Brits confused by their cameras
Over a third of Brits (37%) are under using their cameras, more so than other technologies such as mobiles or laptops, according to research from Samsung. A quarter (24%) admit to feeling worried when they press a button which produces a display they don’t recognise and just over one in 10 (13%) say they are so confused by their cameras that they hand it to someone else to take the shots!
The research, carried out by Samsung Digital Imaging to mark the launch of its new NX100 camera and iFunction lenses, comes as we enter the Christmas season, a time where 74% of those surveyed said they planned on taking lots of photos. However, with one in 10 (10%) accidently deleting their treasured memories, it is clear Brits need to take the time to get to know their cameras better! The research revealed this was the time of year when people wish they’d taken more photos – over a quarter (27%) didn’t capture the festivities as much as they’d have liked.
Many Brits are unaware of key functions on their cameras: 27% aren’t aware of the built-in flash function; 35% claim to be unaware of the delete function and 48% aren’t aware of the Red Eye reduction options available on many cameras.
One of the top considerations for many Brits when it comes to purchasing a new camera is ease of use – something which is more important for women (69%) than men (54%). Surprisingly, for 83% looks aren’t a top priority. Interestingly though, despite Brits not getting to grips with the functionality of their cameras, that doesn’t stop them buying the latest models – just 13% admit to purposely buying basic cameras with limited functionality, indicating there is a desire to explore more high tech specifications and use these functions more.
Women have some catching up to do in the tech-savvy stakes, with a fifth (18%) admitting they prefer to hand over photo responsibility to someone else, compared to just 7% of men. Males are also less likely to press the wrong buttons on their cameras, with 17% saying they’d experienced this compared with 30% of women. Women are also less likely to understand the functionality of their cameras and use the different techniques (7%).
Commenting on the research, Damien Demolder, editor of Amateur Photographer magazine said, “Technology has really leapt forward in the last few years – perhaps in photography more than in any other area of electronics. But the results of this survey show that despite this, photographs may not be as good as they could be! Consumers need cameras that are easy-to-use but which also have the functionality and capability to make taking photos an easy – and fun – experience!” “The new Samsung NX100 is a top example of this. Its i-Function lens lets you control the camera through the lens – no more fiddling with tricky menu systems. We’re sharing photos more than ever before so there’s never been a better time to get to grips with your camera.”