How Do I Take Good Car Shots?

[davey g-force]

I need some help, so I thought I'd ask the experts in this forum.

I can't seem to get any good photos of my car. If you have a look at my pics in "My Ride" thread (in my signature) you'll see what I mean.

I can't seem to get any good, sharp pics showing the true shine of the paint etc. All my pics turn out blurry / fuzzy. It just doesn't do the car justice.

Do you guys have any suggestions or know what I'm doing wrong? I have a Cannon "point and shoot" type 6 MP camera. I know its nothing fancy but it was supposed to be a pretty good camera when I bought it and I'd expect it to take better photos than that.

I think my angles etc are ok - it may be just something to do with the light or camera settings? All suggestions welcome, thanks guys.

[NVN07]

Hey mate...

I see what you mean with the pics. They seem to be a bit 'noisey', not sure if these cameras have an ISO setting but if they do you might want to cheack that and put it on the lowest setting or a low setting. Also don't shoot under direct sunlight, shot either on an overcast day or in a shadowed area, making sure there is still enough light tho.
This is all i can think of anyway...
Just try a few things, don't be affraid to play with your camera settings, try some differnet agles and some different surroundings. Other than that good luck!

[davey g-force]

Thanks for the suggestions mate.

It does have an ISO setting but I can only choose between "HI" and "Auto" lol. So I guess I'll leave it on auto.

I'll have a play with some other settings - although I think that's what may have caused this to start with!

[TVR-190]

even consider a tripod. yes overcast days are good rather than direct sunlight.

my trick is to just take pics from any angle and position, i can end up with 50+, but only 5 i actually like. but it works for me.

try having a play around with the settings, mine has a useful scene position feature where i can choose between sporting, landscape, sunrise , night etc with a press of a button.

[flyjoe180]

As NVN07 said, too high an ISO setting can cause the 'noise' you see in your photos (the pixel-looking distortion). This can also be caused by over-exposure. If you have a time value setting try increasing the shutter speed setting, use a faster preset (such as sport), or plain old auto should do it. When you focus be sure to get the focal length on the subject before taking the shot; in 'automatic' mode the camera will set the 'ideal' exposure and focal lengths. The brightness of the background seems to indicate over-exposure.

As already suggested, try taking photos in lower light to bring out the car's detail, preferrably with any sun or light source behind you. Hope this helps, I'm not familiar with your particular model of Canon but use a Canon 400D SLR and a 750IS compact digital.

[davey g-force]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions guys.

I will try playnig with the shutter speed and see if that helps. I'm pretty sure everything's already on Auto though.

Sounds like lower light might be the go too. Thanks again...

[TVR-190]

whats the exact camera model if you can remember?

[Sharoo]

I find my small canon does the same sometimes.. I got a tripod from ebay- this exact one- ( Table Top Mini Tripod Pocket Webcam Small Digital Stand - eBay Tabletop Mini Tripods, Tripods, Tripods Supports, Cameras Photo. (end time 07-May-10 06:05:46 AEST) ) and instead of using it as an actual tripod I screw it in, close the legs and use it as a handle, steadiess the camera sooo much and makes for a clearer shot. Even try setting the timer so that after you press the button your hand steadies..

[davey g-force]

whats the exact camera model if you can remember?

It's a Canon IXUS 60.

[davey g-force]

I find my small canon does the same sometimes.. I got a tripod from ebay- this exact one- ( Table Top Mini Tripod Pocket Webcam Small Digital Stand - eBay Tabletop Mini Tripods, Tripods, Tripods Supports, Cameras Photo. (end time 07-May-10 06:05:46 AEST) ) and instead of using it as an actual tripod I screw it in, close the legs and use it as a handle, steadiess the camera sooo much and makes for a clearer shot. Even try setting the timer so that after you press the button your hand steadies..

Good suggestion, thanks for that. They're not that expensive either by the looks of things...

[minux]

mount camera on tripod, use a timer if it has one. If it still is not taking clear images, its a camera issue. I'd suggest NOT using auto.

[davey g-force]

I'd suggest NOT using auto.

Thanks minux.
So if I don't use auto, what settings do you suggest I use?

[minux]

How long is a piece of string?

Settings are different depending on what time of the day your shooting, what cloud cover there is etc etc.

Not sure what settings you can adjust, but read the manual and learn how each setting works.

[sik_VR]

well I recon the camera is the problem. I'm going to use my dad's Canon DX10 which is professional quality with a new lens to take a few photos of my car when I get the chance. I've used his camera for landscape shots and the detail is amazing you can zoom in heaps with out losing quality. So I'd maybe upgrade to an SLR camera they also give you a lot more freedom with shutter speed, aperture etc.
If your pics are still blurry try using a tripod.
Also a bit of colour correcting in Photoshop never hurt anybody.

