6 Rules Every Smart Shopper Needs to Know

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The Better Business Bureau reported that nearly 1 million consumers filed complaints in 2009, so it's clear that a lot of people are getting the run-around. But the unfortunate truth is that many of these problems arise because consumers aren't following these six rules:

1. Know who you're dealing with.
You wouldn't buy a watch from the sketchy guy on the corner — why entrust your credit card to a questionable website? The same goes for a flyer you get in the mail for a discount service, or an unsolicited e-mail offer.

Before you're wooed by a low price:

• Google the name of the company or site plus the word "complaint" or "scam" and see what you get.
• Look up the company's standing on the Better Business Bureau Website.
• If an online store is unfamiliar, check that the site offers a way to reach customer service by phone (not just by e-mail) — and check that you can actually speak to a person. Read the Website privacy policy, so you know how they may use any information you give them.
• Carefully scrutinize any "free introductory offer" you receive. (Tip: If it requires a credit card number, you should be wary of how "free" it really is.)

2. Save receipts.
No receipt means no proof of purchase. Without one, at best you'll be able to return unused, still-sealed, and still-tagged items for store credit.

Keep receipts for minor purchases in a file for at least one month, particularly if you used a credit card (so you can compare them to your monthly statement).

If an item comes with a warranty, staple the receipt to the owner's manual or keep it in a separate "warranty" file. If you're sending the receipt off to claim a rebate, make a copy of it first for your records.

3. Use a product as soon as you buy it.
Return policies and warranties start from the date of purchase. Even if it's July and you bought a snow blower on clearance, plug it in to be sure it starts and seems to run well. It's also wise to check out gifts you plan to give at a later date — do they work properly, and are all the parts in the box?

4. Read contracts carefully.
When you sign up for a cell phone plan, cable or satellite TV service, gym membership, or diet program, you are most likely agreeing to pay a monthly fee for a specified length of time — and to owe a cancellation fee if you decide not to fulfill the terms of your contract.

• Read all the fine print before signing anything (yes, really), and make sure anything the salesperson tells you is also listed in writing.
• Ask plenty of questions. Are any additional charges such as taxes or "service fees" above the quoted price? Can you freeze your plan if you go on vacation? Is there a pay-per-month plan at a slightly higher rate? It may be worth considering, if you're not sure you're in for the long haul.

5. Keep track of contract dates.
Some services, such as cable TV and phone companies, offer "introductory" deals of a flat rate for the first year or two — and then jack up the price when the term is over.

Make a note of when these contracts are up in your calendar, and be proactive. Call the company and ask to speak to the Retention Department. Tell them you've been offered an enticing price from a competitor, and you'll likely be reoffered your old deal — or one that's even better.

6. Examine warranty policies.
Right after you make a purchase, check the length of time of the warranty and what it covers: Parts only? Repairs? Replacement?

If you save your receipt, you usually don't need to send in the warranty card (companies typically just use these to collect customer data); the main consumer benefit is that you'll be alerted if the item is recalled.

When making a warranty claim:

• Gather all paperwork before you call or e-mail, including your sales receipt, the model number of the malfunctioning item, and a detailed description of what went wrong.
• Take careful notes on your phone call, including date, time, and full name or customer-service ID number of anyone you speak with (or print out any e-mail correspondence).
• Get concrete instructions, including expected dates or time frames, and follow up if they don't follow through.

How to Choose the Best Size TV for a Family Room

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Choosing an HDTV for your family room depends on two equally important factors: your budget and the size of the room. While your budget may ultimately be the deciding factor, if you want an immersive viewing experience, the size of your TV should depend on how far you generally sit from the screen.

Viewing Distance and Optimal Screen Size

For an optimal viewing experience, a reliable rule of thumb for choosing the best TV size is viewing distance—i.e., how far you'll be sitting from the TV under your usual watching conditions. Today's HDTVs offer more detail, so you can sit closer to the television, but not so close that you can see the screen pixels. Of course, you don't want to sit so far away that you miss any of the amazing details. Here's a formula that makes it really simple: Viewing distance (in inches) divided by 3 = recommended TV size. For example, if you're usually sitting 10 feet from the TV, that's 120 inches (10 feet x 12 inches). Divide 120 by 3 and the recommended screen size for you is 40 inches (remember, that's the diagonal measurement of the screen).

