Digital Photography How...

What Is Digital Photography?

The simplest answer to "What is Digital Photography?" is that it's photography wherever the image is exposed, captured and hold on electronically instead of on film.

What is Digital Photography?...
film is replaced by an electronic image sensor

Normal film photography uses a chemical process to expose and capture images. The camera lens and body allow a controlled amount of light to come into contact with the film which is basically a sheet of plastic that has been coated with a light sensitive chemical compound. Once the film is sufficiently exposed to light an invisible image is formed. When the film is developed other chemicals are applied and the image then becomes visible forming a negative image which then can be enlarged and printed on photographic paper.

With digital photography the film is replaced with a light sensitive electronic device known as an image sensor. These sensors are made up of millions of photoelectric devices that convert light into an electrical signal. The two most common types of image sensors used in digital cameras are CCD (charge coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) sensors.

The strength of the electrical signal depends upon the intensity of the light that exposes the image sensor. These electrical signals are then processed through a series of complex electronic circuits and eventually stored in some type of internal or external flash memory in a standard image file format such as a JPEG file. (JPEG = Joint Photographic Experts Group). When processed by a computer these files reproduce an image which is able to be printed on photographic paper.

Just as camera film is available in different sizes so are digital image sensors. The smaller sensors found in cell phone cameras and small point and shoot cameras generally produce lower quality images than a larger sensor that would be found in a digital single lens reflex camera. 

What is Digital Photography?...
Understanding the Importance of Megapixels

Image sensors also differ in the number of pixels (Picture elements or the number of individual photoelectronic conductors that make up the image sensor.) Because an image sensor has millions of individual pixels the term "megapixels" is used to indicate the resolution the camera is able to capture images at. When all other things are equal a camera with a higher number of megapixels is able to capture a higher resolution image which will result in a higher quality print. (For more on megapixels and image quality please see the Megapixel myth page below.)

The maximum print size one can make from a digital image is closely tied to the number of megapixels the cameras image sensor has.

What is Megapixels ?

PixelsDigital cameras capture images as pixel elements, known as pixels. Simply put, a megapixel is equal to one million pixels.

Digital images are made up of thousands of these tiny, tile-like picture elements. The more pixels, the higher the image resolution.

Resolution relates primarily to print size and the amount of detail an image has when viewed on a computer monitor at 100%.

Elements of picture quality

The number of megapixels is only one aspect relating to the quality of a camera, or the actual quality of a photo it is capable of producing. Factors such as camera sensor and processor, and the optical quality of a lens, play equally important roles.

Other elements determine the quality of photos and prints. They include:

    - Good lighting of a subject

    - Proper focus and exposure

    - Image clarity (lack of blur due to camera shake or incorrect shutter speed)

    - Shooting at the highest resolution and quality camera settings

If you buy a digital camera with too few megapixels for your printing and editing needs, resulting prints will become degraded.  A photo made into a large sized print from a camera with a low megapixel count will look fuzzy, or pixelated. So will a digital image that is cropped too much.

Viewing images at 100%

A mistake many people make it judging the quality of an image when viewing it at 100% on a computer monitor. The image rarely appears tack sharp. However, when reduced in size for displaying online or printing, a quality image more often than not looks just fine.

Determining the number of megapixels

Deciding the number of megapixels you need does not have to be confusing. Don’t let a salesperson push you to buy a digital camera simply because it has a high megapixel count.

Before purchasing, keep the following in mind:

    The maximum print size you plan to make

    if you do a significant amount of cropping when editing or cropping in-camera

Minimum megapixels for quality prints

(Printed at 300 dpi)

Max Print Size	Minimum MP	Resolution
4 x 6″	2 megapixels	1600 x 1200
5 x 7″	3 megapixels	2048 x 1536
8 x1 0″	5 megapixels	2560 x 1920
11 x 14″	6 megapixels	2816 x 2112
16 x 20″	8 megapixels	3264 x 2468
16 x 24″	12 megapixels	4200×2800

** Unless you buy a used digital camera, it’s near impossible to find one today with a megapixel count of under 10 megapixels.

