Get the most from the W810i camera

The Sony Ericsson W810i has a top quality 2.0 megapixel camera and video recording functions. While it offers impressive performance just using its automatic settings, you can unlock a lot more of its potential by learning how to get the most from its various settings.

To enter the camera mode, simply hold the phone horizontally, then press and hold the camera button on the upper edge. Now press Settings to access the camera menu. Pressing Left and Right on the control pad (formerly up and down) will let you scroll through the options. Pressing Down will set the camera to video mode.

One of the first things to consider is the size of the image. You can adjust this to small, medium or large. Large is the best option if you want to keep your pictures and transfer them to a PC later. The screen size on the W810i isn’t large enough to really see the full potential of a 2.0 megapixel image so you should see a big difference when displayed on your computer screen.

If you’re planning on sending pictures via email or MMS, it is a good idea to reduce the size of the shots you’re taking as this will make them faster to send. Furthermore, only pictures taken in the small size can be edited with the full selection of editing tools.

Adjusting the Shoot mode in the camera menu lets you take different types of shot. Panorama will take three shots in succession; after you take the first shot, you’ll see an outline of the right hand edge of the first image, which lets you line it up with your next photo. This is great for taking pictures of scenery and panoramas.

For action shots, set the Shoot mode to Burst. This will take four photos in rapid succession and save them so you can pick the best one later. Frames mode lets you add fun frames that overlay the viewfinder before you take the shot.

You will also find Turn on macro within the camera settings. This is ideal for taking close up shots and it adjusts the Auto Focus for a much closer target. Night mode enhances the brightness for use in low lighting conditions and the Light acts as a substitute for a flash. If you don’t want to miss the moment, you can instantly activate all three of these settings using shortcuts on the keypad. Press 4 to activate macro, 7 for night mode and use * for the light.

Like many digital cameras, the W810i camera offers an adjustable White Balance. It is set to automatic by default, but it’s worth experimenting with the different settings to get the best possible results from your phone camera. Choose from Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent and Incandescent to suit different lighting conditions. You can access these by scrolling right in the camera setting until you reach White balance, then pressing Select.