The 6 features you don’t need on your camera

By Nick kNovember 7, 2016

This is the last in my series features to have (or not have) on your camera

The previous posts were:

The essential feature to have on your camera

If you haven’t had time to read them all whilst you are here for a visit then you can scroll to the bottom and get all four in a PDF.

I have strong opinion on what you should have on your new (or existing) camera but guess what?
I have an equally strong opinion on what you didn’t need as well.

So, let’s get into it:

1. Picture Styles

Often there are picture styles, modes or scenes available and they can be countless; Action, Portrait, Landscape, Panorama, Sunset, Candle, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye, Wide-angle, Macro etc. etc.

Some models also give you some tips for certain photo genres in the same mode. E.G. “Tips for flower Photos”

What is often not discovered until the camera is used is that some of these modes, e.g. Fisheye, Wide-angle or Macro need to have lens that support those scenes.

There is one camera that it’s probably better to have some modes available for and that’s a good smartphone camera, like maybe the Samsung or Apple varieties. Most images taken by a smartphone are shared so it can be a shortcut to getting a good image first time.

Rating: 2/10

2. 3D

Here’s a useless option ‘3D Photography’.

3D TV’s bombed and as far as I can tell there’s not many 3D monitors either, so why would anyone want to shoot a 3D image or video.

It is used for some specific industries e.g. Computer-graphics, Architecture or Health.

However, for marketing purposes it’s useless as it relies on the viewer having the equipment to view it.

Rating: 0/10

3. Multiple Exposures

Not so useless but not essential is the recording of multiple exposures.

Multiple Exposures are photographs in which two or more images are superimposed in a single frame. For marketing images that could be handy although somewhat tricky.

Some would say that it’s much easier to do it in something like Photoshop.

Rating: 4/10

4. Digital Zooms

Digital Zooms are commonplace at the compact level and all phone cameras have it.
Personally I avoid using them as much as possible and will use an optical zoom over a digital one.

What’s the diff?

Well an optical zoom is a true zoom lens. They produce much better-quality images.

A digital zoom uses some in-camera image processing. When you use a digital zoom, the camera enlarges the image area at the centre of the frame and trims away the outside edges of the picture.

The result is the same as when you open an image in your photo-editing program, crop away the edges of the picture, and then enlarge the remaining portion of the photo.

By using the in camera digital zoom you lose the information around the crop, whilst if it’s cropped during post processing you can keep the entire frame for use later on.

Rating: 2/10

5. Face Priority

My pet irritation is Face Priority. Personally I think it’s a gimmick.

Originally in small compacts it’s spread its way into phone cameras and now even DSLR’s.

If you are taking a portrait, then supposedly the camera will aid your focus by detecting the face.

Really!

Rating: 0/10

6. Printing

Printing is on its way back and whilst the option to directly print from the camera could be handy, it’s also generally restrictive, requiring certain functions to be available on the printer.

At the end of the day, if you are going to do any post processing even if it’s minimal you should be able to print from that software or alternatively take it to a print shop if you are looking for high quality.

Of course, you can always use the self-service machines that are everywhere.

Rating: 2/10

Of course, there are others but they the main ones you will most likely come across.

Now over to you do you agree with me?

Do you find some of these useful?

Any others that could be added to the list?

As I mentioned in the beginning got no time to read this now? Download all four articles in one document and read both offline and when it suits you.