What is Digital Photography?...
Advantages of Digital Cameras Over Film Cameras

• Digital cameras allow for instant review of images. This allows the photography to have instant feedback and make any necessary adjustments to the exposure or composition right away.
• Lower overall costs. Images are easier to store and there is no need to continually buy film. Also one memory card is able to typically hold a much higher number of images compared to the typical roll of film.
• Digital cameras allow one to view images on the computer or TV and print them at home using a consumer-grade ink jet printer.
• The ability to have important information stored in the image file itself. Information can include the time, date and location of the photos as well as the camera settings and other key information can be stored in the "metadata" part of the image file.
• Digital cameras allow you to change the ISO settings from picture to picture while ISO (film speed) on a film camera depends on the role of film being used and cannot be changed from image to image within that role of film.
• No developing or processing fees involved and with the proper software there are endless numbers of ways of enhancing or manipulating  the digital  images. It is far easier to correct exposure problems on a digital image than it would be in the darkroom for a film image.
  
  
  

What is Digital Photography?...
Disadvantages of Digital Cameras Over Film Cameras

• Image resolution. 35MM film has a resolution that is roughly equivalent to a 25MP full frame image sensor. While digital image sensors continue to improve and digital cameras get better every day generally speaking film still wins when it comes to image resolution and image quality.
• Film has a higher dynamic range than digital cameras. This means that it can capture a larger range of tonal quality.  This is a big factor in overall image quality because it means it is harder to overexpose an image using film. Film typically can produce different shades of white which helps prevent overexposure of highlights. This means that film has the advantage when it comes to capturing shades of light especially at sunrise or sunset.
• Film is generally thought to reproduce a broader range of color than a digital image.
• Shutter lag. Digital cameras, especially the lessor expensive models are prone to have shutter lag which is the delay in time from when you press the shutter button and the time the image is captured. This lag can be long enough on some cameras that one must learn to anticipate the moment and press the shutter long enough in advance to capture the action at the right time. This can make taking shots of moving subject much more difficult. However again this is and area that has seen much improvement from some of the earlier digital cameras.
• It is difficult if not impossible to do double or multiple exposures on a digital camera. Plus digital cameras are more prone to noise on really long exposures.
  
   

What is Digital Photography?...
Answering the question...Which is better digital or film?

For most of us digital cameras are the best choices. The advantages of digital for the average person far outweigh the disadvantages. Also as digital cameras  continue to improve any remaining advantages that film has over digital formats is rapidly being reduced. I hope you have found this page on "What is Digital Photography" helpful.


Basic Photography Mistakes To Avoid

Here are few basic photography mistakes that every photographer should avoid.

First Basic Photography Mistake...Not Reading The Camera Manual.

Today's digital cameras have many advanced features and options to help us take better pictures. Spending time to learn all of the functions and settings on your camera will help you become a better photographer and get the most out of the camera.

A key to learning the many settings and features of your camera is to experiment with the camera settings under different lighting conditions and on different subjects.

Experimenting with your camera settings will help you learn how making a small change in your settings or turning a specific feature on or off will impact the picture. When we know our camera inside and out we can maximize its potential and will be ready to take the best photos possible.

One of the first steps on the path to becoming a better photographer is learning how to the get the most out of your camera by understanding its features and settings.

If you are not one to sit down and read the manual...but you want to learn more about digital camera settings or digital camera modes, check out the links to the right.

 

Second Basic Photography Mistake Number...Not Having a D.A.M. Plan.   (D.A.M. = Digital Asset Management) A fancy way of saying BE ORGANIZED!   Digital Asset Management involves the whole process of downloading (ingesting), cataloging, storing and backing up your photographs. However, for now I will focus on the importance of coming up with a practical and useful way of naming your photos as well as having them stored on your computer in an organized fashion, making it easy to find the photo you want when you want it.

Whole books have been written on the subject of Digital Asset Management and while it might not seem that important as you just start out...the fact is that the longer you take photos and the more digital picture files you have on your computer, having your photos organized in a logical and easy to find method becomes very important.

