How to use the Venue 8 Pro camera?

Hi! Swipe in from the left and then from the bottom to see the options. I think you'll be able to navigate from there. I find the camera rolls annoying. See what you think about them.

And, hey, you can also set the camera to work from the log-in/lock screen. From the Start screen or the desktop, swipe in Charms from the right and select Settings. Then select Change PC Settings. Tap on PC and Devices. Tap on Lock Screen and scroll down on the right side to find "Swipe down on the lock screen to use the camera."

Then you can rapidly start the camera without logging in. Just swipe down instead of up on the lock screen. (Note this will not show the Panorama option.)

No, I'm not looking for what to do with pictures after taking them. I'm looking for how to take pictures. The obvious things aren't working, including the already tried swipes not showing a soft button to take pictures.

OK. Let's make sure we're on the same plane. Start the camera app by pressing the Start button on the side, swipe down for the app list, and tap camera.  (Long press the camera icon and you'll have the option of pinning it to start, making a big icon on the main Start screen to avoid swiping down.)

I see three icons in the camera app - Video, Camera, and Panorama.

Are you seeing that?

I know you're gorgeous, Mikerman, but you need to select the REAR camera for the option to appear. Apparently, the presence of certain features "broadcasting" their capabilities determines whether or not the icon will appear. There's a hilarious exchange about this here:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-pictures/camera-app-does-not-have-the-panorama-feature/c1486848-a126-4054-bea6-c16897d5e644

Dunno - AFAIK panorama support is really the commercial PhotoSynth product and was included in the Windows 8.1 update. Maybe the BIOS update enables the tablet to "broadcast" the capability, though.

In the camera app, tap the camera icon to take a picture.  Swipe up from the bottom for options.

Tapping the camera icon, the obvious thing, wasn't working. That's why I asked for a link to a manual, not lots of posts that repeatedly talked in vagaries, tangents, nonsense and things I've already tried.

It seems pressing on other parts of the screen works, just not the camera. When  missed, it took a picture.

First Dell product I've every bought and the last. The hardware seems to be ok, but software, manuals and support have serious issues.

Try Microsoft. The camera app is their's, not just Dell's. Here's the portal page for the topic.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/camera-app-faq

By the way, we're mostly volunteers here.

Tapping the camera icon, the obvious thing, wasn't working. That's why I asked for a link to a manual, not lots of posts that repeatedly talked in vagaries, tangents, nonsense and things I've already tried. It seems pressing on other parts of the screen works, just not the camera. When  missed, it took a picture. First Dell product I've every bought and the last. The hardware seems to be ok, but software, manuals and support have serious issues.