HDTV Sizes for Crowded Rooms

If your family room is used for more than just TV watching, space may be limited. For crowded rooms, consider at least a 40-inch screen if you are seated four to six feet from the TV. A 50-inch screen can be sufficient if you are up to 7.5 feet from the screen. If you are 6 to 9 feet away, consider at least a 60-inch screen.

Viewing Angles

Viewing angles are another important consideration when buying an HDTV for a family room. Ideally, the TV should be placed parallel to your eyes, with no more than a 15-degree angle up or down and no more than a 40-degree angle to the left or right. If you are seated at a sharp angle to the TV, you may see negative images on the screen. Most major manufacturers will tell you the maximum viewing angles at which you can watch the TV without seeing negative images. For example, a 170/170 angle measurement means you can still see a good image 170 degrees up or down from the center of the screen.

Screen Size and Resolution

The larger an HDTV screen, the more important screen resolution becomes. For an HDTV that is 40 inches or smaller, a 720p resolution may be sufficient, however once you get to a 50-inch screen or larger, you will see a definite difference between 720p and 1080p. Depending on the model, a 720p HDTV gives you 1024 by 768 pixels, 1280 by 720 pixels, or 1366 by 768 pixels. An HDTV with 1080p resolution, sometimes known as full HD, offers 1920 by 1080 pixels. Full HD becomes more noticeable on video game consoles, Blu-ray discs and true HD cable or satellite channels.

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Frigidaire - 18.0 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator - White

• Model: FFTR1814QW
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Ready-Select controls; 2 clear Store-More humidity-controlled crispers; 2 full-width wire shelves; clear dairy compartment with clear door; wire half-width freezer shelf; 2 full-width freezer door racks

Frigidaire - 3.3 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator - Stainless Steel

• Model: FFPE33B1QM
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Mechanical temperature controls; 1 SpaceWise shelf and 1 removable shelf; crisper drawer; 3 door racks; bottle retainer; 6-can rack; reversible door; 15W interior light; freezer compartment

Samsung - Showcase 27.8 Cu. Ft. 4-Door French Door Refrigerator - Black Stainless Steel

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Digital controls; metal cooling technology; FlexZone drawer with 4 temperature settings; Food ShowCase door; 2 humidity-controlled crispers; 5 spill-proof shelves; lower freezer drawer

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Samsung - 17.5 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator - Stainless Platinum

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Can digital fitness trackers get you moving?

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Confession: I’m a little obsessed with the pedometer in my smartphone. It’s fun to carry it with me and see how many steps I take when exercising or grocery shopping or carrying laundry across my house. I aim for 10,000 steps per day, but I don’t always hit the mark, and I’ve wondered if switching to a digital fitness tracker would push me to go the extra mile. So a small study published in the September American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM) caught my attention.

The study’s researchers wanted to see if digital fitness trackers would increase physical activity among older women. The trackers are tiny gadgets that come in wearable styles such as wristbands, watches, and pendants, as well as hand-held versions you can clip onto a sleeve or slip into a pocket. In addition to the number of steps you take, a digital fitness tracker can also measure and record how fast you walk and how far, for how long, and at what intensity. In theAJPM study, the researchers used a brand of tracker called Fitbit and an accompanying web application that evaluates and even graphs recorded information.

How they did it

The study involved 51 overweight postmenopausal women who had been getting about 33 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The researchers divided them into two groups. The women in the first group each received a standard pedometer. Women in the second group each received a Fitbit, an instructional session, and a follow-up call after four weeks. Both groups were asked to perform at least 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each week and to walk 10,000 steps a day. All the women used an additional gadget called an accelerometer to track their movements.

