Bay of Isles Computers Support and Technical Tips - Getting to Know your Digital Camera

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Getting to Know Your Digital Camera

(Thanks to Microsoft)

Shoot Photos first; Ask Questions Later
Keeping Your Camera Ready for Quick Shooting
You've Got the Power to Save Battery Life
Understanding Camera Resolution Options

Shoot Photos First; Ask Questions Later

Good photography takes practice. So does using a digital camera. Some models offer so many features that they can be intimidating, but there is no better way to get over that initial fear by getting to know your digital camera through taking lots of pictures.

Take your camera everywhere.
Most digital cameras are small enough to carry in your pocket or purse, so bring your camera with you everywhere and snap away whenever you're inspired. Leave your camera in the "auto" setting and see what it can do on its own, or test a different feature of your camera each week. Learn how white balance improves photos taken under the fluorescent lights at the office or use the macro feature with the flowers on your table at a restaurant. Explore the fun and interesting features located in the camera's menu. The more you shoot, the more you can experiment with everything your camera has to offer.

You don't need a photography studio to take interesting pictures. A basic rule is that if a subject looks interesting, then chances are a cool photo isn't far behind. If something catches your eye, take a longer look and "find" your photo. Take as many pictures as you like of the same thing. Professional photographers can tell you that a great shot rarely comes from a single attempt, so shoot until your index finger is sore from pressing the shutter release button.

See Results Immediately
Another great thing about experimenting with digital cameras is the immediacy of the response. No need to wait for your photos to come back from the lab—the images are right there on the rear LCD screen so you can check your results in seconds. Need a closer look? Most cameras offer a LCD magnification feature that allows you to zoom in on the image so you can check finer details like focusing. Still too small to check your shot? A quick download to your computer through a USB card reader or right from the camera shows you the whole picture. Many cameras even let you display your images on your TV.

Digital photography allows for no excuses—there's no money wasted on developing less-than-perfect photos and you get results in a snap. So get out there and play with your new camera. Don't be afraid of it—if you make a mistake, just delete. Go ahead—charge up those batteries, grab all the memory cards you can and start shooting!

Keep your camera ready for quick shooting

Digital cameras, like computers, are complex machines that need a little time to gear up before they're ready to shoot. But great moments in life don't wait. If you're in a situation that requires quick reaction from your camera, here are a few tips to keeping it ready to snap.

Don't check every photo after you shoot.
The more pictures you take, the better chance you have of getting a great shot. It's something that pro photographers have known for years, and digital photography makes it simple and inexpensive to accomplish. In situations like a wedding ceremony, sporting event, or even children playing in the backyard, the time you spend reviewing each photo on the camera's LCD screen can make you miss the next one. Try a larger memory card so you can shoot scores of photos and review them when there is a break in the action, keeping only the best and deleting the obvious duds. And when you're done reviewing, don't forget to put the camera back into shooting mode so you'll be ready for the next shot.

Use quick view rather than playback.
Many cameras offer a "quick view" feature that allows you to view the most recent image or two without leaving the shooting mode you're in. This is helpful because simply pressing the shutter button makes the camera ready to go again.

Turn off the image review.
When time is of the essence, shorten or deactivate the instant image review, a function of many cameras that displays the image automatically after it's taken. This not only saves time between shots, but it saves your batteries, too.

For action photos, try multi-frame settings.
Most digital cameras offer a variety of drive settings for different shooting situations. Features like continuous shooting mode (where several photos are taken in rapid succession, also known as "burst shooting" or "sequential firing") allow for the multiple frame shooting needed for fast-moving subjects like sporting events. You can fire three or more frames quickly to capture a game-winning touchdown or a child's first steps.

Pre-focus whenever possible.
Sometimes you have to wait for just the right time to capture the perfect moment, like a smile or expression for a great portrait. Try pre-focusing on your subject by depressing the shutter halfway. When the right moment arrives, press the shutter down completely. The shutter releases at that point and your image is captured.

