Resources
Digital Photography - To Do or Not to Do?
What is a digital camera?It is a different tool for image capture. Just as one type of screwdriver is used for certain applications and another is used for others, a digital camera has certain applications where it is a good tool. It will not eliminate your film camera, but supplement it.
Will it solve my problems? No. It may solve some, may help some, but will cause others.
Will it solve my problems? This is the more important question. What are your needs?Advantages
- Digital capture
- Instant capture
- No film processing necessary
- Immediate access
- No waiting
- Quick image turn around time
- Save on film & processing
- No film to buy
- No processing to pay for
- Save time
- No need to go buy film
- No need to go to a processing lab
- Sophisticated hardware
- Camera makers R&D priority is in their digital cameras
Disadvantages
- Quality inferior to film image
- Not even close
- 300-600 vs. 4K lines per inch
- High cost
- Apples to apples, digital cameras are far more expensive
- Inflexible camera system
- Affordable digital cameras are point & shoot only
- No interchangeable lens or controls
- Uninformed users
- Appears to be easy, but need to learn lots for good results
- Digital processing issues are complex
- New problems
- Very different issues to reckon with (artifacting, aliasing, moire patterns, etc.)
Other Issues
Photographic Issues
- A digital camera will NOT make you a better photographer.
- A digital camera will NOT make you take more pictures.
- You don't "get what you see." Images must be adapted & enhanced.
Organization and Retrieval
- If you are undisciplined with filing your box of slides, you will be undisciplined with organizing your digital files.
Peripherals
- You don't have to buy albums, binders, and photo pages.
- You do have to buy memory cards, CD-ROMs and Zip disks.
Permanence
- Digital files are susceptible to corruption, especially magnetic media.
- Slides and negatives are susceptible to scratches, fingerprints, fading, etc.
- Both are vulnerable to heat, humidity, and dust.
What camera should I purchase?
Digital cameras fall into three major, well-defined categories
(based on size of CCDs).
- High end professional
- Studio for commercial work and advertising
- Over $20,000
- Medium range professional
- Journalism and business presentations
- $5,000 to $15,000
- Consumer
- Family photos, brochures, newsletters, & emails
- Under $1,000
The technology changes so fast that we recommend consulting websites when you are ready to make a purchase. Trade magazine buyer comparisons are also a good source of information. Unresearched point-of-purchase decisions are ill-advised.
The Bottom Line
What is your #1 use of the camera? Is a digital camera advantageous for this specific use? A solid evaluation of your needs, with regard to the advantages and disadvantages of digital cameras, is the only way to make a well informed decision regarding whether or not digital cameras are for you.