After 16 weeks, neither group had reached its fitness goals. The pedometer-only group did not have a significant increase in their physical activity levels. But the fitness-tracker group increased physical activity by an additional 38 minutes per week.

Accountability, accuracy, and motivation

The study didn’t prove that the fitness trackers caused the women to exercise more, or that pedometers aren’t great tools. (And it may have only shown that 51 older women couldn’t reach their fitness goals, even with the help of fitness tools.) But it does beg the question: do fitness trackers get you to do a little more? “I believe they may be helpful,” says Linda Arslanian, director of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She points to three major factors: accountability, accuracy, and motivation.

“When you can see what your activity levels are, and you know that someone is checking them, there’s accountability, and you’re motivated to work harder because you want to comply,” she explains. In the AJPM study, participants knew that researchers were looking at their results. (You can achieve a similar degree of accountability by using a tracker and asking a partner to look at your results.) “We use similar strategies with our patients and clients. We often have them fill out activity journals or log their exercise programs, and we review those logs with them on their follow-up visits. This helps establish a degree of accountability because they know we’re checking them.”

But an activity journal can’t capture what you’re doing as accurately as a fitness tracker, points out Arslanian. Unlike logs, journals, or standard pedometers, the trackers accurately record objective data about your workout, including the pace, distance, intensity, and duration of your exercise, and can track your progress on those measures. “When you can see all of those things, especially your progress, it motivates you to keep building on what you’ve accomplished,” says Arslanian.

Another benefit

Some fitness trackers can also record your heart rate, which is important for determining the intensity of your workout. “If you’re doing aerobic exercise, you want to exercise at 60% to 80% of your maximum heart rate for at least half an hour, three to five times per week,” says Arslanian. “Do that, and your endurance will improve.” Having a device that gives you that information, or alerts you if you’re below or over your established training heart rate, can make workouts more effective. It can also make them safer, especially if you have heart problems or other medical conditions.

The most accurate way to determine your maximum heart rate is to undergo a stress test. But for healthy individuals, it is possible to estimate your maximum heart rate. To calculate an estimated maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220. (For example, if you’re 60 years old, your maximum heart rate is 160 beats per minute.) You’ll want to exercise at 60% to 80% of that number:

• 60% of 160 (0.60 x 160 = 96) is 96 beats per minute.
• 80% of 160 (0.80 x 160 = 128) is 128 beats per minute.

So when exercising, you’d want to keep your heart rate between 96 and 128 beats per minute.

But Arslanian warns that you shouldn’t embark on an exercise program without advice. “You need the okay from your doctor first, and you need someone to craft an exercise program that is in your training range and your safety zone, with a range of intensity and duration that will have the greatest chance of being effective,” she says. Using a device like the Fitbit can make it easier to stay within that training range.

That’s advice that can help us all go the extra mile, whether we’re using a fitness tracker, a pedometer, or even a smartphone as an exercise tool.

5 Tips For Opting The Best GPS Vehicle Tracking System

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GPS vehicle tracking system is installed as an electronic gadget in a vehicle to know its location and speed.  In the modern days, vehicle tracking solutions usually make use of GPS ethnology to find the vehicle. Vehicle data may be seen on electronic maps on the Internet when observed and directed properly.

One main advantage of GPS vehicle tracking system is that they can lessen works costs, all the more particularly useless labour costs. This system can easily reduce labor costs by monitoring the hours worked from the first starting point to the end of each day.

So if a GPS vehicle tracking system is installed in your vehicle, it can save you from the nightmare of being lost in the backwoods. Now we talk about how you can choose the right GPS vehicle tracking system, here are 5 necessary tips to remember:

Which Tracking System?

There are 4 major types of GPS vehicle tracking systems you can opt from. These are the portable outdoors GPS unit, car navigation GPS system, the marine GPS system, and the PDA/GPS hybrid. But from these, in-car GPS navigation system is considered most helpful if you want to know exact location while driving without a map.

User-Friendly:-

You must try to select a model that no-one won’t be hassled using this device.

