You've been photographing for many years and are considering making the transition to digital. What do you require? Will the 35mm equipment you currently own become obsolete? What percentage of your film equipment is compatible with the new digital technology?
If you're reading this book, you probably used a 35mm point-and-shoot or 35mm SLR (single lens reflex). 35mm was the standard for high-end consumer and professional photographic equipment, boasting the most versatility and breadth of features. The threshold for digital for working professionals was reached when the quality of the digital image finally matched that of 35mm film, and that time has now arrived.
The previous ten years have witnessed the rise of cameras' ultra-sophistication.
gear. More technology and better glass than ever before were introduced to a wider variety of cameras. Auto-exposure and auto-focus became standard features on virtually all camera models, and this trend has continued in the digital domain. New digital cameras are vastly superior to their predecessors in terms of image quality and processing speed. So how do you choose the correct camera so you don't feel like your equipment is obsolete the moment you leave the store? With so many voices offering advise on the Internet, whose recommendation should you heed?
There are three categories of cameras: consumer, prosumer, and professional. Although the distinction between the classes can be a bit hazy, I will highlight distinguishing characteristics that can be used to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
Consumer-level cameras range from inexpensive point-and-shoots with limited or no exposure control to more expensive point-and-shoots with extensive creative flexibility. These are all fixed-lens cameras, meaning you cannot switch lenses. This is a benefit for many novice photographers, as these cameras can fit in a pocket and the automated exposure functions are ideal for photos.
This level of digital camera has certain inherent flaws given the current state of digital technology. Generally, there is a delay between pressing the shutter release and the photo being taken.
This consumer camer a from Olympus is a good choice for the casual photographer, but it is also incredibly advanced in its ability to photograph underwater to a depth of 33 feet and its capacity to endure falls of nearly 5 feet. This camera is equipped with video capabilities.
due to the high amount of data, such as exposure and focus, that must flow through the circuits of the camera. For a committed photographer, this might result in hair loss due to the time spent pulling out strands in irritation over lost moments.
It is a direct correlation: the more money you spend, the less lag time you will experience. If you are purchasing in this price range, you should inquire about the lag time as one of your first queries. While in the camera store, shoot the camera multiple times to determine whether the shutter lag could be an issue.
Consider the following consumer-level factors:
■ Lag time Ensure that the camera responds fast to the shutter button.
Velocity of the lens This determines how much light the lens lets through, and hence affects the shutter speed. The pocket-sized cameras are adorable, but they
will typically use a slow lens, most likely a 19 f4 or f5.6, which can slow down the action.
The rate of the camera's processor The captured image is held in the camera's buffer (memory) while it is processed and downloaded to the capture media. The buffer can only hold a limited number of photos. Inquire about this, as cheaper versions will hold less photographs. This can be incredibly aggravating if your camera has a small buffer because it will not allow you to take more photos until the buffer has been cleared.
Zoom distance of the lens Most consumer-level cameras will provide a 3x or 4x lens. This will suffice for the majority of amateur photographers until they wish to picture elk bugling in a state park. Consider one of the new breed of "ultra-zoom" cameras, like the Olympus 5060, if you are interested in photography animals or sports. Digital zoom provides a longer focal length, but its quality degrades rapidly the more you use it.
■ Image quality A consumer camera is less expensive than a prosumer or professional DSLR for a reason. The chip (the electrical component that captures the photo, equivalent to film) is often smaller, thus enlarging the image will reveal a worse quality than images captured by this camera's larger siblings.
File size The same considerations apply as with image quality; in general, the greater the cost, the larger the file size. And the file size indicates the maximum size the image may be extended to without losing quality.
■ Noise Noise in film images refers to graininess. A result of the reduced sensor size of point-and-shoot cameras is an increase in noise. This will be more noticeable in shadowy or dark settings.
■ Pixel size Typically, smaller sensors have smaller pixels. Because smaller pixels contain fewer electrons, they are noisier than larger ones.
■ ISO settings The ISO (image speed) options for the consumer-grade camera are more limited. This restricts the camera's (and hence the photographer's) ability to boost the ISO for faster exposure in low light to ISO values between 100 and 400. If you enjoy photographing sporting events, this could be a problem for you. The capacity to shoot with a faster shutter speed requires either a large amount of light or a higher ISO. The professional cameras will have an ISO range of 3200 and above, enabling the extremely quick shutter rates required to freeze movement.
This Canon PowerShot G10 camera straddles the boundary between consumer and professional models. Typically ranging from 10 to 14 megapixels, these cameras include a fixed lens with a zoom range of 3:1 to 6:1. In addition, the majority of prosumer cameras have quick apertures and processors for transferring photos from the buffer to the media card with minimal or no lag.
The Canon PowerShot G10 bridges the gap between point-and-shoot convenience and professional-grade DSLR control.
Prosumer characteristics consist of the following:
Short or nonexistent delay between depressing the shutter and the image being captured.
The best zoom ratio is 4:1 or 5:1.
The majority of professionals favor a wide-angle zoom comparable to approximately 28mm.
The widest aperture setting of f2.2 to f2.8 is optimal.
Ergonomics designed to accommodate your hands and shooting technique.
Greater control over the camera's exposure modes. This would feature the option to overexpose or underexpose the camera to a degree decided by the shooter.
A wider selection of potential ISO settings. This capability may provide an ISO range comparable to that of professional DSLRs.
A larger chip with improved quality.
The presence of a hot shoe, allowing the use of an additional flash with the camera. The hot shoe is a receptacle on the camera that accepts the flash's foot for manual, automated, or TTL (through the lens) flash capabilities.
