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Introduction
Introduction
As technology is evolving each and every day, digital photography evolves along with it. With so many different types of cameras with such minuscule differences in specifications that affect the way you take a picture, it can be difficult to understand how a camera works and how a digital photo is composed.
Types of Cameras (and how they differ from one another)
Types of Cameras (and how they differ from one another)
There are several types of cameras: "traditional" DSLR's, compact cameras, mirrorless cameras, polaroid cameras, point-and-shoot cameras, video cameras, action cameras, and so many other varieties of cameras. Although a number of people believe its shallow to be brand-conscious, it can be quite beneficial to you as a photographer. Canon is often the go-to brand for many people (including myself), but Sony has been impressing many with their ultra fast auto focus in their shiny and trendy mirrorless cameras. Aside from Canon and Sony, there are plenty of other reliable camera brands like Nikon, Panasonic, or RED (go for RED if you're more into filming than taking photos).
DSLR Cameras
DSLR Cameras
DSLR cameras are often known as the "traditional" cameras. They're the clunky cameras that make a loud noise when it takes a picture which is the sound of the shutter and mirror moving.
mirrorless cameras
mirrorless cameras
Mirrorless cameras are less clunky and heavy compared to a DSLR camera. Both mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras take similar quality images, but mirrorless cameras are usually better with taking a higher-detailed image with less distortion and/or image grain thanks to modern day technology taking the jobs and roles of such fragile pieces of hardware.
point-and-shoot cameras
point-and-shoot cameras
Point-and-shoot cameras are being replaced by the cameras that are built into our phones, but that doesn't change the fact that they have the reputation of being extremely convenient cameras. They're easy to use, most of them are sturdy and well built, they have decent quality, and you can put one in your pocket. Although they don't have comparable quality to a DSLR or a mirrorless camera (due to the lack of being able to set certain thing components of an image), they can take some fairly decent photos.
Components in an image
Components in an image
A photo is nothing more than light and color. A variety of things such as exposure, ISO, f-stop, and a few other components. Those components are "managed" by the shutter and its set speed and pushed through the sensor of the camera.
Exposure
Exposure
Exposure is the amount of light per unit area reaching a sensor. Manuel exposure settings allow you to control how much and how long a sensor is exposed to light.
ISO
ISO
ISO stands for International Standards Organization. ISO is what makes an image lighter by digitally enhancing it. Sure, a brighter image sounds great, especially in a low light setting, but ISO can quickly ruin an image. Too much ISO causes grain to appear in photos.
F-Stop
F-Stop
F-stop is the ratio of a camera's focal length for an image. In other words, it's what makes a picture have a blurry background. The higher number you set the f-stop, the less burry an image's background would be.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Math is in everything around us and it seems to be especially noticeable in a creative art such as digital photography. Each and every specification of a camera affects the way it takes a picture and how well each picture is composed. The composing step of digital photography is where the math comes into play. Each photo is measured in pixels and dimension then turned into a piece of code which then is put onto an SD card. From that step and on, it becomes Math in Coding instead of being Math in Digital Photography.
Sources and videos (with additional information)
Sources and videos (with additional information)
This page by Ethan N. ('19)
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