How to Use Your Digital Camera Settings

Digital camera settings can be confusing. Take full advantage of all the features that your new, or old , digital camera has to take great pictures in any setting. Here is your guide for how to use each digital camera setting.

Digital Camera Setting - Auto (Usually depicted by a picture of a camera or the word Auto.)

The auto setting is just that, automatic. The auto setting is for those individuals who do not know how to use and chose from their digital camera settings. The default for the auto setting is flash on.

Digital Camera Setting - Aperture Priority (Depicted by an "A")

The aperture priority setting is still fairly automatic, but you have the freedom to chose the f-stop. Use the aperture priority setting for a short depth of field, this will keep the foreground in focus while blurring the background.

Digital Camera Setting - Shutter Priority (Depicted by an "S")

The shutter priority setting is useful for sports and action photos where you want to freeze the action. Just like aperture priority, the shutter priority is still fairly automatic. Chose shutter priority when the sports mode is not quite fast enough to freeze the action that you are trying to capture.

Digital Camera Setting - Museum (Usually depicted by a picture of a building.)

The museum mode is for quiet settings were sound and flash is not desired. Besides turning off the flash and sound the museum mode is still fully automatic.

Digital Camera Setting - Sports/Action (Usually depicted by a person running.)

The sports or action mode has a default high shutter speed. The fast shutter allows you to freeze the motion and avoid blur. The sports or action mode is perfect for photos of waterfalls, waves, and of course sports.

Digital Camera Setting - Night Portrait (Usually depicted by the silhouette of a person with a moon or star.)

The night portrait uses a default slow shutter and aperture to capture the person and the background. The slow shutter and aperture ensure an evenly lit photo with more detail. It is important to keep the camera steady when using night mode or the photo will blur.

Digital Camera Setting - Portrait (Usually depicted by a profile of a head.)

The portrait mode will blur the background while keeping the person in focus. Portrait mode is great for blurring distracting backgrounds. The portrait mode does require good lighting as flash will flatten the photo.