Digital Photography Vs. Film Photography: The Great Debate
Ever since the introduction of the digital camera, a war has raged within the photographer community. There are those that would claim 35mm film is the one true “professional” media, and digital its casual, amateur counterpart. Conversely, as costs decrease and quality increases, there is an ever-expanding group of working photographers that shoot and produce only in digital. So what is a consumer to think? Is 35 still the way to go, or is it time to trade in that old junker for a newer, flashier model? It’s time to look at each format and decide once and for all which is better.
Digital: Amateur?
It is true that there are many digital cameras on the market, and like their 35mm counterparts there is an endless supply of variables that can impact the images each one is capable of producing. Image quality (in terms of color contrast and depth of field) have always been a major concern for those taking digital images and is still one of the common excuses heard from the opposition. Add to this the fact that finding a digital camera that could match the sheer raw data contained in a photograph on film was both arduous and incredibly expensive, and the 35mm enthusiast has a fairly solid argument.
But fortunately for the consumer, the price of an excellent digital camera has dropped steeply in the last few years, while the “quality for the dollar” has increased dramatically. Canon’s popular “Digital Rebel” line of SLRS (single lens reflexes) have given people an affordable entry level camera with near professional results for under $1,000. And since Canon isn’t the only camera company, it’s a safe bet that consumers can look forward to even better cameras at lower prices in the near future.
35mm: Is it Antiquated?
These… Continue reading
Digital Photography Tips – How to Choose the Best Camera
Technology and innovation has placed digital photography into the forefront in such a fast phase. Today the price of cameras are better, meaning it very common for adults and children to own digital cameras. This is not only because they are easy to use but also because many of these cameras are quite affordable. They are convenient to use and require no film. Due to the big number of consumers of digital cameras and prospective aficionados of digital photography, the number of companies and manufacturers of various brands of digital cameras has become quite numerous. It is no longer a problem of ‘where to buy’, but ‘what to buy’. The huge selection available on the market can make your choice quite confusing. When choosing the best digital camera, here are some important tips to take into consideration.
- Price
When buying anything, it is usually the price that is first considered, unless the buyer is filthy rich. With the large number of brands of digital camera available, you will surely find one that will fit your budget. Obviously the more expensive the camera is the better the quality is likely to be. Therefore, if you intend to make a living out digital photography, putting more money in it becomes an investment and will be more beneficial to you in the long run. If you intend to use the camera for fun or a hobby, then look for something a little less complicated which in turn will be cheaper.
- Intention for Buying
In connection with the price, you need to first think of your main reason why you wanted to buy the camera. As mentioned already, if it is to seriously take up digital photography, a good quality one will be the ideal choice. When using… Continue reading
Top 5 Reasons to go Digital vs. Film
One thing I discovered during my experience with digital photography is that it is very well suited for the portrait photographer. So why are they the last to jump on the band wagon? For some reason portrait photographers have been slower to switch to digital cameras than the average commercial photographer has.
My thought is that possibly they are afraid? Afraid of the learning curve and afraid that the quality just isn’t there unless they spend an ungodly amount of hard earned cash on some scary looking gigantic array of confusing and awkward, let alone “how am I going to learn how to use this stuff” equipment.
The truth of the matter is all you really need is a 5MP digital camera. Don’t fear that DSLR’s create lower quality images, I’ve seen amazing work over and over with fantastic results. Yes, even with a 5 megapixel camera.
There are many reasons, here are 5 good ones.
1- Service
These days a real camera repair shop is very hard to fine and service for film cameras is evaporating even more rapidly. Most camera stores will just send your camera to the manufacturer and then charge you more than the flat repair rate that you would get from Sony, Canon or Nikon etc. yourself. If you look online you can still find a real camera repair shop including ones that specialize in digital SLR camera repair and charge much less than the $250-300 flat rate repairs that the manufacturers offer.
Many digital repair parts are replaceable by the consumer such as battery doors, memory card doors and other body parts like zoom switches. There are plenty of people who want to repair their own camera and replace the LCD screen or lens, but many prefer to leave the repair to… Continue reading
You Can Repair Your Canon SD Series Lens Barrier Covers Yourself!
So many different people have asked us about fixing the built in lens covers/barriers/flaps on their Canon Powershot SD series digital cameras that I’ve gone ahead and written some instructions. The barrier kit on most Canon PowerShot SD series cameras is a little tricky but not impossible to replace yourself. You will need patience, a good eye and a steady hand as well as a small screwdriver. We use dental picks, they work great!
To start, you will need to turn on the camera and extend the lens, then open the battery door to turn off the camera and keep the lens out. This allows you to easily work on the lens barrier assembly.
First the part we need is the ‘barrel drive ring’, it’s the ring with the small piece that sticks down into the lens. Some cameras don’t have one, so if there isn’t one in your kit then your camera doesn’t need it. Make sure it rotates slightly once it has been inserted, otherwise it’s not in properly and can jam the lens.
Next are the springs and flaps. Put one spring on each of the flaps, there are little tabs to hold them on. They are TINY, they are hard to hold and if you drop it… lets just say DON’T drop it on the carpet, ok? We do have just the springs available for purchase, but please try not to lose them.
Carefully put the cover or ‘flap’ in the hole with the spring pointing towards the post where the other end will connect, and then with something with a tiny and pointy tip (we use dental picks!) gently grab the loop of the spring and stick it on its post.
Do this with the flaps in the open position, they will stay in place… Continue reading
Essential Features Of A Digital Camera
With Christmas just around the corner its time to think about gifts. Without doubt digital cameras will be a favourite gift item this year with prices at an all time low. But what are the features that you should look out for when shopping for a digital camera?
You probably already know that a good quality lens is as important in a digital camera as it is in an analogue one. You are probably aware of the importance of megapixels and how a higher number means a sharper picture.
Image stabilisation technology is something to look for. This is how modern digital cameras compensate for wobbly hands and the higher exposure times needed in low indoor light conditions.
Another useful feature is auto face detection with auto focus. Cameras with this capability can recognize facial features and automatically adjust the focus to make the face as sharp as possible. Ideal for those who like simple point and click cameras.
A good zoom is another feature to look out for. Some cameras have a digital zoom and others have an optical. Optical zoom is generally sharper than digital which simply enlarges the digital image, lowering the resolution and making the image less sharp.
Another factor to consider is battery life. Personally I prefer cameras with rechargeable batteries that have a long battery life.
Look out for additional features like the ability to change lenses, image effects and built in image editing capabilities.
It’s also worth looking at the suite of software applications that come with the camera package. Most of todays digital cameras come with a suite of applications for the processing of digital images on a computer.
Something extra to consider when buying a new camera is some affordable camera insurance. Today’s lightweight digital cameras are easily lost,… Continue reading
