New Photographer question

[barnetod]

Hey guys thanks in advance for your help.

I am about to begin an intro to photography class, and am tired of using my camera for just point and shoot and then having to spend a while in photoshop to make it how i wanted it.

I currently own a Canon S1 IS and am trying to learn shutter speed and aperture settings, right now i sat down and took about 50 photos of three balls lined up trying to only focus on the center ball and blur the rest.

my camera has a max aperture setting of f8.0 iso of 400 and shutter speed ranging from 15" to 1/8000 i believe.

i am currently using the stock lens since the new lens i ordered are on the way which may be a problem.

I have been reading my text book and just cant seem to get it right.

i am looking for a photo that is similar to the one below.



any advice or sites would be a great help i can post some of my photos as well if needed.

[barnetod]

well after reading more and more maybe it is my focal length since it is a point and shoot camera.

maybe a new camera is in order if i really want to get artistic.

[cyberlord]

f8 will not give you a shallow enough depth of field (DOF) for shooting close objects. The larger the aperture (smaller number) and the shallower the DOF. Also focal length plays a part, but it's mainly aperture that is used to control DOF.

Tim

[SmartWombat]

i am looking for a photo that is similar to the one below

Well. I'd like to see your photos when trying to get something similar.

You can see the blurred background, that means it's a short shutter speed and wide open.
Your camera has either Av or M settings, so you have complete control over the aperture.

Set it t0 Av and adjust to the smallest f stop number.
That will give you the smallest area that's in sharp focus and the backgrouns out of focus.

i am currently using the stock lens since the new lens i ordered are on the way which may be a problem.

I don't think an additional lens will make much difference.


cyberlord: The maximum aperture is f/2.8 to 3.1 (not f8)
But with a 5.8 - 58mm focal length that's going to leave a LOT still in focus.

[barnetod]

i figured as much i mean i can creat something half like that.

i am just getting past the capabilities of my digi cam and need to up the ante so to speak.

i have used canon for years (although i lack a great digi cam) i am trying to decide between a digital rebel xt and a sigma sd10 or whatever sigma releases next. kind of liking the foveon semi new light sensor since i deal with light sensors a lot with work (not camera ones) but for scanning candy and what not this is definitely good technology.

let me know what you guys think i read reviews of both and they are about the same.