Real Time Tracking:-

One of the best features of GPS vehicle tracking device is its capability to utilize a real-time wireless network that can allow you to process information via an image representation.

See Quality first not Price:-

As we got know, GPS vehicle tracking system is an investment, so ensure you get the best brand. You must see the quality over the price.

Voice directives:-

These ensure your GPS vehicle tracking system is able to give you voice instructions while driving. Some models offer only illustration location maps but it will not be helpful if you are driving alone.

GPS Vehicle Tracking devices could save you money and time so choosing it from a best company is very essential for everyone.

6 Best Washing Machines in 2016 – Buying Guide at Best Buy

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It pays to do some research if you want to find the best washing machine for your home. We test machines from the top brands to save you the time and effort, and every machine in our round-up has been tested thoroughly.

Our pick of top washing machines includes machines from major brands like Miele and Samsung. The list is organised from cheapest to most expensive and the cheapest machine costs less than £300, so you don't have to spend big bucks to find a good washing machine.

Click here to view the list if you'd rather get straight to it, but read on to see the huge difference between good and bad washing machines and understand more about how we test washing machines.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD AND A BAD WASHING MACHINE?

We examine the washing performance and power use of every washing machine we test, but what's the difference between the best washing machines and plain bad ones?

Here's an example 'test stain' that we use in every washing machine we test. It features wine, blood, ketchup, coffee, fruit juice and oil – we put similar test strips in every machine we test and use a branded non-bio washing detergent.

This is what a test strip looks like after a standard cotton wash in one of our TrustedReviews Recommended washing machines. Almost all the stains are entirely removed with just a hint of oil, which is normal given we use a non-bio detergent.

Here's the result from a less proficient machine that didn't receive such a glowing review. The oil is almost untouched, while the wine (far left), coffee (middle) and fruit juice (second from right) are still clearly visible.

That's a very poor result, but it's important to know that there are cheap machines that wash well and do so efficiently. More expensive machines do typically wash better and have more features, but you don't have to spend loads of money to get a good machine – some in our best washing machine round-up cost less than £300.

HOW WE TEST WASHING MACHINES

That's an example of how machines can vary, but what else do we look for in washing machine? Every washing machine we review is thoroughly tested and is evaluated and rated based on nine specific criteria:

Design and Ease of Use – This is where we look for style and simplicity. If your washing machine takes up a prominent space in your kitchen then it had best look good. We also look for simple, easy to understand controls.

Washing Quality – As shown above, we put all of our washing machines to the test against a test strain strip of wine, coffee, blood, ketchup, fruit juice and engine oil, always using the same, branded non-bio washing detergent.

Spin Efficiency – We weigh clothes before and after each wash to determine how much water has remained. Too much water still residing in your clothes means they’ll take an age to dry, which is just plain irritating.

Noise – We measure the noise in decibels for every machine during it spin and wash cycles and compare it to the manufacturer claims. We also keep an ear out for knocking noises that will prove distracting.

Running Costs and Value – We calculate the approximate annual running cost based on typical UK usage for every machine using full, half loads and eco modes. We also look at whether the machine is good value based on the features and performance on offer compared to other machines at the same price.

The Best Way to Run an Air Conditioner

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Even if you’ve replaced your old central air or room air conditioner with a brand new model with an SEER 13 energy rating, there are ways you can ensure that it works as efficiently now -- and in future -- as the day it was installed. How you operate your air conditioner may be as important as its size and Energy Star rating.

Keep It On

Don’t set the thermostat down low when you turn the unit on or make constant adjustments. It will take the house the same time to cool down to your desired temperature. Constant changes not only cause more energy use by fans, but lead to fluctuating temperatures. When the temperature rises, set your “AC” to the warmest temperature you can live with -- and leave it there The U.S. Department of Energy recommends keeping indoor temperature as close to outdoor temperature as you can stand for the best efficiency and most comfortable conditions.

