Help with "grainy" pictures

Littlebigaj · Jun 17, 2010

Could anyone throw me some advice please on how to get a more clear photograph, please? Im getting a bunch of grain throughout my photos.

I'm shooting with a canon rebel XT, in AV mode, with a 55-250mm lens that uses AF and Image Stabilization. I've been using an ISO of 1600, AWB, and I 'think' an aperature of 11-14 (if that is the number affected by turning the vertical dial.

Am I not getting enough light exposure? Does the lighting in the room affect anything, it is a dim room aside from the fish tank ambiance. I don't know much about photography at all.

Thanks!

dakotasreef · Jun 17, 2010

The higher the iso, the more grain you will see. You could try and put the iso as low as possible and make sure the apeture is as open as possible. With that lens in this type of shooting enviroment you will probably not be able to get what you are looking for. I would try and find a good used f/1.8 or 2.8 at a local pawn shop or online.

But to answer your question, higher iso's are used to compensate for lack of ambient lighting. If you are shooting with an apeture of 11-14 is letting very little light in.