Digital Photography Help and Tips

General digital photography advice and techniques. What subjects to shoot, how to steady your camera, and getting the most out of your digital camera's features.

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#1:7 Ways to Get the Most from Your Older Digital Camera
Ideas to help you take better photographs with older digital cameras and equipment.

#2: Practice Everything!
Get accustomed to your digital camera's features and practice everything before you go on a trip.

#3: Fast Subjects and Lighting
Help on taking photos of fast-moving subjects with your digital camera.

#4: Turn Around to Avoid the Sun
Reposition yourself when taking digital camera photos so the subjects don't appear washed out.

#5: Don't Worry about Reciprocity Failure
Reciprocity failure is not a problem with long digital camera exposures - but noise can be.

#6: For Beginners - Using the Histogram to Help Ensure Proper Exposure
Help ensure your digital photos don't turn out underexposed or overexposed.

#7: Onscreen Ruler or Grid
Align your photos correctly with your digital camera.

#8: Why Not Keep Noise Reduction On?
Does your digital camera support noise-reduction? If so, why not turn that feature on all the time?

#9: Don't Always Center Your Subjects
Experiment your subjects' positions in your digital camera viewfinder for more interesting photos.

#10: Use the Presets in Difficult Lighting
Your digital camera preset modes may help you take beautiful pictures in difficult lighting conditions.

#11: Don't Try Learning Everything at Once
Learn a few digital photography techniques at a time and practice, practice, practice!

#12: Encourage Others to Shoot Digitally
Share your love of digital photography with others.

#13: Turn Off Your Camera's Sounds
If silence is requested or mandated, turn off your digital camera's audio feedback.

#14: Don't Overuse Flash
Situations where you should turn off your digital camera's flash.

#15: Wash Fruits and Vegetables First
Make food photos look better with glistening fruit and vegetables.

#16: Zoom Versus Camera Shake
Why zooming into a picture may make your digital camera photographs blurry, and what you can do about it.

#17: The Less Compression the Better
Decrease your digital camera's image compression for higher quality photographs.

#18: Visit your Digital Camera Manufacturer's Website
Why you should regularly visit your digital camera manufacturer's website.

#19: Record Your Settings
Keep track of your settings as you try out new digital camera features.

#20: Practice Deleting Photos Quickly
Quickly clear mistakes from your digital camera media to save room for better photos.

#21:Capture Images on a Television Screen
A quick tip if you are having problems taking digital photos involving television screens.

#22: Exposure Compensation Tool
Use exposure compensation to lighten or darken your digital photos.

#23: Flash Works Best with Nearby Subjects
Flash is not a cure-all; if it must be used, either in night photography or to overpower ambient sunlight, get close to your subject.

#24: Bracket Your Important Photos
Explains bracketing, and how it can improve your overall digital camera picture taking.

#25: Don't Overlook Traditional Camera Magazines for Tips
Traditional film photography magazines may offer tips that work for digital camera users as well.

#26: Focus on Objects Not in your Viewfinder's Center
How can you apply the 'rule of thirds' if the middle of your viewfinder or LCD is what's in focus?

#27: Bracketing is Still Important with Black and White Photos
Bracketing is still important when taking black and white digital photos in tricky lighting situations.

#28: Sometimes Less is More
Digital photos can be too cluttered or 'busy'.

#29: Remember - You Can Crop Later
Don't immediately delete digital camera photos if an unwanted element or person got in your picture - here's why.

#30: Store Your Settings in Memory
Some digital cameras let you create your own program or 'scene' modes.

#31: Don't Be Afraid to Get Up Close
Don't overuse a powerful digital camera's zoom feature.

#32: Why Use Manual Focus?
Reasons why one should sometimes use manual focus even with advanced digital cameras.

Digital Camera Battery Help and Tips

Purchasing and getting the most out of digital camera batteries, whether your digital camera uses an alkaline battery, rechargable NiMH battery, or propietary battery.

