Digital camera novice.....Any tips please?

I have just bought a basic of basic digital camera & need some advice.
Close up pics. come out fine, but long range shots are terrible & blurred. Is there an online picture enhancer prog. (free if possible). Or is there any other way of getting better results - without spending a fortune!
Thanks Claire xxxx.

If you're zooming in, be careful about using a camera's "digital" zoom as they can come out blurry. On my camera, I have digital zoom disables to my camera only used optical zoom. Optical zoom actually uses the lens to zoom in on a subject, which creates a much better picture than digital zoom.

A great photo editing program to use is GIMP, and best of all, its free.

http://www.gimp.org

if it is blury.... you can't really clear it up. maybe your camera isn't on auto focus or something.

What is the make/model of your camera?
Also are the long ranged shots zoomed in on? If so, it'll most likely be digiatl zoom as opposed to optical zoom which makes pictures pizelated

Just play with it and you'll enjoy the benefits....practise makes perfect.

most digital cameras come with their own editing software. picasa comes with olmypus for example.

if long distance shots are blurred make sure you hold the camera steady. play around with the settings some cameras have presets that can fix blurred images or are designed for long distance and scenic shots.

however, if it is basic it might just be the limitation of the camera.

happy snapping.

You should set the camera to Macro (a little flower symbol) for close up shots, Infinity (mountain symbol) for long distance shots. I think pretty much all digital cameras have these settings on a dial or button.

You probably have it on 'macro' if it won't focus far away. Look at the instructions - it's the only way. And make sure you hold the camera really steady when you press the button. Press it just as you have inhaled: you are steadiest then. Are you sure you didn't get a picture program with the camera? You often do.

You could try the stabilizer (person running icon) although some cameras don't have this feature.