Indoor photos not sharp

[pwrsche]

When taking indoor photos(i.e.: wedding reception) with EOS50D& EFS 17-55mm f2.8 zoom lens,in manual  or automatic mode, the shots are not clear,not sharp and a little too dark. ISO1600,1/125th shutter and f4.5,auto focus. Can anyone help me? It would seem for a camera of this caliber, shooting in "auto" would be a breeze!!! Exposure level indicator smack in the middle. Thank you.

[cicopo]

My answer may seem harsh but I'm sticking with it. When you set a Canon camera to AUTO you give it the right to choose every setting it will use based on nothing more than the light meter's reading. The only thing you the photographer gets to choose is when to press the shutter release button. The camera relies on a built in program that can't be modified by the user & can only be considered a bail out for someone who doesn't know what the controls are for or how to set them. At least by choosing PROGRAM mode the photographer can modify the exposure by selecting a different exposure through the use of Exposure Compensation.

[pwrsche]

Thank you very much. I will check my manual. As far as I know, there are no settings for the flash. But I will check.

[cicopo]

There aren't ANY settings that you can adjust or modify when in AUTO, but there are several once you use what Canon calls the "Creative Modes" and PROGRAM is in that group. Tv & Av are also in that group. Start by reading up on Flash Exposure Compensation. and Exposure Compensation.