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Do you really want to dump all the photographic kit you have put together over the years, just for the latest fad?
Having got people to go digital and look at their pics on screen the photographic industry is now pushing prints again, so we are almost back where we started. Besides which we have all got film collections of negs. and slides and prints in drawers and boxes that we certainly do not want to lose even if they are a bit aged. So what to do? Well you can benefit from both technologies. Assuming you already have a computer, buy a suitable scanner, digitize all your old photos, though be warned it can take a fair time if you want quality results, and the more you have the longer it will take. Still if you haven’t the time, or PC or scanner, you can get it done for you. Once done, old pictures can be given new life and even new ones, yes you can carry on using film for now, can be given additional 'gravitas' and you will find the rest of these guides much more interesting. You might begin to see some advantage(s) to this digital malarky. You might even get hooked and start thinking about a new digital camera. To augment your existing kit, of course
DSLR or Compact? Which would suit you better? The answer may surprise you.
 A nice new DLSR (Digital single lens reflex.) for instance? If so, ask yourself why, because unless you intend spending a lot of time learning photographic skills you will be wasting your money since the chances are you will almost always use the auto mode, and most point & shoot cameras will give you better quality in auto mode than a DSLR!
If you can’t be bothered sorting your ISO from your white point, your iris from your shutter then rejoice, the manufacturers of these pocket-sized wonders have spent time, money and expertise getting the best combinations of these to give you the best quality pictures.
Or you could consider a Bridge Camera. A bit larger and heavier, offering similar performance and sophistication to the SLR (e.g.) they can be used in auto and manual modes. Plus a ultra-zoom lens that being fixed totally nullifies the sensor dust problem.
Don’t go for a camera just because it has the greatest number of pixels because all that will do is give you bigger image files not better pictures, and the more pixels the more light the camera needs to perform adequately. Typically five megapixels, yes just 5, are enough for everyday photography. And too many can actually reduce the quality of pictures.
Image stabilization is worth considering but faces you with the following dilemma which only you can decide: Digital loses a little quality but does ‘twice as much’ in that it is a before and after process where as optical maintains the quality but is a before only process.
And there’s another quandary for you too: You’ll probably be told that lithium batteries are quicker and more powerful than AAs. May be, but when you are in the wilds of where-ever and your bats flat? You can buy AAs from almost any store. Not so lithium. So, which is better for you?
 Don’t worry too much about the make of camera. Sony, Nikon, Panasonic, Canon and so on, all do pretty much the same. Play with them in store. Twiddle the buttons. See which one feels best -that’s probably the one you should have.
Once you have your camera you will want to take photos of your friends and relatives and children and pets and so on, and with digital you can. Lots of them. Great, but don’t pose your subjects. Let them carry on doing whatever they were doing that made you want to take the photo in the first place. And don’t let Grans, Dads, Aunties or anyone “help”. All they will do is distract the subject. Rather than taking lots of pics ad hoc, set the shot up in your viewfinder and then take lots, using rapid-shoot if your cameras has it so as to beat the face pulling, blinking, shyness and all sorts. And avoid using flash as much as you can because that way you’ll totally avoid red eye and the harsh shadows, reflections etc.
A lot of digital cameras come with an alternative which I must say I prefer. If you can adjust the ISO speed on your camera (that is its sensitivity to light shown as a number) then most of the time you can shut your flash off (extending your battery life). Just set your ISO high, to something like 1600. You don’t know how to? What better reason to poke your nose into the manual that came with your camera. Ignore everything else. Just check out all about your ISO, unless of course something else grabs your eye. The downside may be that you get some visual noise in your images, the digital equivalent to film grain. No worries. It’s in fashion, but if you want to get rid of it there is a little program that is better than most photo editors at doing it, NOISEWARE. When you do have to use flash you can still reduce all the inherent problems with a technique I first used way back when. If you are taking shots of people that are medium to close-up, drape a hanky or even a tissue over the flash head, making sure it does not get in front of the lens or indeed any sensor, and you will be surprised just how effective it is.
You want to take better pictures? Then read the manual. Most people don’t, but there is stuff in there that will make all the difference as just shown. In fact if they had utilized the manual on their last camera fully, they probably wouldn’t be buying a new one. The Starting guides are worth while but they are just that, whereas the manual will go into the shutter release/picture take button and how many functions that may have, yes even on auto-settings, pressing it half down will... well take a look in the book, it might be different from mine.
Can you alter your white balance? Because that can compensate for artificial light (that orange cast), and fluorescent (that greeny cast), and even for dull days, but if you do alter it set it back to auto afterwards. Check the relevant section.
What about the ISO? If you can adjust that it can help you avoid flash and that devilish look in your kiddies eyes and the mother-in-laws, though may be not in the latter case. The safest time to use flash is in the daytime to overcome hard shadows. It’s called ‘fill-in’ flash and the manual will tell you if your camera has it and how to switch it on (usually a button or symbol of a lightening flash).
The trouble is these manuals can be BIG. That is what puts people off. Don’t be. Dip into it. Tackle one new thing at a time and as you conquer each I bet you see the difference it makes. Lots more photos that not only you, but other people think are good.
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