From the beginning, find a logical and organized way to name and store your photos.  I prefer to organize my folders by year and subject but what is most important is that you have a way of naming and organizing your photos that works for you and makes it easy for you to find the photos you want when you want them.

There are some good books written on setting up a good Digital Asset Management System for Photographers. Also there are some very good software programs designed to help manage your photos, including assigning them to specific categories and rating them for their overall importance or quality.

Don't make the mistake of waiting until you have several hard drives filled with photos, all with generic camera file names, before deciding to implement a good DAM plan. Start at the beginning and find a good system that works for you.

Believe me, it is a lot better to be organized from the beginning than try to implement a DAM program after you have multiple hard drives full of photos.

Recommended Digital Asset Management Programs

Here are a few good programs that will help you organize and edit your images.
Many of these have free trial versions you can download and try out. I highly recommend ACDsee pro 4   because it is very easy to use and has some great built-in editing and adjustment features. I have personally been using it for several years after trying out most of the cataloging and digital asset management programs available.

• Adope Photoshop lightroom
• ACDsee pro 4 
• ACDSee Photo Manager 12
• Breeze Browser Pro

Third Basic Photography Mistake...Not Having a Backup Plan.

The mistake of not having a backup plan is the most risky and likely the most harmful mistake of all!  Backing up your photos is really part of a good DAM (Digital Asset Management Plan) but it is so important I wanted to highlight it separately.

Let's face it....hard drives fail. Even CD's or DVD's can be scratched or damaged and become unusable. That is why you need to find a good way of backing up all your photos and sticking with it.

I have a friend who recently had their hard drive crash, resulting in the loss of three years of photos. All because they did not have them backed up. Three years worth of photos, thousands of important "captured" memories lost...all because they did not have a back up plan.

Decide early on how you will back up your photos and develop a plan and system that you will stick to consistently.






Characteristics of a good backup plan.

• A good backup plan regularly backs up new photos as well as any photos that have changed or have been edited.
• A good backup plan has some type of redundancy that will provide more than one backup copy, ensuring your photos are safe and secure.
• The best backup plan will have some type of off-site storage where you can keep a copy of your photos in another physical location. Having a copy of all your important files backed up online or away from your home or office protects you in case of fire, flood, burglary, or some other situation that might destroy your photos, including locally maintained backup copies.
• An effective backup plan must be automated or easy to run, so that you will stay with it and your photos will continue to be backed up regularly.

Conclusion

Avoiding making these basic photography mistakes is just the beginning of being prepared for whatever may happen in the future. As my friend can attest, losing a year or more of irreplaceable photos is not fun!

 

Digital Camera Buying Guide

Our digital camera buying guide will help you choose the best digital camera to meet your needs and fit your budget.Digital camera technology, like other electronic products, continually advances at a high rate of speed. Several times a year new models are being introduced that offer new features, better resolution, and improved image quality.

This presents a unique problem to the person looking to purchase their first digital camera or upgrade their existing one. With all the new models and features, how do you choose the best camera for you?

In this digital camera buying guide we will provide you with a few key things to consider when shopping for a digital camera. While it is not necessary to keep up with every new feature or model that comes out, it is helpful to do some comparison shopping in order to get the best value for your money.

Our digital camera buying guide will begin by covering some key factors to consider when buying a camera. After that we will highlight some important features to keep in mind when shopping for the perfect camera. Then we will provide you with information on where to find in-depth reviews of the latest cameras as well as links to where to find some of the best digital camera deals.

Digital Camera Buying Guide...What Type of Camera?

The first thing to decide is what type of camera you are looking for. With the introduction in recent years of the "Four-Thirds" image format as well as the new "Mirror-less Interchangeable Lens" cameras, today's camera buyer has many types of digital cameras to choose from.

