Digital cameras 101

[river]

I am a novice, just now found this place, and have a FinePix 2300 digital camera. Often, when I take a picture, it does not show up. Could this be a problem with the memory card or the camera, or me? It is very frustrating to take several pictures, only to find out later that some of them did not take.

[ShutterbugGail]

Often, when I take a picture, it does not show up. Could this be a problem with the memory card or the camera, or me? It is very frustrating to take several pictures, only to find out later that some of them did not take.

Hi river, and welcome!

Glad you found us.

I doubt very much it is you. When you say that "some did not take" do you mean there is nothing at all?

For those photos that do not take, are you pressing the shutter-release button too fast, that is, before the previous photo is saved to the memory card? Also, many digital cameras have a "shutter lag" which can get worse if you don't use the shutter-button correctly.

Let us know. In the meantime, here is some information which you may find helpful as a novice:

2-step digital camera shutter-release button:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/shutter-release-button/index.htm

Shutter lag:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-shutter-lag/

[ShutterbugGail]

...try formatting your memory card (which is different than deleting or erasing images). That may help if the problem is with the card. Check the camera manual for how to format, but make sure you've transferred your images to a computer or other storage device before you do.

If none of the suggestions help, let me know and we'll go from there.

[Deb]

Also, if by "doesn't take" you mean that you get a black screen for an image, then the camera may have been turned off before it had a chance to write the image to the media card.  

[ShutterbugGail]

Also, if by "doesn't take" you mean that you get a black screen for an image, then the camera may have been turned off before it had a chance to write the image to the media card.  

Good point, Deb! And you may not be able to realize it if you use an optical viewfinder.

Some digital cameras can be timed to automatically blank out the screen to save battery drain. Check your manual as manufacturers vary in what they call the feature (eg. Monitor Options or Power Save Options).

On mine, when the LCD goes blank and I press the shutter-release button, the screen goes back on but no photo is taken. When the LCD is in power-saving mode, depress your shutter-button down half-way to reactivate it. When it's back on, then proceed to take your shot.

[Deb]

Good point back at'cha ShutterbugGail!  

[ShutterbugGail]

We received a lovely email from river who informed us that he was "certain that my problem was not understanding the 2-step shutter on digital cameras." We can not repeat enough how important it is for digital camera users to learn to correctly use the shutter-release button, which works differently than on a film camera.

Related reading:

Shutter-release button on a digital camera
http://www.digicamhelp.com/shutter-release-button/index.htm