Using a Digital Camera
Although the actual technical differences between taking pictures with digital and film-based cameras aren't all that significant, it still takes a certain mental paradigm shift to embrace digital technology. It isn't film-based photography, and it never will be. You have to deal with some of the quirkiness inherent in digital technology. If you want prints, you'll have the option of making them yourself or of uploading them to an online photo printing lab such as Snapfish, Flickr, or Ritzpix. It is also possible to take a memory card or CD to local photofinishers who can turn your prints around quickly and cheaply.
There are definitely tradeoffs to digital photography. Some people enjoy the control and find it rewarding to edit digital images themselves. But not everyone enjoys this process or is willing to spend the time necessary to get good at it.
If you're a traditionalist, chances are pretty good that you won't be entirely comfortable with digital imaging at first; the process is just too different from traditional photography. But experts predict that in the not-too-distant future, digital technology will evolve to the point where the differences will hardly be discernible and it will become accessible to everyone who wants to explore what it has to offer. On the other hand, if you are already open to embracing new technology and you like the challenge of learning how to use it, you'll probably enjoy owning a digital camera.
The basics of good photography — lighting, composition, framing, point of view, and so on — apply whether you're shooting with a digital or film camera. However, there are several factors you should keep in mind when using these cameras:
Parallax error. Most low-cost digital cameras don't use SLR technology, which means the image you see through the viewfinder is different from the image the lens will capture.
Shutter lag. Although newer cameras have significantly reduced this factor, on lower-end models there's sometimes still a discernible amount of time between when you snap the shutter and when the camera actually takes the picture. If you're taking action shots and you want to be sure to capture the height of action, choose a camera with continuous shooting mode, which will take pictures for as long as you hold the shutter-release button down.
Battery issues. Digital imaging uses a lot of power. While it's never a good idea to leave any camera on for extended periods between shots, doing so with a digital might cause your camera to die in the middle of a shot. Digital cameras do vary as to power usage, but they all use far more juice than traditional cameras do, which can take some adjustment. If you are using a high-end point-and-shoot or SLR, an extra rechargeable battery in your camera bag will save you lots of annoyance. Likewise for the low-end point-and-shoots; keep an extra pack of lithium batteries handy. Looking through the viewfinder and using the LCD sparingly really helps conserve battery life, too. Most models now offer the option of turning the LCD screen on and off.
The best way to get to know any camera is to read the instruction manual thoroughly before using it, and this is particularly true with digital cameras. These cameras do operate a little differently, and it's easy to make handling errors that might damage them.
All the other considerations related to handling and storing a camera also apply to digital equipment. Because the point-and-shoots are so small, they often get knocked around more than they should. When your camera is not in use, store it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Don't let it end up in the bottom of your briefcase or purse where it can get damaged. If it doesn't come with a case, buy one. Be particularly aware of the risks of bringing a camera to the beach, where sand and humid salt air can pose their own unique risks.
Although most digital cameras don't have interchangeable lenses, many models do have zoom capability. Optical zoom is the same sort of zoom technology as the lenses on traditional cameras. Since it actually changes the size of the image, it provides the best image quality. Beware of digital zoom, which only enlarges part of the image — its center — to give the appearance of a larger subject. Because images are just a portion of the original image, they contain few pixels and their image quality is poorer. You can achieve the same effect using your image-processing software on your computer, but you actually retain more control because you can see the image better on the computer monitor than you can on the camera's tiny LCD monitor or through the viewfinder.
One of the advantages digital photography has over traditional photography is the ability to see your images onscreen as you shoot them. Low-end digital cameras might not always have this feature, but most now do. Some LCD-equipped cameras don't have separate viewfinders. It's really more desirable to have both, as it's far easier to frame pictures using the viewfinder. LCD screens must be held several inches away in order to see them, which makes accurate framing difficult. However, you'll need the LCD screen for shooting closeups because depending on the viewfinder can result in parallax error. Remember that overuse of the LCD screen will considerably shorten battery life.
How can I improve the visibility of my LCD screen in sunlight?
Little LCD screen hoods are widely available and don't cost very much. Some better cameras will let you adjust the brightness on these screens, too. Newer LCDs are also much easier to see in bright daylight.
LCD screens are also notoriously difficult to see in bright light, and they add extra weight as well as expense to digital cameras. But since this is one of the coolest features of these cameras, you may regret not having one if you opt for a camera without it. At times, especially when reviewing shots to make sure you have captured the image, they are invaluable. Just keep the battery drain issue in mind when using them, and use the viewfinder whenever possible.
High-end digital cameras are available with the same creative controls that traditional cameras have, including the following:
Autofocus
Shutter priority
Autoexposure
Auto flash
Aperture priority
Most digital cameras also have shooting modes that are similar to those found on traditional cameras, including:
Auto
Beach/snow
Portrait
Landscape
Party/indoor
Sunset
Night portrait
Backlight
While digital cameras don't use film, they record colors just like film does, except sometimes even more so! Exceptionally vivid color and brightness can be achieved with digital sensors. Most digital cameras automatically adjust colors according to different lighting conditions, including daylight, overcast, tungsten/incandescent, flash, and fluorescent. The more expensive ones will allow you to set these adjustments manually, which is desirable when you want an image with colors other than those set by the automatic system. Color can also be corrected and altered later with image-editing software such as PhotoShop Elements.
