How Digital Cameras Work

A digital camera is a portable camera that electronically captures an image by recording photons of light as they come in contact with a sensor inside the camera. While a traditional camera records an image through chemical reactions, a digital camera records an image by converting individual colors of light into corresponding numerical pixel values, ranging between 0 and 255. Digital cameras are used for capturing images, recording videos, and communicating.

The Basics of a Digital Camera
The manual camera requires a film to store the images that were shot. Various factors need to be taken into consideration to get the required output, and then the result is printed on photographic paper, using the film roll and chemicals. If you want to send this image over e-mail, you need to first scan it and convert it into an electronic image. As opposed to this, the simple logic of a digital camera is that it directly takes photographs in electronic format. So these images, in the end, are just a collection of 1’s and 0’s like all other digital files including images on this site.

How Digital Cameras Work
A digital camera allows light to enter through a lens at the front. The light then comes in contact with a series of small mirrors and is redirected to a metallic sensor known as a photoresistor. The photoresistor is sensitive to light and only produces an electric current when it is bombarded with photons (light particles). Depending on the intensity of the light that comes in contact with the photoresistor, a varying electric current is produced. By measuring this current and converting it into numbers, a digital camera can record how an object looks like. Because digital cameras are electronic, they can transfer images, videos, and other recordings to a computer or another device.

The Operation of a Digital Camera
The operational basics of a digital camera are similar to the workings of a manually operated camera, either automatic or semiautomatic. The basic difference in the method of operation lies in the way the image is stored and the number of images that can be stored in the device. With 35 mm manual cameras, the film roll used can store up to 36 images. Also, if the photograph does not meet expectations, it cannot be deleted or overwritten. You need to rewind the roll and insert another film roll to take additional images. However, the digital camera makes use of a memory card. The number of images that can be stored on this card varies according to its memory capacity. Also, you have the luxury of deleting the electronically stored images if you do not like them.

The Technology Behind Digital Image Storage
When a picture is taken using a digital camera, light is reflected from the lenses and falls upon a digital sensor. These sensors are nothing but computer chips, called CCD, CMOS, etc., depending on the technology used by the camera. The term megapixels is a measure of the number of sensor elements of the camera. The higher the number of megapixels, the better the resolution of the electronic picture.

How Camera Resolution Affects Printing
For a decent-quality image of 4″ 6″ size, you need a camera with a resolution of at least 2 megapixels. For a bigger picture, it is best to go for a camera that has a higher resolution. If you choose to print an image with low resolution on a bigger canvas size, the image processor will try to print it by stretching the image to fit the required size. This is referred to as interpolation. However, doing so degrades the quality of the picture. Hence, it is best to choose a higher-resolution camera.

Applications
Digital cameras have practically replaced traditional cameras and are used worldwide to capture pictures, videos, and even audio. In fact, virtually every cell phone in the world now has a digital camera built into it. Digital cameras can be connected to a computer that has an Internet connection and used as a “webcam” so one user can communicate with another, even if they are thousands of miles away from each other. Digital cameras are also used for surveillance, astronomy, and mapping.

Advantages
Digital cameras can record still images, moving videos, and audio. They can also be integrated into other electronic devices and used in conjunction with other equipment. Digital cameras are small enough to fit in a user’s hand, but may be scaled to virtually any size. They can be connected to a computer in order to transfer files and the user does not have to develop any film. Additionally, files from a digital camera may be edited to change brightness, background colors, or even the actual objects within an image. Most digital cameras allow the user to make these modifications directly from the camera itself.

How to Choose a Digital Camera

There are many digital cameras out there that include a wide array of various functions and capabilities. The problem, however, is that many people who wish to purchase a digital camera do not know how to go about looking for a new digital camera. This can be due to a number of reasons but the biggest factors are that companies try to advertise their products in a way that makes them all seem too good to be true and the fact that so many people are looking for different cameras based on their individual needs and desires. To help you decide which digital camera is best for you here are a few things to consider.

Size
When considering what kind of digital camera you should purchase, size can be an important factor. Luckily, technology has advanced enough to the point that we do not need to carry around large, flashy cameras. A digital camera should be compact enough to carry around and fit in whatever pocket or bag you have in mind, while not compromising the camera’s capabilities. Aside from physical size, you should also check for memory capacity (the amount of information/number of pictures and videos that the camera can hold).

Magnification
Another thing to check for when purchasing a digital camera is the level of magnification that the camera is capable of operating at. Magnification is labelled as “zoom” and is usually accompanied by a number, followed by an “x”. For example, a camera that is labelled “4x zoom” is capable of viewing a scene four times closer than the camera actually is. Magnification is important because it allows for you to take pictures from further away as well as maintaining good picture quality.

Functionality
Functionality is another important factor that is involved when purchasing a digital camera. A camera’s functionality refers to the camera’s ability to perform properly. Functionality can also refer to the camera’s built-in software. For example, some digital cameras come with built-in software that allow you to manipulate an image right after you take it or sometimes even before you take the picture. This usually translates as the ability to add backgrounds to your images or add special effects to the people or surrounding in the picture.

Picture Quality
Picture quality is one of the most important things that you need to look at when choosing a digital camera. Picture quality refers to the accuracy of the picture compared to the actual subject. There are many different factors that affect picture quality including light distortion, camera movement, magnification, and darkness. A good digital camera will provide you with “professional” pictures despite the factors that cause bad picture quality. A camera will good magnification, flash, and light-balancing software should make for a good digital camera.

Durability
Another factor in deciding which digital camera you should by is durability. Durability refers to how long your digital camera will last before it breaks as well as the different surroundings that your digital camera can be exposed to without being damaged. For example, if you wish to take pictures of deep-sea plants, you will want to purchase a digital camera that is capable of being used underwater. Some digital cameras are also “shock resistant” which means that they can be dropped from certain heights or sustain certain kinds of impact without being damaged.

Price
Another main factor of choosing a digital camera is the price. Some digital cameras cost thousands of dollars but do not really seem to offer much more than cheaper digital cameras. Keep in mind, though, that a good digital camera will probably cost you at least $60. However, many devices have small, professional cameras built-in along with their other features. For example, the iPod Nano has an excellent camera built-in that is capable of high quality pictures and videos and only costs $40-$50 more than the average digital camera. You should definitely try to mimize cost as much as possible but if a particular camera or device has extra features that you like, paying a little more money may not be such a bad idea.

Design
Finally, a good digital camera must include the right kind of design based on your personal likes and dislikes. No matter how many features or capabilities that a particular digital camera has, the wrong color may make you not even want to use it. Fortunately, digital cameras come in all colors and styles so you shouldn’t have any problem finding one that you like.