Take better photos with your smartphone camera

Even the best cameras on phones don’t match the performance of dedicated devices, but with these tips you can make the most of what you have.

Light!
The number one factor for a good cameraphone picture is light. Small sensors mean images are already susceptible to noise in less than stellar lighting conditions. Gloom will also force shutter speeds down, making camera shake a real problem. Also try and shoot in decent light, and if you have a flash, use it.

No zoom!
Digital zoom is the snake oil of the technology world. Never use it; in fact turn it off if you can. Digital zoom does not zoom, it merely crops the image and then enlarges it back to normal size, irrevocably ruining the quality in the process. If you need to get closer, get up and move.

Steady!
Most cameraphones suffer from shutter lag. It might take as much as a second or more between the time you press the shutter release and the time the actual picture is taken. Don’t click and run: be sure you’ve got the pic before you move.

Burst!
Don’t leave things to chance. If you are photographing a moving object switch burst mode (most recent devices have it) and then get snapping. Capturing multiple shots in just a few seconds increases your chances of getting a winning picture. Just remember to delete the unwanted ones afterwards!

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