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1:Long Exposures Require More Battery Power
If you need to take photos requiring long exposures, expect your batteries to drain quicker.

2: Keep Extra Batteries Handy!
Got a digital camera? Always keep extra batteries handy!

3: Batteries in Cold Weather
Bring along extra batteries if you plan on taking photos in the cold winter months.

4:Don't Mix and Match Brands and Types
To prevent possible damage, only insert similar digital camera batteries.

5:Keep Playback to a Minimum
Using the playback mode of your digital camera may wear out your batteries.

6: Don't Use Alkaline AA - Use Rechargeables
Why you should use rechargeable batteries with your digital camera.

7:Those Batteries Won't Stay Charged Forever
Digital camera batteries may lose their charge over time. Don't let under-charged batteries keep you from taking great photos!

8: Never Get Batteries Wet
Water can corrode batteries, damaging them and possibly your digital camera.

9: Never Charge Incompatible AA Batteries
To prevent fire, only insert similar batteries into your battery charger.

10: Take Batteries Out of the Digital Camera
Remove batteries from your digital camera when not in use.

11: Travel Overseas? May Need a Different Charger or Converters
To charge digital camera batteries outside of your native country may require a small added investment.

12: Battery Conservation Tips
Make your digital camera batteries last longer. Here's how.

13: Use an Add-On NiMH Power Pack
Get more use out of your old AA NiMH batteries.

14: What is mAh?
What does mAh mean when it comes to digital camera batteries?

15: Recycle Your NiMH Batteries
Don't throw away your old rechargeable AA batteries - they are recyclable.

16: Bring a Battery Charger on Trips
Even if you have lots of rechargeable AA batteries, you should still bring a charger with you on trips.

17:Buy Extra Proprietary Batteries
Ensure you have a backup digital camera battery for long photo shoots.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 14.7MP 3.6x Optical Zoom/4x Digital Zoom HD Camera (Black)

Capturing a great shot is easy with this Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 Wide-Angle digital camera, just point and shoot!

With its ultra-high 14.7 megapixels and LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 28 mm Wide-Angle lens the Lumix DMC-FX150 is designed to make the novice photographer take pictures like a professional photographer! Show off your subjects with amazing detail and realism with 3.6x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom.

You've got the freedom to get artsy with ordinary scenes when you choose the shutter speed via the manual exposure mode! Preview and view your images on the brilliant 2.7-inch TFT LCD display with a field of view of 100%! The manual bracketing function features typical exposure and can add new color bracketing that captures color, monochromatic and sepia shots in an image simultaneously.

Get great shots everytime! The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 features AF Tracking that enables the DMC-FX150 to lock its focus on a moving object making it ideal for sporting events, concerts, and capturing your children in play mode!

The sleek and stylish Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 is an awesome point and shoot camera for amateur and professional photographers alike! Plus, since its a Panasonic Lumix digital camera you know you'll be getting one of the best digital cameras in its class!