If you are not familiar with the different types of digital cameras available today you might want to check out our digital camera comparison page which introduces you to several different types of digital cameras on the market today.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind when deciding what type of camera you will look for:

• Price...if you are on a budget, as most of us are, you need to determine how much you can afford to spend. That will help you narrow down whether you will be able to afford a DSLR or one of the other interchangeable lens cameras. If those are out of your budget or you prefer a smaller camera then you should consider either a point-and-shoot or high-zoom camera. As prices of entry level DSLR's continue to drop they are quickly becoming a more affordable option for those who want the best overall photo quality. However, remember that when buying a camera that uses interchangeable lenses you are investing in a camera system, because you will likely want to add additional lenses in the future which represents an added cost.
• Size...do you want a smaller point and shoot camera that is easier to carry, or are you OK with a larger camera or DSLR with some extra lenses? The best camera will not do any good if it is left at home because you do not want to take along a camera bag full of equipment.
• Overall Image Quality...will you be making enlargements of your photos? Or, will you be taking pictures in low light settings? If so then you should consider a DSLR, Four-Thirds, or other interchangeable lens camera. These types of cameras have larger image sensors therefore they will produce better quality photos and do a better job in low-light situations.
  
  
   

Digital Camera Buying Guide...How Many Megapixels?

With all the hype about how many megapixels this or that camera has, one would think that the number of megapixels is the single most important thing to consider when purchasing a digital camera. But in reality it is not. For the average person who will normally not print photos larger than an 8x10, the standard 10 to 12 megapixel sensors found in entry level point-and-shoot cameras have enough image resolution to make prints that size.

Let's face it, most photographers don't need latest, super-advanced 24.6 megapixel, DSLR. If you can afford that type of camera and the lenses to go with it, great! If not...no worries...you can still find a good digital camera even on a considerably smaller budget.

The fact is that if you learn to get the most from your digital camera you will be able to capture some great photos no matter what camera you can afford to buy.

Today's point-and-shoot and super-zoom cameras typically come with image sensors between 9 and 14 megapixels. One area to look it when shopping for a digital camera is the digital noise levels produced by the image sensor. Many in depth reviews will have sample pictures taken at different ISO speeds. Watch out for cameras that have higher amounts of noticeable digital noise at higher ISO's than other similar cameras.

Remember the more megapixels you cram into an image sensor, the smaller each pixel is. This means less light falls on the pixel and often results in increased digital noise in the image. Fortunately along with improvements in image sensor technology, digital signal processing has also improved resulting in more acceptable noise levels even on higher megapixel sensors. DSLR's, Four Thirds, and other Interchangeable Lens Cameras also come in a variety of megapixel sizes, with 14 to 16 megapixel APS-C image sensors commonly found even in some of the entry to mid-level cameras. Those image resolutions provide excellent image resolution and quality.

The bottom line on megapixels is that with a few exceptions...the really cheap cameras... the digital cameras you find on the market today have more than adequate image resolution to meet the average photographers needs. So don't get caught up in the whole "buy the highest megapixel camera mindset."

Instead keep the whole issue of megapixels in perspective and look closely at the other important features so you can get the best value for your money. For example, a slightly lower megapixel camera might actually be faster and less susceptible to digital noise in the image. Both are very important features.

Photography Tips, Essential Skills, Quickly Transform Your Photos, by Karl Taylor

Digital Camera Buying Guide...What Brand Should I Buy?

Not surprisingly the answer you will get to this question will vary quite a bit depending on who you ask. DSLR users, especially advanced amateurs and professional photographers tend to be pretty brand loyal...after all they have usually invested a fair amount of money in their camera and lenses. If you spend even a little time reading camera forums online it is easy to see that there are fanatics for most major camera brands and if you listen to some of them their brand of camera is the only one to buy. But the truth is that all of the major camera manufacturers make high quality cameras. Don't get caught up into the mindset that "only brand XXXX is any good because that is what the pros use." The fact is there are professional photographers who make their living using a number of different camera brands.

Digital Camera Manufacturer

Canon and Nikon currently account for around 80% of the DSLR market share. As the two most popular digital camera brands there are a vast number of accessories and lenses available for these brands. This provides a broad user base and a wider variety of used lenses available for purchase on websites such as EBay and Craigslist.