The advantages of the SLR camera are numerous: the method of focusing and composing through the lens; the ability to see exactly what the lens sees; the accuracy of the metering because it can also meter off the produced image; etc. Several top-tier digital cameras, such the Olympus E-3, the Nikon D3, and the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, provide 100 percent of the viewfinder image. Others are within the range of 90 to 94 percent, a holdover from the days when the majority of amateur and professional photographers used slide film and the slide mount clipped off 4 to 6 percent of the edges. Filter effects, including polarizers, graded filters, and special effect filters, are visible in the viewfinder.
Other benefits include interchangeable lenses, state-of-the-art buffers and processors for quickly transferring photographs to the media card, and no lag. The camera responds when the shutter button is pressed. Newer cameras, such as the Nikon D90 and the Canon 5D Mark II, with limited video recording capabilities may in some instances eliminate the need to carry a separate, video-capable camera.
camera. As with any work-in-progress, these 21 cameras have restrictions, including the inability to change focus automatically and a maximum burst time of five minutes (due to the chip becoming hot as the current passes through it). However, video capability will become a prominent characteristic of the prosumer.
The professional camera provides manual control over every area of photography. This may seem like too many decisions to make at your current level of expertise, but I will demonstrate how to use the manual options to improve your images throughout this chapter. In addition to enhanced metering, quicker shutter speeds, greater ISO control, less image noise, and a wider selection of lenses, the camera designed for professionals also features enhanced metering, faster shutter speeds, increased ISO control, and reduced image noise. Additional attributes include the following:
Extremely fast processor The majority of high-end cameras are capable of capturing at least 25 high-quality JPEGs (SHQs, or super high quality) with a frame rate between five and nine frames per second. This may seem excessive, but when photographing events such as the running of the bulls in Pamplona or porpoises leaping, it is crucial to be able to continue shooting without being hindered by the camera pausing to analyze photographs.
Robust construction Examine the lens mount. A lens mount made of steel is preferable than one made of plastic or synthetic material. Steel will sustain larger and longer lenses and will survive the abuse of frequently switching lenses, extending the life of the camera.
22 are the Olympus E-3, Nikon D3X, Canon 1Ds Mark III, Pentax K20D, and Sony DSLR-A900 cameras. These premium digital SLR cameras are manufactured with water-resistant seals, gaskets, and O-rings to create a reasonably secure barrier against splashes and light rain. In conjunction with a weather-resistant lens, these cameras allow the photographer to shoot in less-than-ideal conditions, where rain or dust would otherwise harm less robust cameras.
Digital-specific proprietary lenses, notably in the wide-angle range. Numerous manufacturers produce digital cameras that are compatible with existing 35mm lenses. However, there is a difficulty with the mechanism by which film lenses concentrate light from the rear element to the chip. There is mounting evidence that the design of 35mm wide-angle lenses causes the light to strike the chip array at an angle, causing the corners of the frame to be hazy due to the sensor's pixel grid casting a shadow. Following Olympus's example, the majority of firms now produce digital-specific lenses.
Cobwebs on the sensor Professional-grade cameras all include a sensor-cleaning mechanism to address the digital realm's Achilles' heel. When electricity is flowing through the sensor, it attracts dust to its surface like a magnet. Each camera brand addresses this issue in various ways, some more effectively than others. I've taught a few courses to the US Navy Combat Photographers Group, and the dust they collect on their equipment is astounding.
Their sensors are quite remarkable and understandable.
■ Image stabilization In addition to decreasing the amount of dust on the sensor, many cameras incorporate image stabilization inside the lens or the camera body. Lens stabilization is achieved by a number of "accelerometers" (similar to miniature gyroscopes) that counteract movement (shaking) in the lens. In instances of slow shutter speed, body stabilization enables a "sensor-shift" to counteract camera movement/shake.
An elder neighborhood pro is often a good source of information, and this photographer typically has a great deal to offer. Years of experience working with both good and poor camera equipment provide a wealth of knowledge regarding its performance. A knowledgeable camera shop salesperson can also be a wonderful source of information, so long as you don't feel like you're always being sold something. Find a store that will allow you to linger for extended periods of time while managing multiple cameras.
Typically, your local expert will have a preferred camera store and salesperson. And how can you locate this helpful expert? Attend a meeting of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) in your area. This professional association holds monthly meetings in the majority of major cities, and guests are welcome to attend for a nominal fee. Ask the photographers there where the greatest stores are in town. During the meeting,
The 22-megapixel Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, the Olympus E-3, and the Nikon D3X are three professional-grade digital SLR cameras.
Ask the experts what the top 23 pieces of equipment on the market are. While the camera salesperson likely has a superior understanding of the market's items, the expert has extensive expertise in the field. Professional users are keenly aware of issues with durability or failures resulting from environmental conditions.
The Internet has created a platform for a multitude of camera critics, yet I frequently encounter false material on numerous photography review websites. Consider the majority of this material to be highly suspect. Computer magazine reviews of equipment can often be disregarded because they are typically authored by computer nerds who lack photographic skill, and therefore provide an assessment from a standpoint that is realistically irrelevant. The journals that publish these reviews are supported financially by advertising from camera makers and large retailers. A magazine would never jeopardize its own financial stability by panning a camera belonging to a sponsoring firm.
Examine the general quality of images accompanying the articles: the majority of reviewers are not photographers, so how can someone without an understanding of photography recommend a piece of photography equipment?
Local camera clubs will consist of aspiring photographers who are well-versed in the intricacies of the local market and should be eager to share this information. Consult the yellow pages under photographic supplies, contact a big retailer, and inquire about local clubs. Before giving someone's opinion credence, examine his or her photographs to determine whether the photographer is credible. There
There are several want tobes with numerous opinions around camera brand cheerleading. If the photographer's work is good, I am more likely to value his or her perspective on equipment.