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With all of the expensive tech streaming out these days, it seems that consumers buy their next new camera before they properly learn how to use the old one. In this article, we give you the most useful tips on how to get the best out of your new/old digital camera so that you can also keep up with the changing technology and make the most out of those hundreds of dollars that you spent.

Below we break down the instruction manual and present it in simple to remember tips that you can use easily on the go.We have concentrated on the Canon Powershot series for this tutorial. We will be expanding to other models in the future.
Here is an elementary guide for the Canon Powershot A480:

One-step settings
Most cameras have these pre-settings available, which a lot of people don’t use.
You can find them in the main menu.
Explore these and learn how to reach them quickly - they are a quick and efficient way to tailor your shot to the environment with one press of a button.“Take Night Shot”
When taking photos of your friends at night and you want to capture the night sky behind you, don’t use the flash! Use the “Night Snapshot” setting – this will ensure that your friends’ faces, and the twinkling cityspace behind them, is clear and colourful.

“Take Indoor Shot”
Great for taking photos of friends or family inside – at your favorite restaurant, even with limited lighting. Make sure your photos turn out just right for the years to come.“Take Shots of Fireworks”
This is actually quite a useful one-step button. Makes life a lot easier when you’ve been ‘celebrating’ a bit too much at New Year’s too…

“Take Photos at the Beach”
These guys thought of everything – capture some gorgeous shots.Pro Tips you should know and take with you to every digital camera

Adjusting the brightness (manually change the exposure)
1. Press the function button, then the up or down arrow until you see +-0
2. Make sure you see “exp” in the corner of the screen
3. Press the arrow buttons to the right or left to test out the effect of an increased and decreased exposure

Adjusting the White Balance (manually change the white balance to achieve natural looking colours in any setting)
1. Select the white balance by pressing the function button, then the up or down arrow to select AWB.
2. Press the right or left key to select an option, then press the function key to apply the change.

Custom Colour
1. Select C in step 2 above and press the menu button.
2. Press the up or down buttons to select an option ie “contrast”, then the right or left buttons to select a value. (The more to the right, the stronger/deeper the effect will be.

Shooting Long Exposures (use a tripod)
1. Select the moon and stars button. Press the right or left button to select SCN.
2. Press the up or down buttons to select the moon and stars button, then press the function button to apply the change.

After setting up your camera for the long exposure shot, select the shutter speed
3. After pressing the function button, press the up or down buttons to select 1”.
4. Press the right or left buttons to select a shutter speed, then press the function button.
5. Make sure your camera is set up sturdily on a tripod, then press the shutter button halfway to check the exposure.

The Canon Powershot A480 is excellent for the beginner to feel comfortable with knowing how to use the multi-faceted functions of a digital camera.
At less than one hundred dollars, it’s a no-brainer.
When you buy digital cameras make sure you know more than the guy next to you – read the manual.
 

 

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