Sony, Olympus, and Pentax have a much smaller market share but all make very competitive and top rated digital cameras. Because Sony DSLR's use the Minolta "A Mount" lens mount, they have the advantage of being compatible with the majority of the older Minolta auto-focus lenses which means that there are more used lenses available for them than some other companies. Other digital camera companies include: Panasonic, Fuji, Sigma, Samsung, Kodak, and Leica. All of these companies make high quality digital cameras and often have some of the highest rated cameras in their classes.

When considering which brand of camera to buy I recommend you compare the different models in your price range from several different companies and find the one you like the best and that offers you the best value for your money. As long as you stick with a digital camera from one of the major camera makers you should be OK. The best thing to do is compare feature for feature and make the best choice for you and your budget.

Digital Camera Buying Guide...
What Features Should I Look For?

Here are some key features to look for when buying a fixed lens camera, such as a point-and-shoot or super-zoom model.

• I would recommend a camera with at least an 8 megapixel image sensor. That resolution will adequately allow you to print an 8x10 photo without using any digital enlargement software. 12-14 megapixel cameras are very popular in these types of cameras but don't be afraid of dropping down to a 8 or 9 megapixel sensor if camera has additional features or offers a better value for the money.
  
  
• An optical zoom of at least 3X. Stay away from cameras that only have digital zoom. While many cameras have digital zoom built in I recommend avoiding digital zoom if at all possible as it can quickly affect the image quality. Look for the largest possible zoom range that you can get in your camera style and price range. Having a larger optical zoom range makes the camera more versatile. This is one of the reasons that I am a big fan of the "super zoom" models that feature optical zooms of up to 30X.
  
  
• High Quality Optics. The quality of the camera lens is very important. Having a high quality lens will help you get sharper pictures. Some manufacturers use different types of lenses on their cameras and often include a name brand, "higher quality" lens on some of their models. When comparing different models look closely at who made the lens. Name brands include Carl Zeiss, Schneider-Kreuznach and Leica. Manufacturers also often have their own designation for their line of professional lenses. For example Sony uses the "G" designation on its professional lenses, while Canon professional lenses are designated by an "L". Sony also commonly uses Carl Zeiss lenses on some of its cameras so a Sony camera with a Carl Zeiss or "G" series lens is a model that features a premium lens. The quality of the lens can make a big difference in the image quality so look for those models that feature top of the line optics.
  
  
• A large high resolution LCD display. Since many fixed lens cameras do not have any viewfinder, or a very small one at best, having a high resolution LCD display is important. Since the LCD display might be the only way of composing or viewing your photo try to make sure the LCD screen is visible in bright light. Without a viewfinder the LCD screen is your only option and needs to be viewable in a variety of lighting conditions.
  
  
• A variety of automatic and semi-automatic modes as well as features such as smile or face detection, etc. are good to have. Many of the newer cameras feature intelligent automatic modes where the camera selects the best "scene" mode for you. I find that this feature generally works well but I also like the ability to move to a semi-automatic mode such as aperture or shutter priority when needed. Other modes such as a panoramic mode are also desirable.
  
  
  Here are some features to consider when shopping for a DSLR,
  Four Thirds or other interchangeable lens camera.

• Live View. Many new DSLR models feature live-view displays, which allow you to focus and compose your picture using the LCD display instead of the viewfinder. Some interchangeable lens cameras don't even have an electronic viewfinder, so having a high-quality LCD display is very important.
  
  
  
• Articulating LCD Display. Another feature that is becoming increasingly popular on DSLR's is an articulating LCD display that will allow you to rotate the LCD display. This makes for easier viewing when taking a picture on a camera with live view where you cannot look through the viewfinder.
  
  
  
• Image Stabilization. There are two basic types of image stabilization available: in-the-body and in-the-lens. Canon and Nikon both use image stabilized lenses while Sony, Olympus and Pentax use in-body stabilization. While both systems work very well, the advantage of the in-body stabilization is that it works will all lenses. That means that if you attach an older Minolta lens to a Sony DSLR you get the benefits of image stabilization. When the image stabilization is built into the lens you only get the benefit when using an image stabilized lens and image stabilized lenses tend to be higher priced than non-stabilized lenses. This also means that older Canon or Nikon lenses would not benefit from image stabilization even when used on a newer camera body.
  