[TI3VOM]

Mate you only need something like the Canon 400D or equivalent with a wide angle lens of some type possibly an L series lens I have a 400D + a 1D markII (professional body $5000 new now discontinued) with the canon 17-40mm f4.0L series lens and it takes some great pics of cars but don't under estimate a zoom lens I find the zoom lens's take a better quality photo for the type of shots that I take.

[davey g-force]

Thanks guys.

I'm not after any fancy equipment or super dooper results for that matter. I just want a good, simple, crisp, clear photo. Something I reckon should be achievable with a simple 6mp camera like mine.

It's taken pretty good photos of people / landscapes etc in the past - I just can't seem to nail the car shot for some reason. Might be too much sun, reflecting off the shiny paintwork as some people have suggested...

[sleepa]

Take photos at sunrise or sunset for the best light, if you have to shoot in direct sunlight use the flash to even out the light. Take photos on the side where the light is.

That's what I have learnt so far. Also putting the camera on the ground can give you some nice shots, and never use digital zoom, only optical.

Just looking at your pics again, and you are getting the same kinda grainyness that my iphone shoots at, I know it might seem weird but try adding more light, maybe with a strong flash, just an idea.

[Doctor Sodways]

don't under estimate a zoom lens I find the zoom lens's take a better quality photo for the type of shots that I take.

This is in comparison to what? They take a better photo compared to what exactly? Wax Paper as a lens?

[minux]

Mate you only need something like the Canon 400D or equivalent with a wide angle lens of some type possibly an L series lens I have a 400D + a 1D markII (professional body $5000 new now discontinued) with the canon 17-40mm f4.0L series lens and it takes some great pics of cars but don't under estimate a zoom lens I find the zoom lens's take a better quality photo for the type of shots that I take.

erm, 2 types of lenses, zoom and prime, not sure what your getting at here, but a high end prime will always slaughter a high end zoom regardless of WHAT type of shots you take.

Take photos at sunrise or sunset for the best light, if you have to shoot in direct sunlight use the flash to even out the light. Take photos on the side where the light is.

Hmm, i'd be careful using flash during the day unless it is through a softbox or off an umbrella to spread the light. You are better off moving the car to find even light in the middle of the day rather than introducing more light.

[TI3VOM]

...............................

[TI3VOM]

This is in comparison to what? They take a better photo compared to what exactly? Wax Paper as a lens?

In my opinion they take a better car shot from a distance as opposed to a wide angle lens close up they both provide great results but I just like the pictures taken from the telephoto-zoom lens's.
A lot of people say to take good car shots you need to have a relatively wide angle lens to do so.

[TI3VOM]

erm, 2 types of lenses, zoom and prime, not sure what your getting at here, but a high end prime will always slaughter a high end zoom regardless of WHAT type of shots you take..

My bad I was meant to say telephoto-zoom lens's zoomed in to more than 70mm as opposed to a very wide angle lens.

Prime lenses are usually sharper yes due to the fact they have less glass in them and they don't distort cause you aren't moving the lens elements in and out but they don't always slaughter the zooms in overall quality you need more than just sharpness to make a lens provide good results. (but you did say high end so that's a different story)

Hmm, i'd be careful using flash during the day unless it is through a softbox or off an umbrella to spread the light. You are better off moving the car to find even light in the middle of the day rather than introducing more light

If you can adjust your flash power turn it down so it does not over power the natural light use it as a fill in flash.

[minux]

If you can adjust your flash power turn it down so it does not over power the natural light use it as a fill in flash.

My point is, a portable flash unit such as a 580 or 430 for example sends out a "small" direct beam of light, even using fill the distance to subject etc will show fall off. Better off either using natural light or providing a bigger light source such as a softbox.

[TI3VOM]

Using natural light plus fill in flash to get detail in the shadows does the job just fine.
I'm still getting used to my flash setup 580 EXII and the 430EXII so don't flame me for this.
Either of the two flashes you have talked about have a built in diffuser to spread the light out over a more wide area if they are showing signs of fall off crank up the flash output with the diffuser down wouldn't that help.

[Doctor Sodways]

In my opinion they take a better car shot from a distance as opposed to a wide angle lens close up they both provide great results but I just like the pictures taken from the telephoto-zoom lens's.
A lot of people say to take good car shots you need to have a relatively wide angle lens to do so.

So what your talking about then, is that the telephoto style static photos of cars are the TYPE of photo that you prefer to see, not a wide angle photos... How does this make the telephoto style photos a better quality one?

So the rest of the people here know whats going on... ill use some examples of how focal length can change the perception of a car, starting at wide

10mm



17mm



21mm



85mm



100mm



220mm



Take into account the crop factor, and those are actually.... 16mm, 27.2mm, 33.6mm, 136mm, 160mm, 352mm, and all of them, at 100% are sharp as

Im sure i have some somewhere of 400mm as well...

So if you wern't talking about QUALITY and in fact your PREFERENCE... might want to make that clear in the future...