Using Digital Cameras

By lmr5140 (Guest Post)

<p>Take your batteries out of your cameras (and any other expensive device for that matter) when you're not using it. The device leaches power from the batteries even when it's turned off; batteries left in any device for a prolonged time period can corrode and damage your device.
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<p>My three biggest digital camera tips are:</p>
<ol><li>OPTICAL ZOOM not megapixels are the feature for which spend extra. You can get excellent quality snapshot-size prints with a 2.0 megapixel camera. Optical zoom is "real" zoom created mechanically by the camera; digital zoom can extend the zoom capability but is essentially the same thing as enlarging a photocopy of the image - it doesn't increase the resolution, it just "stretches" the image.</li>
<li>DON'T BE STINGY with RESOLUTION or MEMORY CARDS. If there's even a chance you'll want prints, take the highest resolution you think you'll use - at least within the Normal, and ideally within the High range. You can always save your digital files down into a lower resolution for Web sites or other on-screen viewing - but you'll never be able to digitally upsize your images to equal the quality of a high resolution original file. If your camera supports memory cards, they've come down in price so much, buy a handful, especially if you are planning on photographing events where you'll take a large number of photos. Your memories are worth taking high-res images and making sure you have the capacity to store them. </li>
<li>USE PROFESSIONAL (vs. at home) DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: at home printers are nice for proofing, crafts, or immediate gratification, but sending or bringing your digital files to the store will result in better quality files -- for a lot less money.</li></ol>

By

ThriftyFun

Here is an online book on digital photography. There are many topics covered here and as far as I can tell, all of the information is online. Just about anything you ever wanted to know about digital photography, different types of photo files and choosing a digital camera.

http://www.shortcourses.com

By

ThriftyFun

Has some great tips on taking digital photos. There is even one about taking pictures of fireworks!

http://malektips.com/digital_cameras_help_and_tips.html

By

ThriftyFun

Digital Cameras can be power hogs, so I keep a couple of rechargeable batteries ready to use in an instant to save my photos and to take new ones. The rechargeable ones will pay for themselves over and over.

By Susan J from Hamilton