by Lee Ann Doskocil

Created on: June 17, 2008

Digital cameras have revolutionized the way pictures are taken. No longer is it necessary to print every picture on a roll of film only to find that most of them were blurry or poorly framed. Now, a photographer can see the picture on an LCD screen before and after snapping the picture and determine if the picture is what he or she wants. The pictures can be taken and store d or printed depending on the needs of the user. There are some steps that can be taken to get more bang for your buck when it comes to digital cameras.

First and foremost, and this may sound really elementary, but read the instruction manual that came with the camera. All digital cameras are not made the same and they don't all have the same options. Being familiar with the particulars of your model can make a world of difference in the quality of your shots.

SHOOTING MODES
Different shooting modes are available on most cameras. These vary from model to model, but most cameras have a minimum of five or so. There is usually a night mode for taking pictures in the dark. A sports mode can be utilized when taking pictures at sporting events. This mode usually takes shots in sequence and stabilizes the subject so that it is not blurred. A landscape mode is good for capturing scenery on a trip. Other modes may include an ISO setting which adjusts the ISO depending on the lighting which is great in low light, beach setting which optimizes the light and makes water very blue in the pictures, and others.

FACE RECOGNITION
If your camera has this option, I would recommend using it in any pictures that include humans. This feature focuses on the faces in the picture and makes great photos. I have mine on at all times so that I don't forget to turn it on when photographing the kids.

RED EYE REDUCTION
This is another feature that should be kept on so that it is always available. This makes red eyed demonic looking family members a thing of the past. While red eye can always be edited using software, it is much easier to let the camera do it for you saving you the trouble down the road.

MANUAL CONTROLS
While many point and shoot cameras are made with preset controls, some of them allow the user to override those controls. Some cameras allow you to change the white balance for certain situations and the type of focus. Your camera may have aperture priority mode which allows you to adjust the size of the lens opening and how long it stays open. Shutter priority mode is useful for capturing movement. Your manual will tell you if these are available and probably a description of when and how to use them.

RESOLUTION
Your camera probably allows you to set the resolution for your pictures. If you want to print large prints, this should be set on at least 5 megapixels if not more. If you decide to use a high resolution, you will probably need to find a memory card for your camera as the higher the resolution, the more memory the image consumes. There are cards on the market now that will hold hundreds of images at the highest resolution.

OPTICAL ZOOM AND IMAGE STABILIZATION
Optical zoom is very important when you want to take pictures up close. However, the higher the zoom, the better the chance the picture will blur if image stabilization is not used. Image stabilization keeps your pictures clear and focused.
These are some of the ways you can get more out of your digital camera and get great shots. However, the most important by far is to read the instructions so that you understand all the things your camera can do for you.

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