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Digital Cameras in Focus
By Paul Chamberlain
July 6, 2002
I have little doubt that topping many Canadians' wish lists this Christmas is a digital camera.
Based on the exact same principles as your average 35mm camera, at first glance a digital camera may seem like nothing more than a commercial ploy. Its purpose is exactly the same: to capture moments in time, images of family, friends and nature that will go unchanged through the years. They are symbols of the past and times that will live forever.
Digital cameras can be incredibly useful and far more versatile than their ancestors. Sure, they may seem rather expensive, but it is important to remember that, unlike 35mm cameras which will likely never be sold for cheaper than they are right now, the price of digital cameras are dropping at an astounding rate. Even now, you can by a good digital camera for the same amount as a high-quality 35mm camera. With this in mind, it is important to consider which camera has the most to offer.
The best feature of digital cameras is that there is no film. Pictures are saved onto a small disk (holding from 30 to around 1000 images) in the camera itself, and the pictures can be seen before it is printed off, so if you don't like one of them you can delete it right off the camera. This saves a lot of money and disappointments that can occur with film. In addition, once you have taken a picture, you can make as many copies as you want and give them to family and friends for free rather than paying the cost of having duplicates made. With a digital camera you can send someone a picture in seconds, as opposed to a 35mm camera that needs to be developed, and scanned before it can be sent to someone unless you decide to mail in which case it can be lost and your copy is now gone. Finally, digital photographs can be manipulated with computer programs to take out red eye, adjust colour levels, brightness and contrast, etc. Film, however, must either be scanned into a computer first,
or you have to pay extra to have it altered.
However, digital cameras are not completely flawless. In order to use one, you need a computer. Without a computer there is not much you can do with the image you have just taken. You also need a printer if you wish to make physical copies of the pictures. The quality that comes out is not usually very high, but depending on your digital camera, printer and the paper you use, it can look almost identical to a photograph. The cost of digital cameras and printers rise substantially depending on the quality of the image you require.
It is up to the individual whether or not they think they should get a digital camera. Consider what you would be using it for and decide if it is worth the cost. If you are just interested in point-and-shoot photography, a digital camera may be perfect for you. However, if you take great care in what you photograph, 35mm is the way to go for now. If you would like to know more about buying or learning how to use digital cameras the following sites can be very useful: www.digitalphotography.com, www.shortcourses.com and www.digital-cameras-info.com. Whatever you decide, always remember that technology exists to make our lives easier, so don't be scared to take advantage of it!
Paul Chamberlain is the Community Access Program member operating from the Thamesford branch of the Oxford County Library. As a Training Team member, he has developed a CyberCamp on digital cameras which will be touring the Oxford County Library branches throughout the next few months. These information sessions serve as an introduction to digital camera use, and admission is free. These sessions are intended for adults and high school aged participants, but no prior experience with digital cameras is required. For information on dates and locations of Paul's digital camera CyberCamp, please call Brett Walther, Community Access Program Coordinator at 423-1928, extension 207.
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