Photo tip: here's how to turn your camera on and off

David Lee

21.1.2019

Translation: machine translated

Turned-off cameras are always a source of problems. Here's how to increase their potential.

A comment was made on my article Little photo tip: viewfinder and dioptric corrector adjustment:

Good idea.

What do Michel Compte, Annie Leibowitz and Steve McCurry have in common? They all photograph with a camera turned on. Learn from the best! Turning on the camera is an extremely important but rarely mentioned point.

Why turn on your camera

The problem with switched-off cameras is that they generally don't work. This severely limits your photographic possibilities. Even worse: you can't even see the photos you've taken. You can only fully exploit your camera's potential when you switch it on.

Here's how to turn on the camera

Check out the user manual.

Here's how to use the instruction manual

Unlike a detective story, you don't need to read the chapters of the manual in order. It's perfectly normal to skip chapters that don't interest you. On paper, there's the good old table of contents and keyword index that you can consult. But the best way is to download the manual in PDF format and save it on your smartphone. That way you always have it to hand and can use the search function.

Here's how to turn off the camera

Turning the camera off is very similar to turning it on. If, for example, you had to push the switch to the right to turn the camera on, all you have to do is push the switch to the left to turn it off. If the switch is already to the left, the camera is already switched off. You need to turn it on first before you can turn it off.

Next week, you'll be treated to better advice. I promise.

David Lee

Senior Editor

David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.ch

My interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.

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