Digital SLR sales may be on the up-and-up, but there’s still something to be said for compact digitals. For one thing, you can just stuff them in your bag or pocket every time you go out - something that’s impossible with an SLR.

So, if you’re thinking of upgrading to a digital SLR - or even if you already have one - it really does pay (both financially and creatively) to get the most from your existing compact digital.

If you’re anything like me, the chances are you’re never quite satisfied with the results from your compact camera. But that’s not always the fault of the camera itself. But with a bit of practice, in many situations you may find you can get results from your camera that will rival all but the best SLRs.

So here’s a few tips to help you get the most out of your old compact digital.

• Find the instruction manual and read it from cover to cover
  This may sound mad - I mean, who reads the instructions? But if you want to get the best results from your camera, it pays to know it inside out. You may even find settings and modes you’ve never used.

• Experiment with the settings
  Nearly all compact digitals have different settings for different kinds of photos. Experiment with them all and get to know how they affect your photos. The names of the settings (portrait, scenery, macro, etc.) are less important than what they actually do. Try taking the same photo with different settings and compare the results. If you have a decent size memory card it costs nothing to take several versions of the same shot.

• Lighting is everything
  With compact cameras having such small lenses, it’s vital you get enough light into your photo. If you’re indoors, make sure the scene is well lit, and if possible try moving lights around to get the best results. If you’re outdoors, try to position yourself so the sun is behind you and illuminating the subject.Your camera may allow you to change white-balance and ISO settings independently from the ‘modes’, so play with these too. You may find you can get significantly better results adjusting these settings manually than leaving everything in ‘automatic’ mode.

• Keep the camera steady
  Camera shake can be a real pain on small lightweight cameras, so if at all possible, put the camera on a flat, stationary surface. You don’t need an expensive tripod - a gatepost, door frame or pile of books will suffice. Just use whatever’s available.

• Avoid built-in digital effects
  If your camera has a digital zoom feature, avoid it! The same goes for digital image stabilisation and other effects. These work by processing the image inside the camera, and in almost all situations, better results can be achieved on your computer with decent software.

• Don’t be afraid of post-processing
  Never be afraid of adjusting your images in Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, or whatever your favourite software is. Some ‘purists’ like to argue that photos should always be left untouched as that’s what the camera saw. I prefer to think of photography as an art form. There are certainly cases where unaltered photos are best, but if you’re, but if you’re taking photos for your own enjoyment, experiment away!

• Make sure your monitor is properly calibrated
  This is something that’s often overlooked but can make a massive difference in how your photos look. If your monitor is not set up correctly, colours will appear wrong and your photos will look different when you share them with others. Something as simple as loading in the correct colour profile for your monitor can make a world of difference.

• Take your camera with you!
  This is possibly the most important tip of all. One of the reasons most people buy a compact digital camera in the first place is simply because it’s easy to carry around, but they quickly forget it. Get back into the habit of taking your camera everywhere and always be on the lookout for photo opportunities. They are everywhere.

Got any tips of your own? Post a comment!

(The photos on this page were taken with my aging Casio EX-Z55 compact digital.)