P&S cameras are not only compact, they take top quality shots, too.
Point and shoot, or "P&S," digital cameras are named so for their ease of use. With a P&S camera, there's no need to change lenses or carry bulky equipment. It's also possible to get shots that are just as good -- or even better than -- those taken with a professional single-lens reflex, or SLR, camera. You just need to know what you are doing.
The Basics
Buy at least one extra memory card for your new camera, as the factory-issued ones only hold a handful of pictures. Depending on what sort of camera you buy, you may also need to fully charge the battery first, or, purchase batteries. Make sure to read your camera's instruction manual properly before you use it. This will save you time later figuring out which button does what and will give you a good overview of your camera's capabilities. Once you start snapping, check the quality of your pictures as you go, using the "playback" function. Take lots of pictures. Then take some more. Remember, there is no need to worry about wasting film. Delete pictures that are obviously no good as you go, but remember, they may look different when uploaded full size onto your computer. If possible, save most of the deleting for then.
Flash Use
All P&S cameras have a flash, which you can set to either "on," "off" or "automatic." The flash is usually represented by a lightning bolt symbol. The trick with P&S cameras is to avoid using the flash as much as possible. Avoid the "auto-flash" setting completely, as it tends to overexpose subjects. Natural light is almost always better for taking quality photos. However, you will need to use your flash sometimes, for example when there simply isn't enough natural light to make the shot work, or, during the middle of the day, when shadows are very harsh. In these situations push the buttons until a single solid lightning bolt appears in the LCD display. This is the setting for "forced flash."
Focus and Exposure Lock
P&S digital cameras have what is referred to as a "focus lock" and "exposure lock." These are automatic functions activated when you push the shutter button down halfway. The trick is to understand that once the focus and exposure are locked, you can still move the camera around and reconfigure your shot how you would like it, without the focus or exposure changing. Remember to hold the button down half way until you see what you want in the viewfinder. Then press the button down the rest of the way to get a sharply focused shot with the best levels of exposure.
Composition and Perspective
Avoid the temptation to center your subject in the middle of the shot. The best shots usually feature the subject off-center; this is commonly referred to as the rule of thirds in photography. Experiment with perspective to find ways of making your photos more interesting. Avoid always taking photos at your own eye level. For example, try standing on a chair or crouching down. In addition, avoid full body shots. Your subject will end up looking tiny and your photo boring. Try to fill the frame and avoid lots of open space. If you want to get lots of background in a shot, simply try placing the camera higher.
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