marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

It's a depth of field issue. The front cat is too close to the camera and the rear cat is too far from the camera, to fit within the shallow focused area of the photo. Your camera knew there wasn't enough light in the room so it opened the aperture to get enough light. An open aperture hole for light to come in through means depth of field is shallow. A somewhat closed aperture hole for light to come in through would have brought both cats into focus.

But to get a somewhat closed aperture, you have to use a much slower shutter speed, and maybe even an increased ISO setting.

Choose aperture priority on the dial on top, and set an aperture of at least f/8 or maybe even f/11. The camera will slow down the shutter so you'll need to be very, very still while taking the shot (sit back and steady your elbows on your chest or belly) - or use a mono-pod or tripod.

Since you tried a bunch of settings it seems you are not using a point & shoot. Thus all these setting controls should be available to you.

wannab

Crochetgran, I don't understand...what did she do wrong?

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

One of the 'unspoken' (yet still codified) rules of forum software is that, unless specifically asked, it's considered bad form to post a picture of YOURS in another person's thread, especially when the thread was started by the OP with the intent of learning why a picture did not turn out right. CalicoMom I'm sure meant no harm by it, but she probably didn't know the culture. EW told her about it. CrochetGran then thought EW was being mean. He was, however, merely pointing out the 'violation' of the rule, which is posted in the rules of this section. It also looked odd because CrochetGran messed up the quoting so it was hard to tell who she was directing her reply to.

cspear42 Loc: New Mexico

Try a different aperture setting, i.e, F11, F16 or even higher. This is depth of field issue and if you want the background blurred use a low aperture setting, if you want everything in focus use a higher aperture.

notnoBuddha

Wow - little did I know how easy it was to be in or show "bad form" - or commit a "violation". Now that I am in the know there is one less excuse for me to either feel offended or to be aware that I am stepping on the toes of another. I believe I am pretty darn ticked right now about the way I have been treated or darn right humilated as to the way I may have slighted others. Stranger & stranger, and yes I understand the easiest option may well be to ingore, avoid, and not post at all, and or be ingnored.

Bevbled Loc: Wilmington NC

thanks for your advice

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Well, I certainly hope so, Ollie.... :) <insert Stan Laurel smiley here>

Jenni8 Loc: Oceanside, CA

Something I did to see the difference in aperture. Pose an item close up off to the left or right and pose and item in the mid ground of the room and then one further back. Start with something like f/3.5 and change it a step at a time and take a number of shots. Then when you look at the results you'll see how the different apertures look for each shot. At least that's what I did to get a better understanding.

NSWalter Loc: The West

Tell me this again -? I do not get what I expected (what you suggested?)? Should I get f stop, focal length etc from this route? I tried Windows Picture & Fax viewer.

Can you be a little more specific in your instructions - I would like to find this route to the details (I have others but they are more laborious).

Thanks

Walter