Got a Digital Camera for Christmas? Learn How to Use it Here
Digital camera sales look like reaching record levels this Christmas so with millions of new cameras in the hands of their new owners I thought it might be helpful to put together a series of tutorials that help new digital camera owners to get the most of their cameras.
Also keep in mind that our forums are a great place for beginners through to more advanced users to both learn about their cameras but also show off the photos that they take with them.
Also subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter to get digital camera tips sent to your inbox each Friday.
Here are some of our most popular tips for new digital camera owners:
Using Your Camera
- Using Fill Flash
- Continuous Shooting Mode
- Shutter Release Technique
- How to Hold a Digital Camera
- Using Flash Diffusers and Relectors
- Digital Camera Maintenance
- Explaining Digital Camera Modes
- Should You use the LCD or Viewfinder?
- Introduction to White Balance
- RAW vs JPEG?
- 7 Digital Camera Predators and How to Keep them at Bay
- How to Take Sharp Digital Images
- Avoiding Dirty DSLR Image Sensors
- How to Use Focal Lock
- How to Get Shallow Depth of Field
Introduction to Exposure – How to Get Out of Auto Mode
- Learning about Exposure – The Exposure Triangle
- Introduction to ISO Settings
- Introduction to Shutter Speed
- Introduction to Aperture
- Aperture and Shutter Priority Modes
- How to Control Aperture and Shutter Speed on an Entry Level Point and Shoot Camera
Composition
- The Rule of Thirds
- Finding Fresh Angles to Shoot From
- Photographing Children
- Getting Horizons Horizontal
- Fill Your Frame
- Give Your Subject Space to Look Into
- 10 Ways to Add Variety to Your Digital Photography
- Create Active Space in Your Photography
- Getting Backgrounds Right
Techniques and How To’s
- 11 Tips for Better Candid Photography
- 10 Beach Photography Tips
- How to Photograph Sunrises and Sunsets
- How to Crop Images
- How to Take Great Group Photos
- Black and White Digital Photography – In Camera or Post Production?
- How to Photography Fireworks
- 10 Questions to Ask When Taking a Photo
- Panning Techniques
- Pre-Focussing
- Macro Photography Tips for Point and Shoot Compact Digital Cameras
Equipment
- Prime vs Zoom Lenses – Which are Best?
- Introduction to type of DSLR Lenses
- Introduction to Tripods
- Polarizing Filters
Of course our archives are full of hundreds of tips and tutorials so once you’ve finished with these there are plenty of others to keep you busy for the next few days! If you can’t find a tip or tutorial to help you with your questions feel free to ask them in our forums
34 Responses to “Got a Digital Camera for Christmas? Learn How to Use it Here” - Add Yours
November 4th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Dear Sir,
Your website is very useful. Recently i bought a Canon Powershot G7. The problem is that i can’t take macro photos when i use macro mode. Could you please send me a personal email giving tips to set my camera in macro mode.
November 24th, 2007 at 4:01 am
Hi,
You have a very helpful and useful guide on digital cameras. I would just like to know if you have any advice on how to get a great shot of swarovski jewelry using a polaroid i834? Thanks so much!
December 28th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Hi, I am new to digital slr cameras. I was wondering if you knew of anywhere that I can download tutorials for using and taking pictures with a digital slr in a pdf format?
February 15th, 2008 at 10:47 am
my new camera-Polaroid i834, keeps beeping at me. It won’t turn on. it only flashes a green light and beeps three times. It has new bateries and i tried changing the memory card. What’s wrong?
February 25th, 2008 at 9:37 am
My polarioid does the same thing, it beeps 3 times and shuts off. I am starting to think its a manufacturer error and regret getting this camera.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Hi
I am taking a joy flight on a tiger moth aeroplane.
I’m not sure what setting on need on my CANNON EOS 20D.I have a couple of different lenses eg. Cannon EF 75-300mm and Tamron 18-200mm. Suggestions for which lens to use and the correct setting for best results.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:02 am
Definitely a good guide for newbie like me
June 1st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I just recentley got a polaroid 634 and tried to download my pix from my office computor but it said card error now my camera makes a funny noise and won’t let me take any pix are they lost to me? answer ASAP.
Thank You
Pati
June 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hey my i834 beeps at me too. the lens is out and im not sure what to do. i will take it to a camera shop tomorrow but this is insane….