Give It Help

Give your AC a rest during periods you’ll be away. Turn it off, or set it high, at 85 degrees Fahrenheit so the house doesn’t get so hot that it takes hours to cool down. When nights are cool, open windows to ventilate your house at night, particularly if you live in a climate with low humidity. Rather than running the fan in your air conditioner to circulate cool air, invest in a box fan to move air between rooms and improve ventilation and leave the air conditioner fan on the “auto” setting. An inexpensive circulating fan will move the air through your rooms more efficiently and save wear and tear on the pricey blower fan that you depend on to move air for both the AC and the furnace.

Improve Its Accuracy

Consider replacing your thermostat if you have the kind with the lever that you move behind a temperature scale for your central air unit. A digital thermostat with a day and night programming capability can save energy by cutting back on cooling when it’s not needed -- such as while you’re sleeping, out of the house at work and school and off to the cabin for the weekend -- without having to remember to change it manually. Another way to improve accuracy is to keep lights and other heat-producing appliances well away so their heat does not trigger the thermostat.

Keep It Clean

Never run an air conditioner with a dirty filter or litter in the aluminum blades that protect the condenser coils in the outdoor unit or behind the front panel of a window unit. Obstructing either limits the movement of air that is essential to your air conditioner. The less freely air circulates around the condenser and compressor coils, the harder the blower and fan have to work to send cool air into the building’s interior and vent hot air away from it. Vacuum or replace filters and clean delicate aluminum blades with a soft brush.

8 Tips to Choose an Excellent Smartwatch

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A smartwatch can help you stay connected and multitask so you never miss a beat. Whether you’d rather keep your phone stashed away or you always find yourself missing important calls, smartwatches sync with your smartphone so you can manage your digital life conveniently and discreetly. Many even double as activity trackers, helping you monitor your health. Use this guide to help you choose the best smartwatch for your needs.

What Can a Smartwatch Do?

• Smartwatches do much more than just keep time. They act as a companion to your smartphone by delivering alerts, notifications, apps and more right to your wrist. They can even double as activity trackers. In order to have full functionality, nearly all smartwatches must connect via Bluetooth and be within wireless range of an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet. However, a few connected smartwatches actually have 3G/LTE capabilities and can operate without a connection to another device.
  As smartphones have become essential to staying connected and organized, smartwatches are truly designed for the world we live in today. Have you ever missed a call or text because you didn't hear your phone? Or been somewhere it wasn’t suitable to check your e-mail or social media? There are countless situations that call for hands-free, discreet access to your smartphone, and smartwatches provide that — subtly, conveniently and without the disruption that a phone can cause.

Smartwatch Operating Systems

Smartwatches require pairing to a smartphone for notification functionality. It’s important to understand that not all smartwatches will work with all smartphones.

Most smartwatches are compatible with an Android or iOS device, or, in some instances, both. Some have their own operating systems and will only work with specific devices of the same brand. Others might be compatible with a select variety of operating systems. Since smartwatches are devised to accompany your smartphone, you’ll want to be sure it’s compatible with your phone's existing operating system.

When choosing a smartwatch operating system, there are a few things to consider beyond basic compatibility. For the most part, Android Wear and Watch OS are more similar than not. Watch OS has a reputation for being quick, clean and consistent. Only apps that go through Apple's strict approval process get released. Android Wear uses an open-source model, creating many customization options.

Tizen is a newer operating system used by Samsung and is similar to Android Wear. It too is an open-source platform for smartwatches, smartphones, tablets and more. Tizen has its own applications and allows for a user experience that you can take from device to device.

The Microsoft Band 2 uses the Windows 10 operating system to deliver notifications, e-mail preview and calendar notifications. The Band will work with iOS, Android and Windows phone. When paired with Windows phone 8.1, Microsoft Band 2 also supports Cortana personal digital assistant functionality.

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Best Buy Smartphones are supposed to make our lives easier. With the right smartphone you can manage e-mails and appointments, get directions, keep track of your workouts and what you eat, shop, share information with friends, listen to music and watch movies. So why is finding the right smartphone so darn confusing?

