What Is Digital Photography?

it is photography where the image is

exposed, captured and stored
electronically rather than on film.
 If film is replaced by an electronic
image sensor.
• Normal film photography uses a chemical
process to expose and capture images. The
camera lens and body allow a controlled
amount of light to come into contact with the
film which is basically a sheet of plastic that
has been coated with a light sensitive
chemical compound. Once the film is
sufficiently exposed to light an invisible image
is formed. When the film is developed other
chemicals are applied and the image then
• With digital photography the film is
replaced with a light sensitive
electronic device known as an image
sensor. These sensors are made up of
millions of photoelectric devices that
convert light into an electrical signal.
The two most common types of
image sensors used in digital
cameras are CCD (charge coupled
device) and CMOS (complementary
• The strength of the electrical signal
depends upon the intensity of the
light that exposes the image sensor.
These electrical signals are then
processed through a series of
complex electronic circuits and
eventually stored in some type of
internal or external flash memory in
a standard image file format such as
a JPEG file. (JPEG = Joint
Photographic Experts Group). When
• Just as camera film is available in
different sizes so are digital image
sensors. The smaller sensors found in
cell phone cameras and small point
and shoot cameras generally
produce lower quality images than a
larger sensor that would be found in
a digital single lens reflex camera.
Understanding the Importance of
Megapixels
• Image sensors also differ in the number
of pixels (Picture elements or the number
of individual photoelectronic conductors
that make up the image sensor.) Because
an image sensor has millions of individual
pixels the term "megapixels" is used to
indicate the resolution the camera is able
to capture images at.
• When all other things are equal a camera
with a higher number of megapixels is
able to capture a higher resolution image
which will result in a higher quality print.
 Advantages of Digital Cameras
Over Film Cameras.
• Digital cameras allow for instant review
of images. This allows the photography
to have instant feedback and make any
necessary adjustments to the exposure
or composition right away.
• Lower overall costs. Images are easier to
store and there is no need to continually
buy film. Also one memory card is able to
typically hold a much higher number of