Any way that you can post one or two of the problem images?

Or if you dont have the time or place to store them to post, email me a couple at: ashelton1980@comcast.net and I can stick em up here for ya so others can offer theories and suggestions.

It helps to actually SEE the image...

My first thought would be "Do you have the image stabilization turned on?". Ive gotten so used to a bigger camera, that I shake like a caffeinated chihuahua when I use my small sony P&S camera...

Anywho, hopefully we can see a pic soon, and get ya helped! :P

A

What Ash said. Make sure the IS is on with little cameras they are harder to hold steady.

Also, my Canon has an indoor setting. You might want to check that one out since it seems to be your main use (if yours has it). The pre-sets for lower light, etc might make a big difference.

I agree with the above comments. It would help to see a pix but most blurry images are due to camera movement. Are you using a flash? I read the camera specs and it does have stabilization, read your manual to find out how to turn it on. In low light try to minimize hand shake by bracing your hands on a chair back, door jamb, table top, whatever.

Sometimes I miss my hefty old slr's, light weight cameras tend to shake more than heavier ones, for me anyway.

Thanks for the responses. Sorry I'm just now replying...

I will check on the indoor setting. I'm pretty sure that the IS stays on, but I'll check on it as well.

Let me clarify myself by saying that the images aren't blurry, they are just not as "crisp" as my old camera. I guess I'm wanting 35mm quality. Is that possible? I'll see if I can get some pics posted. Thanks again.

Higher priced cameras usually have better lenses. And, as they say, its the glass that counts in mosts cameras. So, that probably explains alot of what you are seeing.

But, a noticeable amount of that can be reduced with the suggestions above AND some photo editing (either in the camera on in the computer) about adding sharpness, shading, etc.

What you might be noticing is that without a top quality camera we have to work a little harder sometimes. ;)

Okay, I took a pic with the indoor setting...

{{!gwi}}
And here's one just on normal setting.
a href="http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w312/superchick_album/?action=view&current=IMG_0195.jpg"; target="_blank">{{!gwi}}
It's actually better than the indoor setting. Neither one is great in my opinion. I'm hoping this camera does better outside or it's going back to Walmart!!

FWIW I took some pics outside and they were okay. Then I looked at the "In the Market" post and saw bird photos and I'm thinking I need to get a different camera!!! I wanted a smaller pocket camera, but those photos with the Canon S3 are GORGEOUS!!!

Probaly a no brainer, but check your lens to see if maybe it has a fingerprint or smudge on it.

Also I noticed that the indoor pics had a slow shutter speed of 1/60, so more than anything, its probably camera shake making the pics not so clear.

A

Oh..have you set it on the highest pixel setting?
Konrad

thanks again for the replies. I changed setting after setting, and decided that it just wasn't a big enough camera for what I wanted to do. I returned it to Walmart, much to their dismay...

Did some research online and found Dell had the Canon S5 IS for $289. My local Office Max matched the price, so I got (I think) a much better camera for just about $40 more! :) I'm quite pleased with the pics so far, but have yet to really try it out.

I have the older Canon S2 IS and found that it tended to burn out highlight using the default "auto" settings. I got improved results by moving the ASA from 80 to 100, and reducing exposure by 1/3 F stop. There are settings in the menus for this. However, in my camera, these settins are not adjustable in the "auto" mode; The mode setting must be turned to "p" (program) and then the ASA and exposure can be adjusted. These adjustments will stay until changed again. The adjustments will stay even when the camera is turned off, and then on later. Just remember to set the mode dial to "P" to use the adjusted settings.

I have an older Nikon 2 Mega-pixel camera and frankly, its sensor is sharper and the colors are more crisp. The reduced pixel count does show at enlargements beyond 5" X 7". There were many other things wrong with the old Nikon, one being a battery eater. The Canon IS cameras have a lot of good features for the money and their processor is speedy, but it seems that the sensors need improving. The larger sensor in the larger Canons and Nikons are much better, but of course, these require bigger and more expensive lenses to cover the sensor area and the zoom range and aperature at full zoom can not match the Canon IS series.

[In this discussion, sensor size is not refering to the number of pixels squeezed out of the sensor, but the the actual physical size. Sharper images are possible with physically larger sensors.]