Lots of people feel stupid when picking a smartphone. Which is the best platform, Android or iPhone? How can you find the best deal on the phone you want when not every cell phone carrier sells or works with all models? How can you avoid paying for minutes or data plans you never use? How can you avoid overage charges? Which phones have features worth skipping and which features are must haves? Do you even need a smartphone or will a regular mobile phone do?

Smartphones aren't cheap (and neither are the plans they sometimes require), so taking the time to do a little research first and figuring out exactly what you need, want, and can do without, is worth it. We'll show you how to narrow down your options, find the right phone, carrier and plan for you so you end up with the right smartphone -- and maybe even some money left in your pocket. With these five tips for picking the right smartphone, you'll be leaving the cell phone store with the right phone and feeling downright...well, smart.

This seems like a pretty silly statement, but the first step in picking the rightsmartphone is to make sure you actually need one. Smartphones are expensive, and so are the coverage plans they require. It's easy to use more data than your plan allows and wind up with expensive overage charges. Even if you don't go over, you could end up paying for a data plan that you barely use.

So, how do you know if you need a smartphone? Look at how you use your current cell phone. Maybe you only use your phone for talking and the occasional text message. If you already have a GPS system and an MP3 player, you can make do with a regular phone that doesn't offer music or directions. You might not want e-mail on your phone. Getting a smartphone often means having immediate access to work e-mails, social media and the Web. Not everyone wants to be that connected.

On the other hand, think about how you'd like to use your phone. If you hate feeling like you're missing out on the latest tweets, updates from your friends, and news, then a smartphone will probably seem worth it to you. If your job requires you to be connected all the time, providing immediate responses to e-mails and questions, a smartphone makes sense. You may already have an MP3 player and GPS, but having all those features in one handy device can make life easier and less cluttered. Finally, if your lifestyle has a long commute on public transportation, or if you often have a lot of downtime when you're in public, a smartphone can help you pass the time.

Best Buy promo code 10% OFF: A guide to choosing the right camera

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Are you a budding photographer, or just looking for a simple camera to snap some photos? This guide will help you decide which camera best suits your needs.

Is a compact camera right for you?

If you shoot only a few rolls of film a year, consider an inexpensive compact ("point-and-shoot") camera, or even a succession of single-use (disposable) cameras.

• Most compact cameras are fully automatic and have a built-in flash.
• You can choose from models offering medium to long range zoom lenses, which help produce better images of close-up and distant subjects.

What you need to know about single-lens reflex cameras

If you want to pursue photography as a serious hobby, a single-lens reflex (SLR) 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses is the best choice.

• Available options include automatic focusing, built-in or accessory flashes, and the ability to control exposures automatically or manually.
• All of the major manufacturers produce cameras and lenses that will allow you to shoot quality photos, in either print or slide form.
• If you are willing to put up with fewer automatic features, hundreds of different models of affordable used 35mm cameras are available.
• A new film and camera format called Advanced Photo System (APS) was introduced in 1996 as a means of making amateur photography as failsafe as possible. This system uses a 24mm film no-leader cartridge for ease of loading.
• Magnetic coding on the cartridge conveys to processors equipped to handle this film the exact conditions in which the film was exposed and can record on the back of the print the time and date the photograph was taken.

The benefits of a digital camera

• Even newer, digital cameras need no film but do require access to a computer to store images and view them in high resolution. However, images can be instantly viewed in low-resolution form and later modified before being printed on a colour printer.
• A digital single-lens reflex camera (also called a digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera combining the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor, as opposed to photographic film.
• The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a DSLR and other digital cameras.

Learning photography techniques

The quality of the camera and lens is not as important as the photographer's attention to detail. Good photography does not take years of practice, but it does require some study.

• To learn how to compose a photograph, choose the appropriate film, and use natural and artificial lighting to their best effect; also, read the owner's manual, photography books and photography magazines.

Start taking beautiful pictures today! Remember these tips and find the camera that will fit you perfectly.