July 8th, 2008 at 6:46 am
The author knows what he’s commenting about, I can surely say it. Certainly I am returning to read what else the writer has to show. I adore how the post are exactly the best size. I love the manner the writer convinces you one step at a time. Love the fact how this blog hands an occasion to everyone to have a comment. Enjoying the many fonts that are used, they add character to the posts. The reports has been placed so evidently that even a 5 year old can understand it. The videos included in the site make it even more interesting. Thought impressive is every article on the site. What you see there today is what you hear from everyone in the forthcoming days.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Hi,
I’m looking for info on actual Digital SLR settings for photos such as high speed sports.
Fred
September 17th, 2008 at 1:48 am
hi i think you website is very helpful…..i used it to help me learn mi new camers thanks…somuck
September 19th, 2008 at 7:26 am
i got a phillips digital camera and when i go to take a picture it says lock?? what do i do?
November 30th, 2008 at 3:28 am
My Polaroid i834 wont turn on. the green light flashs and the blue screen pops up and it beeps 3x and turns off… can u help me fix it?
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 am
wow..very good info.thanx for those info
December 17th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Thanks for the post, I have been having the same problems.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Have any of you gotten a response to your demands? I hope not You’re all so rude… “send me a personal email”, “help me asap” etc. Google is your friend. Use it.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
After many years of admiring photography by other people, my favourite being Christian Fletcher I have finally been able to buy myself my very own DSLR Camera (Canon EOS 1000D) your website is really helpful and has already taught me a lot of things that i never knew existed on my camera. I will be a regular visitor!
January 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Your article is very comprehensive, but i want to know some thing about camera batteries
January 14th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Way to go Horace! I was thinking the same thing as I read through the comments. The author of this site has taken the time to give a TON of AWESOME and VERY helpful information and yet it seems people don’t want to take the time to read it.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I have a BENQ DC C-700 but i have a problem that when i take photographs in indoor it will turns the image to black
plz help me
April 5th, 2009 at 3:35 am
great site. i particularly like the tutorials. i recommend everyone to go for a prime lens!!
May 28th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Same here about the i834. This is lame. Definitely a manufacturing error. Never getting a P camera again.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:10 am
I always recommend this site to my friends for the great tutorials on how to use their digital camera wisely.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
wow, ur articles are really helpful. im new to using slrs and the layman style is a real relief. thanx… and keep up the excellent work.
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:11 am
Hello, I just wanted to say that I think there should be more of these types of websites to help people that are confused on how to set their camera for different conditions. But anyone who is trouble shooting (won’t turn on, beeping, etc) their camera should seek help from their camera manufacture i.e. Cannon, Polaroid, Etc…
March 9th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Really useful article!!
March 9th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
the old man was ver happy i think so, I thought it might be helpful series of tutorials that help new digital camera owners the owners will be well handle camera with fine because this camera will good abilioty life also this will handle evry easily also.
March 26th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Very useful site…a lot of good information for beginners. Will keep updated to ur site.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
my first digital SLR camera was an EOS450D, now i have an EOS550D which also shoots high resolution video “*-
January 27th, 2011 at 5:14 am
Dear all,,,
i am found of nature and wildlife photography and love to go out in the wild and the remote places to take pictures,, m not a professional but i like it a lot,, i lost my sony H50 camera ,, now planing to buy a new one,, suggest me a good camera with a gud optical zoom feature,, i never used a camera with a manual lens , the new sony NEX series seems good but m always fond of gud optical zoom feature,, that it dosent have,, tele me more if i buy this camera ,, how would i be able to increase the optical zoom on that as i know we can change the lenses on the Sony NEX series,, also suggest me some good cameras available in the market ,,
thanks & regards
sunny
October 17th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Awesome write up. This indeed is a great help for beginners, who know the features of their latest camera but don’t know how to make the best use of them. The posts and tips are clearly explained. Great work.
November 15th, 2011 at 9:05 am
I was thinking about getting a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V and I was just trying to find out if this was a good camera to start off with. I am really trying to get into doing more portraits and starting up my own business in the future. I just needed to know what what be a good camera to start with, also im looking around the price range of $300-500
February 4th, 2012 at 8:32 am
Hi, I was givin a digital camera and i know how to use it, I just dont know how to develop the pictures i know it has a memory card and a ubc port that i plug into the computer but how to i pull the pictures up once i do that? they dont come up and i need help please contact me to let me know thank you.
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