How Digital Cameras Work

Digital cameras use sensors to record the images that you shoot. There are three categories of sensors-

Foveon- A kind of simulated film sensor, where pixels are processed within the sensor with an added color enhancement similar to film.

CCD- A charge-coupled device, where pixels are processed outside the sensor.

APS- Active Pixel Sensors, where pixels are processed within the sensor.

You see the acronym CMOS ( Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) most commonly for APS devices.

Each uses a technology that forms the image coming through the lens into a digital format. They are easy to use and allow the user to immediately review the photo.You can keep, download or manipulate the photo electronically in your computer, tweaking and cropping it so it looks like it could be published in a newspaper or magazine. One can also adjust the image for best results. A digital camera is basically a computer with lens that scans an image, stores it digitally on removable storage, has built-in monitor for viewing, and can download the image to a computer.

Digital cameras have most of the features found in film cameras, such as zoom lenses, built-in flashes, lens adjustments, timers and more. Most high-end digital cameras use optical viewfinders for framing the image. dSLR cameras look identical to their film counterparts and operate similar to them too. Both prosumer and dSLR models have different sophistication levels of these features. In a nutshell, consider these factors-

Optics- The optics of digital cameras comprise the zooms, exposure compensations, white and color balances, and a whole slew of controls that come to your fingertips after you make your selection. The zoom is how the image can be enlarged without losing its resolution.

Metering- The metering is in your camera to help you to use light distributions correctly within the area of the photograph you are taking.

Focusing system- The focusing system on most digital and film cameras currently come with an autofocus and also have a manual focus system.

Sensor resolution- The sensor resolution is the number of pixels the image carries at the camera's maximum resolution setting. The more, the merrier- that is, increased clarity.

Choosing a digital camera that takes good quality images is easy and relatively inexpensive. You can choose from a variety of megapixel (MP) prosumer digital cameras and dSLR cameras from which you can use a number of controls to create art.

Basic digital cameras:- There are dozens of digital cameras (including the ones that are an option on cellphones) that take your basic digital picture, all great for sending images to friends and posting images on the Web. As far as printing a clear 8"x 10" print, however, you are better off spending a little extra on a prosumer model.

Prosumer digital cameras:- These cameras offer far better quality than those cameras built into cellphones or those cheaper low-end model digital cameras. You could label these as mid-end cameras. If you are getting serious about your digital photography, these are the cameras to buy.

dSLRs:- These are the gold (or platinum) standard of the digital photography world. Expensive (but coming down in proce), these cameras do their best to replicate the best 35mm film cameras. As an added bonus, you can use the lens from your film camera on the dSLRs.

If you do have money already invested in lenses, make sure to purchase a digital camera that is compatible with those lenses. You will also find that sticking with the same brand of camera as you go digital reduces the learning curve- most options and controls will already be familiar to you. Be prepared to pony up a bit of cash when you go high-end digital, but you can find a lot of features on moderately priced models. And prices come down all the time, so first determine what features you want or need and then shop around.