Solve Camera Quality and Image Problems

Use these tips for troubleshooting problems with photos

The image quality in your digital photos is dependent on a variety of factors. The external lighting available, the subject matter, and the weather conditions. The digital camera quality plays a role too.

Woman using camera and looking at photos in nature
wundervisuals / Getty Images

Different cameras have different strengths and weaknesses, resulting in varying image quality. However, you can change some of the settings on your camera to improve the image quality. Try these tips for making your digital camera perform as strongly as possible, and for avoiding camera image quality problems.

  • Make use of a high resolution. Shoot at a high resolution whenever possible. By using higher resolution in your photos, you should see improved image quality regularly. Check the resolution level for your images through the menu structure on your camera. Keep in mind that some cameras automatically reduce the resolution when you're shooting at a particular ratio (such as 16:9 or 4:3) or when you're using a continuous shot mode. Using a high resolution doesn't guarantee high image quality, as many other factors contribute to the quality of a photo, such as external lighting and avoiding camera shake, but a high resolution can improve the quality of some photos.
  • Change the image format. Most digital cameras use JPEG as the default format. While this saves space, you experience some loss of image quality due to the compression of the image file. If your DSLR allows, switch to RAW or TIFF for higher quality pictures.
  • Turn on image stabilization. If you have to shoot in low light, be sure to make use of any image stabilization technology built into the camera, especially optical image stabilization (optical IS). If you have the option of activating optical IS through your camera's menu, use it in low-light situations. (Some cameras automatically determine whether to use optical IS, preventing any manual control.) If your camera only has digital IS available, you can turn it on, although it won't be as effective as optical IS. Digital IS is better than nothing, though.
  • Use good technique to hold the camera steady. In the absence of optical IS in your camera, hold the camera as steady as possible when shooting in low light. The camera must use a longer shutter speed in low light, which can lead to blurry photos from camera shake (where the photographer slightly moves involuntarily while the shutter is open). Use a tripod or lean against a door frame or wall while shooting to help steady the shot. Keep your elbows tucked in tight to your body to help you hold the camera steady. If the camera you're using has a viewfinder, you can hold the camera steadier if you look through the viewfinder while holding the camera pressed against your face.
  • Be cautious about shooting in high contrast situations. When shooting in high contrast lighting—which usually occurs with harsh sunlight—you can end up with "washed out" areas in your photos. Most cameras automatically turn off the flash unit in bright sunlight, but you can change the settings on your camera to turn on the flash even with the harsh sunlight, essentially using some "fill" flash in the photo. This technique only works when you're fairly close to the subject, though. If your camera has a contrast control, select a lower contrast setting in harsh sunlight, too.
  • Work with the camera's ISO setting. Many inexpensive digital cameras have weak built-in flash units. If your camera's flash range isn't where it needs to be for a particular shot, increase the ISO setting through your camera's menu. Going from an ISO 100 setting to an ISO 400 setting, for example, should give you another few feet of flash range. However, the trade-off is that higher ISO settings can result in grainier photos, so avoid selecting a setting that's too high. You may have to run some ISO tests with your camera to determine which settings cause more grainy images, as each camera is different. (Some basic cameras do not allow ISO settings to be manually changed.)
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