Rules of thumb

In My Humble Opinion
1

I was surprised to find that although the origin of this phrase has been discussed on the boards, no one started a list of actual useful tips. Anyone?

I’ll start with one that I hope will be helpful to the designated family photographers during the holidays. When taking photographs, set up the picture the way you want it, then get one step closer to the subject(s). Many people don’t realize how much empty space the camera is “seeing” because they are concentrating only on what they want photographed. When the pictures come back, everyone looks too far away. Take a look around the edges of your picture before you click the shutter. (Users of throw away cameras and some other fixed focus shouldn’t get closer than about 4 feet).

Mike

2

The problem I have with disposable cameras is that I’m never sure whether the “wide-angle image shrinking” effect I’m seeing in the viewfinder is also being done by the picture-taking lens, or if the picture-taking lens takes pictures at “actual” size.

This is a problem with ALL cameras, I suppose, but with a disposable camera, I won’t know until the film’s developed and the camera’s in the recycling bin!

3

Ummm…no. You’ve just been using cheap cameras. Get an SLR, where the viewfinder looks through the main lens. And you can focus it! :smiley: