Setup guide

DIGITAL IMAGING
THE BASICS
DIGITAL CAMERAS
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How Digital Cameras Work
A digital camera is similar to a 35mm
camera in the way that it takes pictures.
The way a digital camera differs from a
35mm camera is what's inside. When you
take a picture on your digital camera the
CCD charges up and prepared for the
picture to be taken. Once the shutter
button is depressed, light enters the
camera and strike the CCD. The light is
then measured electronically on the CCD
and is then sent off to the internal memory
of the camera, called the buffer. Once the
image information reaches the buffer, it is
then compressed (if selected) into JPEG
format. The completed image is then
transferred to the memory card on the
camera. Some cameras will need this
process to finish before taking another
picture, some cameras have an internal
buffer that is large enough to hold a
number of pictures, and can therefore take
multiple pictures in a row, called burst
shooting.
The CCD is made up of millions of tiny
sensors that record the amount of light
that hits them. The sensors only record the
amount of light that hits them, not the
color of the light. For the digital camera to
detect what color is in each pixel, a color
filter is put over the individual sensors
After the light strikes the CCD, the
individual sensors convert the amount
of light hitting them into an electrical
signal, which is originally stored as an
analog signal, and is converted to a digital
signal by a analog to digital converter
(A-D converter).
Each of these sensors represents 1 pixel,
and the actual 24 bit color is determined by
the average of the pixel and all of it’s
neighbors. The information on the CCD is
then read one horizontal line at a time to
the internal memory of the camera, and on
their way they pass through the internal
filters, such as white balance, color, and
aliasing correction. The internal memory
then stitches all individual pixels into an
image. The image in its uncompressed form
is then (if selected), compressed.
After all this happens the image is then
saved to the memory media of the camera,
whether it be SmartMedia, CompactFlash,
Memory Stick, floppy disc or CD.
Generally a 35mm camera costs less than
a digital camera. But 35mm cameras are
not getting much cheaper.
Digital cameras might be a little more
expensive now, but they getting better
and cheaper all the time.
Taking photos costs money. The more you
take the more it costs. You have to buy
film then pay to develop it. If you don’t
pay you can’t see your pictures.
Taking photos are free. You basically buy
your memory storage once (memory card)
and can keep reusing it after you have
downloaded your photos to your computer.
You must be patient and wait. You can
not see your photos until you get them
back from the developer.
Instant gratification because you can
immediately see the photos you have
taken with the LCD monitor on your
digital camera.
You must rely more on your photograph-
ic skills because you don’t know what
your photo will look like until you get it
back from the developers.
You don’t need to rely as much on your
photography skills because you get
instant feedback. If you don’t like it, just
shoot it again. Or just shoot a whole
bunch of photos because you can keep
the ones you like and delete the rest.
Making copies or your photos cost
money, time and a trip in your car.
Making 100% exact duplicate copies of
your photos is free and as easy as three
clicks with your mouse.
The pictures you take are not ready to be
e-mailed to a friend, client or used on
your web page. You must pay for the film,
pay and wait for the photos to be developed
and then digitize them using a scanner.
Your photos are instantly ready to be
e-mailed to your friend, client or used on
your webpage.
You are limited to maybe 36 photos at the
most before you have to put a new roll of
film in.
Digital Cameras hold far more images
than the traditional roll of 24 or 36
images. The number of photos your digi-
tal camera can hold before you need to
download is limited only by the size of
your memory card, the resolution of your
images and the file type it is saved as. To
give you an idea, a digital camera set to
take quality 5 x 7” photos can take about
150 photos with a 128MB memory card.
How many times have you taken a great
photo of a friend and they really want it?
You give them the print and lie to your-
self that someday you’ll develop another
print of it to replace it. You never do.
How many times have you taken a great
photo of a friend and they really want it?
Well…just e-mail it to them or print on
the spot yourself with today’s personal
photo printers.
You are travelling and want to send pho-
tos back to your friends and family, what
are you going to do? Mail them, probably
not. Your friends and family will have to
wait until you get back home to see them.
You are travelling and want to send pho-
tos back to your friends and family, what
are you going to do? With a laptop you
can download your photos and just e-mail
your photos to your friends and family.
35mm DIGITAL
vs.