Use a lower resolution and quality setting.
Low-resolution images write faster to the memory card than their high-resolution counterparts. If you know that you won't want to print the photo (such as for images destined exclusively for the Web or e-mailing), choose a lower resolution. Be warned: sometimes the best moments—moments that translate into wonderful, large prints—happen when least expected. Only reduce the resolution and quality in the worst-case scenario and if you're absolutely, 100% certain that you won't need more from those photos later.

You've Got the power to save battery life

It's the big day—your sister's wedding! You've learned all the crazy features and you are determined to capture every moment of this beautiful day with your incredible new digital camera. You're snapping away at all the adorable kids, friends and family, the vibrant flowers, the nervous groom. The music starts, the bride enters ... and your batteries go dead.

Fact: digital cameras eat batteries fast.
After all, you're running a mini-computer behind that lens. You can extend battery life by using the optical viewfinder instead of the LCD while shooting or using an AC adapter or card reader while downloading. But to be sure you'll have the power to catch the special moments in life, the best thing to do is be prepared.

Think Smart: Recharge.
Camera batteries come in all shapes and sizes. If your camera takes AA batteries, rely on traditional alkaline for emergencies only. They are not strong enough to power a high drain instrument like a digital camera for more than a few dozen images. Disposable lithium batteries have much more juice, but can get pricey when you're replacing them on a regular basis. Disposable batteries are also no friend to the environment. The smartest choice is rechargeable AA batteries.

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) is the most recommended rechargeable battery for AA needs. They can be recharged 500-1,000 times, and most are "no memory," which means you don't have to drain them completely before recharging, unlike earlier nickel cadmium (NiCad) types. As a result, it's easy to adopt the habit of always charging your battery when you're done shooting. And always have at least two sets—one in the camera and one (or more!) on the charger—so you never miss a minute of the action.

Always Carry a Spare. If your camera doesn't take AAs, chances are it has its own proprietary battery. One may even come with the camera. In this case, it's even more important to have a spare or two, as there is often no alkaline substitute for backup. Also, if the battery charges from inside the camera, look into buying an external charger as well, so you won't be stranded without the camera while you're waiting for a charge.

Without batteries, you may as well have left your camera at home. Keep a fully charged backup or two in your camera bag and you'll never miss a moment.

Understanding Camera resolution options

The sensor in a digital camera is composed of pixels, which are tiny light-sensitive squares. The sensors in most cameras today are made up of millions of pixels, each one registering the brightness of the light striking it as the photo is taken. The number of pixels in the image is about equal to the number of pixels on the sensor. This number is referred to as the image's resolution.

Simply put, the greater the number of pixels in an image, the higher the resolution. And the higher the resolution, the better and larger the print you can make from your Windows XP-based computer and printer. Put another way, resolution affects the output options for your photo. It's important to keep this in mind as you explore the resolution options on your camera.

Resolution Affects Output.
Most digital cameras allow you to change the resolution setting, so you can fit more or fewer images on your memory card. This can be a helpful feature if you only have one card or if you are on a trip and can't transfer photos to your computer. But if you take a photo of a spectacular sunset, and you capture it on a lower resolution setting like 800x600, you may be unhappy with the result if you want a 5x7 or 8x10 print. That's because the low resolution image lacks detail, and may also appear jagged. Carrying additional memory cards and keeping the camera set on its highest resolution setting is a better solution.

The higher the photograph's resolution, the more plentiful printing and sharing options exist. With this in mind, the best bet is to shoot photos at the highest resolution your camera can capture. The resolution can easily be adjusted downward on your computer—Windows XP will do this with one click when you're sending photos in e-mail, for example. However, there is a limit to how effectively photo resolution can be adjusted upward by a computer. This means, for example, you can always make a sharp, clear, small print from a high-resolution photo, but you can't make a rich, detailed, large print from a low-resolution one.

To maximize both the resolution and clarity of your photos, while not bogging down the camera and limiting its usefulness, set your camera on its highest resolution and best-quality JPEG settings.