As with all innovations, there are always drawbacks. Being able to view your images before and after taking them is one of the special advantages of digital photography. However, it also be a source of frustration.

The LCD screen on the back of your compact camera will show you the image you about to take and will enable you to review them after they have been taken.

But viewing depends on ambient light. In a darkened room, the LCD screen will be easily visible. It will be bright and of high contrast. However in bright light (e.g. sunlight) the screen will be much harder to see and sometimes impossible.

As well as having difficulty seeing the images you may also need to use the screen for details about controls or functions. In bright light, this might prove difficult.

If you compact has a viewfinder, then in difficult situations you can use that. You may lose some of the functionality but you should still be able to take some good images. Some cameras can be adapted to accommodate a specially made hood to shield stray light from the LCD screen. You could also try moving and using a different angle of view where ambient light is not polluting the LCD screen.

The number of times you experience this problem will depend on your shooting activities. However, the problem remains a mild annoyance for most but insurmountable at times for others.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com