but for yours I would also just recommend prolonging your shutter speed to something like 1/10 of a second, while using flash.

[yeedub]

Check if your camera has a slow-synchro flash mode.

My f100fd has one, and it has made all the difference for creating a properly exposed background with properly lit people in the foreground.