Help! Why am I getting blurry pictures with my new Sony P200?

Out of the 200 pictures I have taken since I bought the camera at
least 25% are blurred. Is it something I'm doing wrong? I know you
need to hold the camera still, but geeeeeeze, I'm not shooting Jupiter
at 2:00 AM. It's almost exlclusively inside shots. Outside shots are
great. I hope I have it on the wrong setting. This problem never
surfaced when I was researching the camera so maybe it's just user
error. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

WM

 

Are you using the flash?
If you are not using the flash what shutter speed are you shooting at?

Scott

 

You've almost answered your own question. Your outdoor shots are great, but
indoor shots are blurry. That suggests camera shake, since the shutter
naturally slows down due to the lowered lighting conditions. As a test,
place the camera on a tripod (you do have a tripod?) indoors, and try
shooting with the camera stabilized. If your shots come out better, it is
definitely camera shake. You have to realize that while an indoor scene
might appear sufficiently "bright" to you, it is probably dark to the
camera. The general rule for hand-holding shots is to be sure the shutter
speed is at least the reciprocal of the lens' focal length (when converted
to equivalent for 35mm camera).
For example, if you have the equivalent of an 50mm lens (or the zoom is
set at that position), you need to have at least a 1/50 second shutter
speed. Check your camera's manual to find out what the 35mm camera
equivalents are for your lens.

A second possibility might be an inability of the camera to focus under
dark indoor lighting conditions, but that depends on the camera, and I know
nothing about your Sony's low-light focusing capabilities, so it's just a
suggestion.

(--and if you don't have a tripod, set the camera on a table or other
stable flat surface and hold the camera still while shooting from there).

 

I bet you are using the screen to frame your shots??? Use the flipping
viewfinder, if you hold the camera out in front of you will naturally move
the camera when taking a shot. The screen is for reviewing shots and
changing some settings not for framing your shots and especially indoors
when the shutter speeds are slower.

 

One day most compact cameras may not have viewfinders, have noticed a few
new cameras have replaced the viewfinder with a larger viewing screen on the
back.

 

Two possible problems.
First, most people seem to think they have stab the shutter button. In
low light situations, this WILL cause blur. Place your thumb below the
camera, and your 'trigger finger' on the shutter button, squeeze the
button half way, and wait for the camera to focus (assuming autofocus
works that was, most do), then continue to squeeze.

Second, is caused by using the LCD for framing the shot. Many people I
see are holding the camera well away from the body, usually arm's
length, and trying to take a picture that way. In low light, this will
almost always result in blur.

Another cause is not waiting for the camera to focus before pushing the
shutter button all the way down. Many cameras require a half press,
then focus, then full press.

If none of these work for you, you might have the camera checked.

 

A guarantee of lousy pictures.

 

Actually there is also some with no screen, only a viewfinder. Some of the
little Olys I think they were. One of my brothers has a Fuji that has an
electronic viewfinder, it is disgusting and should be put in the bin.