TROUBLESHOOTING

Before rushing off to find the problem in your camera manual, stop and think for a minute.
Is the problem
A - A camera malfunction
B - The wrong mode or menu setting on your camera. Check first if your camera is in Shooting or Playback mode as that is often a simple confusion.
C- Has the photo been taken the wrong way. The most common problem is blurring when the camera is not held steady as you squueze the shutter button.

A great way to learn digital photography is to read troubleshooting websites which can teach you what not to do ahead of time......
Here are a few websites with helpful ideas.
Troubleshooting video
Troubleshooting Digital Cameras
Kodak troubleshooting table
Troubleshooting video
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Digital cameras show instant results so it is easy to take test photos to help trace a problem.

A. CAMERA NOT WORKING?
If your camera does not switch on, or closes without warning your battery is probably low or flat. Try charging it fully. If your camera still does not work, check your camera manual troubleshooting
Otherwise ask for help at your friendly camera shop.

Don’t drop your camera, it usually cannot be repaired.
B. CAMERA SETTINGS
INCORRECT?
Develop the habit of selecting auto mode each time you switch your camera on, then select the mode you want.
Try switching the camera off and on and then select automatic and take a test photo.
Often this action returns the key menu items to default again. Then return to selecting the mode and menu you want. Each mode setting has a different menu item and often when you try and select something, and can’t, it simply may not be available on that mode.
For example if you are switched to landscape mode you cannot then use the macro button. If all else fails shoot on automatic, it usually works fine!
Modern compact digital cameras have so many features and menus it is IMPOSSIBLE to practise every combination.
C. HAVE YOU TAKEN THE PHOTO THE WRONG WAY?

Blurry photos? Camera shake is the BIGGEST FAULT. (p.22).
Out of focus? Did you focus on the key subject before composing. (Not on the mountain between your two friends heads!)
Underexposed? Extreme lighting conditions like snow (p.39) require a special mode setting. Subjects with lighting behind can be dramatic, but you need to increase the brightness to compensate for the dark face. (p.18) Or was the subject too far away for a tiny flash? (p.18).
Overexposed? Did you leave your brightness setting on HIGH?
Prints not very clear? ISO set too high? (p.43). Or did you set your resolution to low for the web, and forget to set it back to high resolution for printing? (p.7).
Strange colours? You’ve set the wrong white balance. Leave it on auto White Balance most of the time, it’s safer. (p.17).
Red eyes? Switching room lights on can help. Use red eye menu setting. See (p.19).
Part of subject missing?
Frame carefully in the LCD screen or viewfinder. Shutter delay is a major problem with moving subjects, you need to allow for that (p.38).

CAMERA CARE
Digital cameras are much more delicate than older cameras and one solid drop will often ruin them. Always use a wrist strap and keep the camera in its pouch when not in use.
The lens and LCD screen are easily scratched and should be cleaned only with a special lint free micro-fibre cloth, ( paper tissues are made from wood and are too harsh).
Dust, sand and moisture ruin cameras very quickly so keep your camera covered as much as possible in difficult environments. Always keep spare batteries and memory cards in their containers.
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Camera shake caused by poor posture - is probably the biggesty problem and the easiest to fix....



camera shake - solution (pxx) lean aganist door for indoor

chopping heads off / learn to view straight

bumping mode buttons to the wrong oe a biggest prob = get into the habit of checking yuour camrea regularly

When hav ing trouble finding a menu item remember that eac setting on yorur mode butting has a different set of menu items - check you r mode setting