How can I keep my camera (Sony Cybershot DSC-W120) from taking grainy pictures?

Question

I've seen people on Flickr with the same camera as me and their pictures are really clear, while mine always have this blurry/grainy look to them. I have messed with the settings a lot since getting the camera so it's probably my fault, but I don't know what settings to put it on to fix this issue. When I take pictures, there is a wheel on the back to use different settings (outdoor, video, etc.) and I usually use the P setting for regular pictures. I've asked this before and they said to put the ISO as low as possible and I did and it didn't make any difference. Until I figure it out for the past month I've been using my old (& huge) Nikon 12 megapixel camera to take my pictures and it's such a huge difference, which I can understand since it's a HQ camera, but my Cybershot is supposed to be pretty decent as well.

Here is a picture I took with the Cybershot for an example, it looks grainy and blurry especially at the top of bottle lid on the nail polish. My hand did not shake or anything.

I'm getting tired of it as I bought this camera since it is more convenient than carrying around a huge Nikon, I'm considering buy another camera if I can't fix this one, since I would like my pictures to be relatively clear.

Answer 1

Your camera is pretty decent, and doing a few things alone could help. Lower ISO yours is probably set at 600+ 200-400 will reduce the noise, but will require you and your subject to be still. Use natural lighting rather than indoor yellowish bulbs. The sun on an overcast day produces great light.



If you're using the lower ISOs you really need to be sure you hold the camera extra still or put it a tripod (or anything that doesn't shake).



I have an older version of your camera that I use when I'm in a point and shoot mode, don't worry it's definitely not the camera. Something also to be mindful of. When you shrink pictures down to a more reasonable size, their quality will APPEAR to increase. Even the one you posted, though out of focus, doesn't look as bad when it's viewed around 600ish pixel wide.



Read up on some photography tips and techniques and your picture quality will go up.

Answer 2

From what I'm seeing, it's not so good at things really close ("macro" shots). Step back a little, let it focus. An SLR's lens is equipped to handle it. You can always crop the image in Photoshop or something else. For the time being, set the dial to "A" or whatever automatic settings there are on the camera. I've seen precious few point and shoots that have really great manual settings you can tweak.

Answer 3

regrettably, between the matters with digital cameras is they do no longer capture quickly-shifting pictures o.k.. because of the fact they are continuously digitally resizing, rezoning, and focusing, the quickly flow motives the digicam to have a slower reaction time. examine your person's instruction manual or the cyber web internet site of your digicam;s sort call for greater straightforward straightforward procedures to alter the settings on your digicam. There could be some settings the place you could substitute the f-end of the digicam so as that the shutter will function greater at as quickly as and effect in an more desirable image. solid success.

Answer 4

You can't.



The microscopic sensor used in P&S cameras produce, by their design, a whole lot of noise. No, your camera is not "pretty decent" when it comes to quality, wall worthy photography.



If you are truly interested producing noise free images then I must recommend using Kodachrome 64, Ilford Pan F or a FF digital camera such as the Nikon D700 or Canon 5D Mark II.

Answer 5

Are you taking these pictures with the flash turned off AND the ISO setting to low? If you are, then your picture may not be in focus when you take the shot. If you are in "night" mode, that also slows down the shutter to let in more light but it also makes your pictures prone to blurring. Check both settings and see if that fixes your problem.