Hold That Button Down!

by Melissa Popp

Digital cameras are the way to the future in the photography world. However, most people start out with a regular old point-and-click camera. These are typically easy-to-use and even a child can take quality pictures. When it comes to a digital camera, though, they're set-up to take high quality pictures based on the user's ability to work with the camera to get the best shots.

One of the biggest problems with digital cameras that arise for people who make the leap from point-and-click to digital is that the shoot button needs more pressure to activate. While point-and-click cameras have a slight hold on the button to avoid you taking a picture by simply moving your finger minimally, most have a medium-trigger function that allows for very little pressure to take a picture.

Digital cameras are quite different. If you buy a good, expensive camera with lots of features, chances are it will be much harder to click that trigger to take your picture. Why's that? Well, for starters, buying an expensive digital camera right off the bat often denotes that the photographer is taking pictures of high quality. If you're taking pictures of high quality, it makes sense that a high-tech camera would set itself up to help you take the best pictures.

Having to press the shoot button harder is not something that should be frowned out. Instead, a good photographer will realize that the effort exerted often means that you won't waste time taking a bad picture. You'll set everything up accordingly, readjust if necessary and press the button knowing you are taking the best picture you quite possibly could be taking. Thus, pressing the button harder is actually helping you take a better picture whether you want to or not.

Another problem when it comes to digital cameras is that you have to apply equal pressure across the shoot button. Pressing harder on it will do nothing if you are only pressing down on one side of the button. Spreading your finger out across the button ensures that you aren't going to not be able to take the picture when you press down. You don't want to waste time setting up a picture only to find that you have to let go of the button, move a bit, and reset the picture all because you messed up pressing the shoot button.

When you get ready to press the shoot button, it's important to take note of a few tips and tricks. First, when you are ready to shoot, make sure you place the pad of your index finger on the entirety of the button. The larger surface-to-surface space you take time to make contact with the easier it will be to distribute the weight to push the button down with ease after setting up the picture. This may seem like a waste of time, but when you want to take a picture, you might find the button jammed and the extra pressure helps push the button down.