two (count 'em) Canon Power Shot S2IS questions

[wordwench]

Hello, all. I am just getting acquainted with my camera

Q#1- I loaded in a 1.0 GB memory card. How many pictures (small format?) will the camera now hold?

#2- How to I photograph a subject indoors, when there is strong back light (Like a subject standing in front of a window on a sunny day) and not have that subject come out as a silhouette?

I'm sure I'll have more questions

thanks, all.
WW.

[Jaedon]

Welcome to the forum.

My answers to your questions are:

#1 - the camera should tell you how many shots it should hold. Other than that my answer would be -- dependingo n the size of the file that the camera creates in that format you are looking at around 300 - 1000 shots (I have no idea the file size or resolution you are shooting at so it's a guess on my part)

#2 shooting with strong backlight will require similar strength in the flash in the foreground to prevent the sillhouette. Set the flash to full and let 'er rip.

[Photo-John]

Welcome to PhotographyREVIEW.com, wordwench! Just curious - are you a writer?

How many photos you can get on your card depends on the resolution you're shooting at, the compression you're using (fine, superfine, etc.), and the content of the photos. Photos with lots of texture and colors create larger files. So how many photos you can get on that card will vary, depending on the kinds of subjects you're shooting. But you'll get tons on the card. Your manual should have a general guide. I would recommend always shooting at the highest resolution and maxiumu quality, even if you're worried about how many you can save to your card. It's a terrible feeling to discover you have a great photo and realize that you shot it at a resolution too small to print. Take it from someone who learned the hard way

Jaedon's backlighting solution is a good one. You can also use the exposure compensation control on your camera to lighten up the exposure so that your subject isn't too dark. And you should learn to use the exposure lock. If you point the camera low on your subject (knees, maybe), so that not as much window light is in the frame, and depress the shutter release halfway, it will lock the focus and exposure. Then, holding the shutter release button down halfway, recompose, and press the button all the way. That will expose for the darker area and should give you a better exposure. Using the exposure lock is a basic point-and-shoot camera technique that makes a huge difference in the amount of control you have. I'm actually finishing up a point-and-shoot digital camera technique guide right now. Exposure lock is one of the keys to getting the most of of compact digital cameras.

Hope that wasn't too much information for you and I hope it helps

[Rocket_Scientist]

To answer #1, I have the S3 IS, and my wife has the S2 IS. We generally shoot using the "M2" setting, which is 1200x1600, and those photos are usually around 300-500 KB. At 500 KB, you could get close to 2000 pictures on a 1 GB card. If by "small format" you mean the 640x480, you could get much more. But the manual does have a chart showing better estimates.

[Photo-John]

I have the S3 IS, and my wife has the S2 IS. We generally shoot using the "M2" setting, which is 1200x1600, and those photos are usually around 300-500 KB.

Say it ain't so, Rocket Scientist! Always shoot at the highest quality and maximum resolution! My friend just sent me a whole bunch of very nice vacation photos that he wanted printed. They were all shot at 1200x1600 and most of them aren't printable any larger than 8x10 - and that's pushing it. More memory is cheaper than a lost opportunity. Buy a couple more memory cards and make sure you always get the most from your equipment. Pleeeeaaaasssse! It hurts me to think of the compromised image quality! :cryin:

[Rocket_Scientist]

Printing at 8x10 is "pushing the envelope" for me. If I were going to do so, I would increase the resolution, but most of the time I only print 4x6 or 5x7. In a couple of weeks, we are going to go do some "serious" portaits of my son, his wife, and our new grandson, and I'm sure I'll be using very high quality for that. But the rest of the time, I am a "casual" photographer. I'm more in to the computer aspect of this stuff... Anyway, I was just trying to give wordwench a feel for how much 1 GB can hold...