Sep 20

One of the biggest debates in the photography world is whether digital cameras are better or film cameras better? The answer to this question cannot be answered in a simple yes or no. There are several issues which need to be considered while answering this question.

To make things simple and without getting too technical, the major benefits of using a digital camera is that it is cheap and fast. There is no cost involved in clicking digital photographs as compared to film cameras. Also, you can preview the pictures before choosing to print them; hence there is little/no wastage of snaps involved.

However, for traditional users, a digital camera is not such an easy gadget to use. One does not only need to learn how to use a digital camera but he/she also needs to gain mastery over the computer. This can get to be a little difficult for those who are computer-averse.

As far as image quality is concerned, there are four major factors - picture resolution, presence of noise/grain in cameras, dynamic range and the color quality of the image.

Resolution, in photography language, means the sharpness and the visibility of the image. In this area, the film camera definitely wins since nearly a 6 mega pixel camera is needed to match a 35mm film camera.

Noise/grain refers to the amount of grains which appears in cameras. Digital cameras are extremely sophisticated in this aspect in comparison to film cameras and the level of noise/grain appearance is much lower.

The dynamic range is one of the main weaknesses of a digital camera. The range of a digital camera largely gets affected in contrasting light and normally occurs in the form of white highlights in the image. But some of the latest digital technologies are trying to eliminate this problem in digital photography.

Color quality in digital photographs is much, much better than those images which are taken from film cameras. The pictures are much sharper, brighter, and more vivid and tend to have a three-dimensional quality - which is very difficult to obtain in prints from film cameras.

Thus, overall, both the digital and the film camera have their own advantages and disadvantages. It depends on the user and his personal preferences to choose one over the other.

If you are an average, computer-friendly individual who uses the camera for taking pictures of your family, then a digital camera is recommended due to its lower price and greater convenience.

However, if you are an avid photographer, then it is best that you master both technologies. Since, as the future unfolds, it will be necessary for all to know how to use a digital camera with expertise.

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports.
http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Sep 6

One technology that hasn’t kept up with the rapid pace of new digital cameras is camera batteries. The more features a camera has, the quicker it seems to use up precious battery power. There are three features of digital cameras that chew up battery life the quickest:

- LCD Screen. This is by far the most power thirsty feature in digital cameras. You can turn the screen off to conserve power, but I don’t recommend this because the screen is very useful to determine if you have taken a great shot.

- Flash. Another big power user. The flash uses lots of battery as it’s charging, so minimize usage.

- Zooming in and out also uses battery power to drive the motor. Refrain from changing your zoom too much. I recommend staying close to full optical zoom.

Make your batteries last longer

Given the two biggest power users on your camera are the LCD screen and Flash, there are ways to reduce the usage of these. If your camera allows you to, reduce the brightness of the screen to get more time from your battery. This will still allow you to see your photo, but it won’t use as much power.

How do you minimize usage of the flash? Try doing without the flash when you’re in low light by increasing the light around you. Or increase the “ISO Speed”. The higher the ISO setting, the less light is needed to record the image.

Other secrets for making your batteries last longer:

- Most digital cameras have a Power Saving mode. This ’shuts down’ the camera - not switch off - after a period of time without use. Make sure Power Saving mode is on, or simply switch off your camera when you’re not using it.

- In cold weather, keep your camera and batteries warm in your jacket until you are ready to use them. Cold weather to batteries is like RAID is to bugs!

- Store batteries in a cool, dry location away from sunlight and other heat sources.

- Avoid unnecessary playback of your already taken images, as this can also use a lot of juice.

- If you haven’t used your camera for a while, your rechargeable batteries will have lost some of their charge. Ensure you charge them fully before leaving the house.

Buy a spare battery

This has two advantages. You can get double the time from of your camera before needing to recharge by using two batteries. If you don’t need an extra battery all the time, you can have one charging at home when you’re using the other. Then when you get home, swap them. Never leave your camera behind again because you don’t have a charged battery.

What kind of battery should I purchase?

You will need to purchase a battery that is compatible with your camera, so I recommend taking your camera’s battery to the shop with you when purchasing so the staff can find another compatible battery. You don’t need to purchase a battery from the same manufacturer as your camera, although be aware that choosing another brand may void your warranty - check your manual.

Go for a rechargeable nickel-metal hydride battery if possible. These battery types have a greater capacity than the rechargeable ni-cad batteries and will pay for themselves in a short period of time.

Use the AC adapter

Most cameras have an adapter to allow you to plug directly into a power point. If you’re going to be shooting for a long period of time in the one location, a camera plugged into a power point can be very handy. Note that some cheaper cameras have the plug for an AC adapter, but not the adapter itself.

David Peterson has a great love of photography and has created a series of free tips at http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/ to help digital photography users everywhere take better photos.