Diagnosing Digital Camera Errors
Credit: Photographer Unknown
These are notes for my “Camera 911” triage show – or “Why did my camera do this?” heard on Wisconsin Public Radio
How do you diagnose why one picture “turned out” and another one did not?
First, you need to analyze the picture so you clearly understand what is wrong with it.
For example, there is a difference between a “blurry” picture caused by camera shake versus subject movement, versus out of focus! Once you determine what the problem is, it is easier to find a remedy.
Camera shake is caused by the camera selecting too slow a shutter speed to be handheld. To fix this, increase the ISO, select a larger lens opening, use a flash, or shoot in a brighter environment.
Subject movement is similar and the same adjustments (higher ISO, larger lens opening, flash or brighter environment) may also solve the problem.
Out of focus could be the result of mechanical error (the autofocus mechanism focuses on the wrong place or can't keep up with a fast-moving subject). It also can be caused by trying to focus in too low light or if there are obstructions between the camera and the subject. Remedies may include using an autofocus illuminator if available, using a brighter environment, or perhaps setting the camera for the “scenic shot” icon, which is usually a mountain. This setting tends to ignore items that are closer to the camera.
Sometimes people claim an image is “not sharp” when it is actually pixelated. This is caused by shooting at a lower resolution setting, using digital zoom or excessive cropping of an image. I had one person with a 10 megapixel camera that was unhappy with the print of their child. After looking at the original uncropped version of the picture, it was obvious that they had cropped away 97% of the image. Remember, when you crop away image, you are cropping away resolution. Removing 97% of a 10 megapixel image leaves less than one megapixel resolution.
And then there are the most common causes for unsharp shots that have been around for years: a dirty lens with fingerprints and smudges. Be very careful cleaning the lens of a digital camera, especially the kind that telescopes out. Do not apply pressure, do not add liquid drops to the lens and do not use a T-shirt, paper towel or anything other than approved optical cleaning products.
Battery woes: “My camera eats batteries.” This can be caused by a variety of reasons. A common one is leaving on power hungry features: automatic flash, the large viewing screen on the back of the camera, constant autofocus, and simply leaving turning on the camera a lot to show picutres. Other reasons may include using inappropriate batteries or rechargeables that are more than two years old.
“My camera just stopped working.” It does happen. Is there a reset button on your camera? Did your camera receive any kind of impact, especially to the telescoping lens? Was your camera left outside in the freezing cold and then promptly brought into a warm, humid environment? Have the batteries leaked or corroded? Have you tried cleaning the battery terminals? Have you tried using a different storage card? Is the camera still under warranty? Have you checked for firmware upgrades?
How do you diagnose why one picture “turned out” and another one did not?
First, you need to analyze the picture so you clearly understand what is wrong with it.
For example, there is a difference between a “blurry” picture caused by camera shake versus subject movement, versus out of focus! Once you determine what the problem is, it is easier to find a remedy.
Camera shake is caused by the camera selecting too slow a shutter speed to be handheld. To fix this, increase the ISO, select a larger lens opening, use a flash, or shoot in a brighter environment.
Subject movement is similar and the same adjustments (higher ISO, larger lens opening, flash or brighter environment) may also solve the problem.
Out of focus could be the result of mechanical error (the autofocus mechanism focuses on the wrong place or can't keep up with a fast-moving subject). It also can be caused by trying to focus in too low light or if there are obstructions between the camera and the subject. Remedies may include using an autofocus illuminator if available, using a brighter environment, or perhaps setting the camera for the “scenic shot” icon, which is usually a mountain. This setting tends to ignore items that are closer to the camera.
Sometimes people claim an image is “not sharp” when it is actually pixelated. This is caused by shooting at a lower resolution setting, using digital zoom or excessive cropping of an image. I had one person with a 10 megapixel camera that was unhappy with the print of their child. After looking at the original uncropped version of the picture, it was obvious that they had cropped away 97% of the image. Remember, when you crop away image, you are cropping away resolution. Removing 97% of a 10 megapixel image leaves less than one megapixel resolution.
And then there are the most common causes for unsharp shots that have been around for years: a dirty lens with fingerprints and smudges. Be very careful cleaning the lens of a digital camera, especially the kind that telescopes out. Do not apply pressure, do not add liquid drops to the lens and do not use a T-shirt, paper towel or anything other than approved optical cleaning products.
Battery woes: “My camera eats batteries.” This can be caused by a variety of reasons. A common one is leaving on power hungry features: automatic flash, the large viewing screen on the back of the camera, constant autofocus, and simply leaving turning on the camera a lot to show picutres. Other reasons may include using inappropriate batteries or rechargeables that are more than two years old.
“My camera just stopped working.” It does happen. Is there a reset button on your camera? Did your camera receive any kind of impact, especially to the telescoping lens? Was your camera left outside in the freezing cold and then promptly brought into a warm, humid environment? Have the batteries leaked or corroded? Have you tried cleaning the battery terminals? Have you tried using a different storage card? Is the camera still under warranty? Have you checked for firmware upgrades?