Do most cameras use the little tulip to designate the Macro mode? I know they do with the lightning bolt for turning flash off and on?

What ideas can you give me on the super macro? One of my cameras has that choice and I don't really know the rules for using the different modes correctly?

Marilyn,

This is the camera a friend gave us (Canon PowerShot S5 IS, with its manual) and it doesn't have the tulip. It doesn't have the circle dial on the back -- it has other buttons. And I don't know what the "IS" stands for -- although our other camera (with the tulip and circle dial) has that as well. NOTE: Later: I have found the tulip...

To be honest, I hardly ever use this one -- just when Mother Katherine has the one I used to take this picture -- and while another guest recently told us it was the better camera and got all kinds of lovely photos with it, I don't have much luck with it. Unfortunately I was too busy elsewhere to ask her for a tutorial while she was here... If it truly is better, I'd like to learn to use it.

Which brings me to repeat what someone said back in the thread where we were campaigning for this photography forum: The manuals are, for me at least, nearly useless -- my brain shuts down when I try to read this one. There is no index and the table of contents has no page numbers. I don't know even where to start to find out what I need to know.

Is there some sort of "Cameras for Dummies" book someone can recommend? Something I could sit down and read through once, then take with me while I start to use the camera with it? I don't need more like this one! I'm the kind of person who usually learns by picking something up and using it; repeating what works and not doing again what didn't work... That approach doesn't seem to work well with this one -- the various buttons sort of sit there saying nothing that means anything to me and the "menu" and manual are confusing because they show things like "White Balance" only I don't know what "White Balance" is...

And of course this camera also records sound and video -- Maybe they tried to make it do too many things? The part of the manual that seems clearest is of course the video section which I hardly ever need -- my new mini-laptop does a better job -- and I don't think we can upload video here, can we?

to whoever reads this all the way through and can answer at least some of my dumb questions*! MR

*And yes, there are more where these came from...

I have a Canon Power Shot ... it has a tulip.

Does IS stand for Image Stabilization? That's what I thought but I could be wrong.

And I have some time, so I'll start reading through those articles and maybe some of my questions will be already answered!

The IS is indeed image stabilization. It uses a gyroscope to move the lens while your hand-holding it to greatly minimize shake. It is an expensive and very nice feature from Canon.

Dear Tee,

I'll bet you are right, that IS stands for Image Stabilization, although I can't prove it. And I'm embarrassed to say that I flipped through the manual for our big black one and found a second, more detailed table of contents that does give page numbers. I wish I could get past the fog headache that forms exactly (!) right behind my eyes whenever I open that little booklet...

Both our cameras are Canon PowerShots so hopefully there will be some carryover in techniques, although if so it's not obvious. The other one -- the one with the tulip and circle dial -- says it is a PowerShot A570 IS AiAF... MR

Dear Dave, ! And for looking in on our infant forum! Of course, you're the daddy (again!)

(We cross posted...) MR

My current camera is a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and I have a little section on the back that says Function Set. I know the little Tulip icon labeled MF is for Micro Function which I've used a lot, and, now thanks to Xeramthemum's link in the other thread I know how to use the little +/- icon. I don't see any icon that says IS but there is one labeled ISO ... I googled and found that it is a setting for light sensitivity.

plantladylin said:My current camera is a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and I have a little section on the back that says Function Set. I know the little Tulip icon labeled MF is for Micro Function which I've used a lot, and, now thanks to Xeramthemum's link in the other thread I know how to use the little +/- icon. I don't see any icon that says IS but there is one labeled ISO ... I googled and found that it is a setting for light sensitivity.

Lin, for spelling out what you have. Mine are both different Canon PowerShots. I learned to use that little Tulip icon on the ring that one has by sneaking a peek at a guest who had a similar camera while they were zooming in to photograph a small flower... (They are the kind of person who is very private about how they do things, so asking wasn't in my bag of allowable tricks that day... )

Now I know what the MF means, but I don't see a +/- icon on mine. Maybe it's hidden in a menu I need to access.

Also, while I see the lightning bolt on the top of the ring, I haven't been able to make it do anything -- the flash goes off no matter what I try, even using the menu. Maybe the camera is getting old? I've learned to shield the flash when it makes the picture too washed out. (I'll admit that I've also learned by trial and error what Doug pointed out in his 2011 post -- it's best to shoot on cloudy days, and then the flash is generally handy).

Well, any more help will be greatly appreciated! I'm truly grateful we've got this new forum! MR

Lin, you are best served leaving the ISO on auto for now. The higher the ISO, the more light the camera captures, but at the expense of quality of shot. It gets grainier and grainer at higher ISO numbers.

A couple days ago I took this photo indoors with the lights off and using no flash. The ISO was set to 6400 and the aperture was at f/1.8 (an extremely wide opening on the lens)



You can see some graininess in the photo but look at how it captured the picture in the dark! That's the power of using a really high ISO.

So if it is dusk and you want to capture that flower image before it gets completely dark, your camera will automatically set the ISO as high as it can go in an effort to get the shot.

dave said:Lin, you are best served leaving the ISO on auto for now. The higher the ISO, the more light the camera captures, but at the expense of quality of shot. It gets grainier and grainer at higher ISO numbers.

A couple days ago I took this photo indoors with the lights off and using no flash. The ISO was set to 6400 and the aperture was at f/1.8 (an extremely wide opening on the lens)



You can see some graininess in the photo but look at how it captured the picture in the dark! That's the power of using a really high ISO.

So if it is dusk and you want to capture that flower image before it gets completely dark, your camera will automatically set the ISO as high as it can go in an effort to get the shot.

Dave, forgive my density, but I don't know what ISO stands for. (?) And how do you set it when it is not on automatic? Is that a menu thing? (Forgive me -- until very recently I was strictly a "point and Shoot" person, and I'm only one step above that now... ) MR

MR: Do you leave the flash in the raised position? I wouldn't think the flash would engage unless it were raised. I just took two photos, one with flash in the upright/raised position and one with it down; on my camera the flash will only engage when it's raised.

Without Flash .............. with flash raised:

I know in the best of all possible worlds I should sign up for classes and seminars in photography, but that isn't going to happen for a number of reasons. I'm truly grateful for the people like Anne (Xeramtheum) who are sharing their expertise with us through ATP and their computer links! Of course Dave, you are among the first for making what must once have been just your dream for ATP a reality. MR

Dave, thanks for that tip ... I am not going to change the ISO setting, mainly because I'm afraid I will mess things up again and not be able to figure how to get it back to automatic.

Wow, what a lovely photo! LOL, my eyes don't see any graininess at all in the photo. Happy Birthday to your daughter ... if that was indeed the occasion.

plantladylin said:MR: Do you leave the flash in the raised position? I wouldn't think the flash would engage unless it were raised. I just took two photos, one with flash in the upright/raised position and one with it down; on my camera the flash will only engage when it's raised.

Lin, with the larger black camera we have, yes, I put the flash down and it doesn't work. With our smaller Canon PS (A570 IS AiAF) the flash is simply flat on the front and there is no way to move it up or down. MR

ummm What is ISO? MR

I'll be back, but now I have GOT to get that letter written!

The ISO setting is something to do with light sensitivity.

Ok, I need to get busy; have to get to the supermarket for a few things and then have more baking to do for our Fall Festival at the botanical gardens tomorrow! I baked 8 dozen cookies yesterday and plan to bake cupcakes today.

Have a great afternoon everyone!

Yes, IS is image stabilization..to lessen the shake.