Some tips when using digital cameras

Here are some tips I found particularly useful:

* Always shoot your pictures using the highest available resolution. For showing pictures on screen you can always downsize the resolution, also downsizing the file size as well. The other way around is obviously impossible. If you are afraid of running out of memory card, just get a bigger one. The ones that comes along with the cameras (16 or 32Mb?) are laughable! But try not to buy too large (1 Gb and larger) memory cards. First, if the memory card gets damaged or an error occurs you will loose all the pictures. Better buy two smaller memory cards rather than buy one large memory card. Secondly, it takes AGES to import the huge amount of pictures to the computer all at once. I'd say get one or two 256 Mb memory cards, saving you from running out of memory all too often;

* Do try to hold the camera STILL when you snap the picture! Especially with low light situations and/or using the zoom function, this is particularly important. With low light situations you could set to a lower (more light sensitive) ISO mode, but often this will result in 'snow' (whitish grey spots in the picture). Some cameras are pretty slow with the picture snapping & storing on the memory card. Try to hold it still for a second even after taking the shot;

* When making print outs, pay attention if you want to use a smaller part of the picture to blow up to a full page. This will result in a grainy picture which is logical because the picture contains less pixels. Anything smaller than, say, 25% of the original picture will result in disappointing pictures. Of course the 'graininess' will be less visible if you make a smaller print out or order a smaller size book.