Features/Specifications:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 14.7MP 3.6x Optical Zoom/4x Digital Zoom HD Camera General Features: Color: Black Effective Pixels: 14.7 megapixels Optical Image Stabilizer: MEGA O.I.S. (Auto/Mode1/Mode2) Optical Zoom: 3.6x Digital Zoom: 4x Extended Optical Zoom: 7.7x Image Sensor: 1/1.72-inch 15.0 Total Mega Pixels CCD, Primary Color Filter Focal Length: f=6.0-21.4mm (35mm Equiv.: 28-100mm) Lens: 28 mm Wide-Angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT Aperture Range: Wide: F2.8/F9.0 (2 steps) / Tele: F5.6/F18 (2 steps) Focusing Area: Normal: 50cm - infinity, Intelligent AUTO / Macro: Wide 5cm / Tele 30cm - infinity AF Metering: Face / AF tracking / multi-area / 1-area high speed / 1-area / spot Focus: Normal / Macro, Quick AF On/Off (On in Intelligent Auto), AF Area Select, AF Tracking AF Assist Lamp ISO Sensitivity: Auto /100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400) ) Backlight Compensation (auto in Intelligent AUTO mode) Auto Bracketing (AE): +/- 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames Light Metering: Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot Self-timer: 2 second, 10 second Auto Review: 1 second, 2 second, Zoom, Hold Unlimited Consecutive Shooting Intelligent Exposure: Off / Low / Standard / High Digital Red Eye Correction Scene Mode Help Screen Auto Angle Detection Travel Date/World Time Built-in microphone Built-in Speaker Directprint: PictBridge LCD Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT LCD Display (230K dots) Field of View : approx. 100% AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode, High angle mode Exposure Features: Exposure: Program AE, Simple Manual Exposure Compensation: 1/3 EV Step, ± 2 EV Scene Modes: Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-Portrait, Food, Party, Candle Light, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby1&2, Sunset, Pet, Hi-Speed Burst, Multi Aspect Shutter Speed/Shutter System: P:1-1/2000sec (Selectable minimum shutter speed) M:60-1/2000sec Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60 seconds Picture Adjustment: Contrast +2steps Sharpness +2steps Saturation +2steps Noise Reduction +2steps Color Effect Mode: Black and White Sepia Cool Warm Recording Format: Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard), RAW, DPOF corresponding image with audio: JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard)+ QuickTime Motion picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG Image Quality: Fine/Standard/RAW/RAW+JPEG Recording Image Size: 4:3 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 4416 x 3312, 3648 x 2736, 3072 x 2304, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 3:2 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 4416 x 2944, 3648 x 2432, 3072 x 2048, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1360 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 4416 x 2480, 3648 x 2056, 3072 x 1728, 2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1080 Burst Shooting Mode: Full-Resolution Image, 2.5 frames/sec Max. 8 images (Standard mode), Max 4 images (Fine), Max 3images (RAW) Built-in Flash Type/Mode: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off 0.6 - 5.9m (Wide/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 2.9m (Tele/ISO Auto) Playback Mode: REC/Play Selector Switch, 30 & 12-thumbnail Display, Calendar Display, Zoomed Playback (16x max), Playback of Fav Pics, Image Rotation, Resize, Trim, Protection, Aspect Conv. DPOF Print Setting Creating Still Pics from Motion Picture, Dual Image Playback OSD Language: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Chinese(Traditional), Chinese(Simplified), Netherlandic, Thai, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian, Japanese, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish Recording Media: Built-in Memory (approximately 50 MB) SD Memory Card SDHC Memory Card MultiMediaCard (Still image only) Interface: DC Input AV Output (NTSC) USB 2.0 High Speed Direct Print Capable: PictBridge HD Video Record & Output (via A/V cable with Component cable, not included) Power Supply: Li-ion battery Pack (3.7V, 1150mAh) AC Adapter (Input: 110 - 240V AV, not included) Rec Mode (Mode Dial): Intelligent AUTO Program AE Manual Motion Picture Scene mode Color Bracketing: Standard / Black & White (2 images), Standard / Sepia (2 images), Standard / Black & White / Sepia (3 images) Dimensions: 2.12 x 3.8 x 0.98-inches (H x W x D, approximate) Regulatory Approvals: FCC CSA UL

Package Includes:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 14.7MP 3.6x Optical Zoom/4x Digital Zoom Camera Operating Instructions Battery Pack 3.7V 1090mAh USB connection cable A/V cable Wrist cable Battery Charger Software CD-ROM Battery Carrying Case

Additional Information:

Notes: Panasonic Lumix: DMC-FX150P-K UPC: 0 37988 98816 7 1 Year Direct Warranty for USA Only Requirements: Available USB port CD-ROM drive Windows 2000/XP/Vista IBM PC/AT compatible PC with Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or higher CPU (Intel Pentium III 800 MHz or higher CPU if using Windows Vista) 256 MB RAM or more (512 MB of more using Windows Vista) 200 MB or more free hard drive space