Get more from your D600 phone camera

The Samsung SGH-D600 comes equipped with a top quality, 2.0 megapixel digital camera. You can take some excellent shots using the automatic settings, but you can improve you snaps still further by exploring the various adjustable settings.

To enter the camera mode, open the slider and press and hold the camera shortcut button on the right (Figures 1 & 2). There are a number of shortcuts available on the viewfinder mode. You can zoom using Up and Down on the direction pad and adjust brightness by using Left and Right. 1 switches to video recording mode, 2 adjusts the image size and 3 adjusts the image quality. You can also use # to adjust the white balance.

To access the camera menu, press the left hand selection key. You will see a new ‘Options’ menu appear that you can navigate as normal (Figure 3).

The first option in the camera Options is marked ‘Record video’. This will change from still shot mode into video mode. You can also use 1 on the numerical pad as a shortcut to video mode.

If you are taking action shots or trying to snap fast moving objects, it is a good idea to adjust the shot type. Highlight ‘Shooting mode’ (Figure 4)in the Options menu and press Select on the direction pad. You will see a list of three modes including Single shot, Multi shot and Mosaic shot. Single shot just takes a single image, where as Multi shot will take either six, nine or fifteen pics in one go so you can choose the best one. Mosaic shot takes several shots in a row, but saves them in one single image.

The third item in the Options list is ‘Effects’ (Figure 5). This allows you to apply various lens and filter effects to your photo before you take them. Although they can be fun, many of these effects can be added later using editing tools. If in doubt, remember that you can always turn a colour photograph into a black and white one, but you can’t turn a black and white photo back into colour.

‘Frames’ (Figure 6) are similar in that you can always apply them later, but if you do want to add an amusing frame around your photo, the D600 will overlay the frame before you take the shot, which makes it easier to line subjects up more precisely. To apply a frame, highlight ‘Frames’ and press Select. Choose the frame you want then press View. If you’re happy with your choice, press Select.

The fifth option is ‘Flash’ (Figure 7), which lets you enable the camera’s light. While it isn’t quite the same as a traditional camera flash, it will serve to light up your subjects a little. You can choose between automatic mode, continuous and off.

For more in depth adjustments, scroll down the Options menu until you highlight ‘Settings’, then press Select. Press Select again to enter the ‘Functions’ (Figure 8) settings. Within this menu, you can set the size and quality of your photos (Figure 9), the white balance and the ISO sensitivity settings. If you want to transfer your pictures to a PC, or print them later, you’ll want to make sure that you are taking the highest quality photos possible. If however, you are only going to be using them as contact images, or sending them via MMS, you will be able to safely reduce the quality without any visible effect when viewed on a small phone screen.

Adjust the white balance to suit different lighting conditions (Figure 10). You can choose between Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy and Sunset, which should suit most indoor and outdoor conditions. Increasing the ISO setting is a good idea when you are shooting in poorly lit areas as it makes the pictures mores sensitive to light.