Very few cameras come without the ability to zoom. The question is, how they zoom?

Standalone cameras will normally have a optical zoom, whereby the lens extends and twists to magnify in on a subject.

They will too have a digital zoom, whereby it digitally zooms into the image further. This is what is found on smartphones.

Where possible do not use digital zoom, get closer to the subject or take the picture from further away and then crop it.  You do not have to but you get best results this way.

Digital zooming has its place but on a smartphone due to the lower quality camera lens the image will often look really grainy.

Image: Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Another simple method for creating something different is to move the camera when you take a photo.

You might be thinking that is crazy and that is what a video camera is for, but try it. Move the camera left to right really quickly, spin on the spot, move the camera in circles, s shapes anything.

Imagine a colourful bunch of flowers, move the camera as you take the picture and you will be left with a colourful pattern across your screen, it is original, its different and others have proven that it works.

Also when moving the camera, try at different speeds!

Here are some of the results we have had.

We have been demonstrating how the smartphone camera could replace your standalone camera in many everyday circumstances and hope you are discovering just how you could get improved photos from it. However, before these tutorials how did you use your smartphone camera? Even if you haven’t been paying attention to what we have been covering how did/do you use it?

Did you use it at all?

Occasionally?

All the time?

Mainly for video?

Will any of what we have shown you change the way in which you use the smartphone camera?

We are interested to hear what you have to say.