  
  
• Your Lens or Lenses. Many DSLR's come with some type of "kit" lens such as an 18-55mm or some other similar focal length. While these are good everyday lenses and cover from a "wide angle" to a "normal" field of view, many people will want to add a second lens with a longer focal length to be able to zoom in on distant subjects. Lenses that have a 200mm to 300mm focal length are good second lenses to complement the normal "kit" lens. For example a 75-300mm or maybe a 55-200mm lens would be a good additional purchase with your new DSLR. Often you can find a good price on a DSLR Bundle that includes two lenses so you can cover a wider focal range and have more versatility.
  
  
  
• Other Accessories to consider. As the number of megapixels increase so does the need for more storage space to store your digital pictures. You will likely want to purchase additional memory cards so you have several when traveling. With several different types of memory cards being used by different camera companies you might even need to switch to a different type altogether when upgrading to a new camera. Likewise, newer faster cameras require faster memory cards to maximize their performance. These are additional expenses to keep in mind when shopping for a new DSLR.  Also having a extra battery or two is a good idea if you take a lot of photos. Nothing is more frustrating than missing a great photo because of a dead battery or you have filled up your memory card. Having extra memory cards and batteries is a must.
  
  
  
• Plan for the future. If you can afford to, try and buy a DSLR you can grow into. While the entry level models are great from an affordability standpoint, if you are going to get serious about photography you might want to consider a more advanced model if possible. That allows you to "grow into" the camera so you don't quickly find yourself wanting a more advanced camera with additional features and faster performance. As mentioned earlier buying a DSLR is really like investing in a camera system, as most users will add additional lenses over time. Once you have invested in several lenses it makes switching DSLR brands even harder, so keep in mind that the brand you buy will likely be the one you are committed to for some time.
  
  
  
• ISO Range and Digital Noise. Entry level cameras might only go up to 3200 ISO, while more advanced models are able to shoot at ISO speeds of 12,800 and higher. Comparing the ISO range and even more importantly the digital noise at higher ISO's is important, especially when you will be taking pictures in low light conditions. Many of the tests and reviews on digital cameras will show examples of high ISO images. This allows you to compare what the real usable ISO range of the different cameras are before digital noise becomes an issue with image quality.

Digital Camera Buying Guide....Where Should I Buy My Camera?

Today's digital camera buyer has a wide variety of options for purchasing his next digital camera.

Starting with local electronics or discount stores like Best Buy or Walmart local specialized photography stores, you have many options where you have the ability to do some "hands-on" shopping for your next camera. That allows you to actually check out different cameras in person rather than relying on reviews alone. However shopping online will often allow you to find the best price and the broadest selection.

When shopping online you need to be careful and only buy from a reputable dealer. Common online scams to avoid are those online dealers that sell "Grey Market" goods at discount prices, without indicating such. A "Grey Market" camera is often an overseas model that was not intended to be sold in the U.S. These products normally do not come with a manufacturers warranty so you need to make sure they are warrantied by a reputable seller or third party company.  Other things to avoid are companies that try to charge you for digital accessories that should come standard with the camera, or that use high pressure sales tactics to try and sell you the camera with a bundle of low quality, over priced accessories. Remember if the price is too good to be true it probably is.

It is recommended that you carefully check out the reviews of the online dealer as well as checking the internet for complaints from unsatisfied customers. Another reason for buying from an authorized, reputable dealer is that many manufacturers only warranty products sold by their authorized dealer network. If you purchase from a non-authorized dealer you run the risk of not having warranty coverage if something would happen to your camera during the warranty period.

Therefore we recommend that you purchase your digital camera from any one of the many authorized dealers, either online or locally. If you have questions about a specific dealer you can usually check with the manufacturer to make sure it is an  authorized  dealer. Also be sure to check online review sites to see how that dealer is rated.



Be organized and backup often....!  & Have fun !