A compact digital camera usually appeals to those who are interested in taking good photographs with no trouble. Taking a photograph can be as easy as pointing and shooting. But did you know that your camera maybe capable of doing more? If not, you should.
Knowing your camera’s features very well will lead you to make better decisions about what settings to use in different situations. Maybe you should first check the automatic settings as they will quickly give you a better control on your photographs. They are sufficient in most conditions, however, being able to manually adjust your photos will generally yield better results . In this case, manual controls should be used instead if your camera allows it. The give you the ability to fine tune your photos as you wish.
If printing photographs is desired, the camera should be set to maximum quality and the photographs should be stored at the maximum resolution. This is important to insure that the prints will not look pixelated. Consequently, the size of the images will increase, so it is advisable to make sure you will have enough space in your storage media, while at the same time trying to find a reliable backup solution.
Nearly every compact camera sports an autofocus feature these days. When taking your picture, just press the shutter button half way down and keep holding it that way. The camera will perform the analysis and try to automatically set focus on the subject. That’s why pressing and holding the button should be done while aiming at the subject and then the camera can be moved (while still holding) to get the desired composition. After choosing the desired composition, the button should be completely pressed so as to capture the photo.
Even if your camera has an anti-shaking feature, it is usually better to use a tripod (or anything equivalent) to hold the camera still while photographing in low light situations. The reason is that the camera will try to compensate for the low light with long exposure. Most compact digital cameras will not produce very clear images in low lighting even when a tripod is used, so it is always advisable to improve the lighting if possible.
Not all features are valuable though. Most compact cameras produce bad photos at high ISOs (>400) and they should only be used for capturing fast moving objects. Using the built-in flash should be avoided except when there is no other efficient light source. The small distance between the lens and the flash source will produce very harsh shadows behind the subjects making them look like cardboard. That’s why external light sources are usually preferred. The only feature that you should never use is digital zooming.
Getting to know your camera well requires experimenting . No matter how difficult it may sounds, you should know that this is the shortest path towards improving your photographing skills.
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