 | | Digital Vs. Film Photography
Although the price and convenience of digital photography has resulted in digital cameras outselling film cameras since 2002, we will never see film cameras become completely unavailable. Photographic film and equipment will continue to be an option for enthusiasts. Picture taking is an art form for many who would not think of going digital. They will use time and money to convert their end product to digital in order to share their photos. Much like digital users use time and money getting good prints of their photos!
Digital photography offers many advantages over Film photography;
- Pictures are available for instant review. Additional pictures can be taken instantly in the event of a problem.
- There are virtually no costs to capturing and sharing photos via email and storing on a computer without printing.
- Photos can be copied from one digital medium to the next without loss of quality.
- Ability to print photos at home using consumer grade paper or email photos to be printed professionally.
- Ability to capture hundreds of photos rather than changing film after 24 to 36 shots.
- Increasingly common anti-shake functionality. This allows for sharper handheld photos rather than using a tripod.
- A smaller sensor format which allows for smaller lenses, wider zoom lenses and greater depth of field.
- Ability to change ISO speed settings in the middle of shooting. In film photography the ISO speed is loaded so you must change film to change speeds.
- Ability to convert the same photo from color to black and white, sepia, etc.
- Stored digitally therefore there is no risk of fading or losing photo quality over time.
- Ability to manipulate photos usingcomputer software.
Disadvantages of Digital photography as compared to Film photography;
- Dependence on spare batteries or access to an outlet. Film cameras do use batteries but they tend to be smaller and not drained as quickly.
- Most digital sensors have less dynamic range than color print film.
- High ISO image noise manifests as multicolored speckles in digital images in contrast to the less objectionable grain of high ISO film. This speckling can be removed by noise reductioncomputer software however, the removal can cause a loss of fine detail.
- When highlights burn out they burn to white without details. If any broad area is over exposed the image looks very poor. This effect is similar on cheap pocket cameras. Film cameras retain a level of detail as they burn to white. This mimics our eye much better than digital. This is digitals greatest downfall.
Thus the comparison leads to a choice on an individual basis only. The user needs and skill level and the advantages and disadvantages to both types of photography need to be analyzed in order to choose the better method. If you were to try and purchase a digital camera that matched a film camera feature for feature it would easily be double the price even taking into consideration the savings on film. However, the convenience that digital photography offers may outweigh quality of each individual picture for some persons.
Digital technology has enabled a speedier process and a lot more room for error. However, the quality of a professional film photograph can not be matched for the price. Review of the advantages and disadvantages will help each user choose the better camera for their needs.
|
|
|
|
|
| The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists +DVD [AUDIOBOOK]
by Christian Bloch | ![The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists +DVD [AUDIOBOOK]](http://www.shoppalmsprings.com/shopping/hwords/HDR/1933952059.jpg) | HDRI emerged from the movie industry, and was once Hollywood's best kept secret. It is now a mature technology available to everyone. The only problem was that it was poorly documented until now. The HDRI Handbook is the manual that was missing.
Rocky Nook (November 2, 2007)
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
Paperback: 344 pages | Publisher's Review:
The HDRI Handbook reveals the secrets behind High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI). This cutting-edge imaging technology is a method to digitally capture and edit all light in a scene. It represents a quantum leap in imaging technology, as revolutionary as the leap from Black & White to Color imaging. If you are serious about photography, you will find that HDRI is the final step that places digital ahead of analog. The old problem of over- and underexposure in analog photography, which was never fully solved, is elegantly bypassed here. A huge variety of subjects can now be photographed for the first time ever.
Many questions remain open even for the computer graphics gurus that have been using HDRI for years. This is where The HDRI Handbook comes in. Included here is everything you need to build a comprehensive knowledge base that will enable you to become really creative with HDRI. This book is packed with practical hints and tips, software evaluations, workshops, and hands-on tutorials. Whether you are a photographer, 3D artist, compositor, or cinematographer, this book is sure to enlighten you.
Topics include:- Understanding the foundation of HDRI
- Tools for a High Dynamic Range Workflow
- How to capture HDR images: now and tomorrow
- Tone mapping for creating superior prints
- Image processing and compositing
- All 4 ways to shoot panoramic HDRIs
- Image based lighting and CG rendering
- World premiere of the Smart Dynamic Range toolkit
- Creative uses and unconventional applications
| About the Author:
Christian Bloch is a highly acclaimed Visual Effects Artists who has been working professionally in the field for years. He speaks the language of an artist, and he understands that a hands-on tutorial is a thousand times more valuable to the learning of HDRI than scientific formulas.
A native of Germany, he works and lives in Hollywood, California. His work can be seen in StarTrek:Enterprise, Smallville, Invasion, and a growing number of movies. He has been a pioneer in the practical application of HDRI in post-production, especially on a TV budget. Years of research and development went into his diploma thesis about HDRI, which was honored with an achievement award. Since that thesis was put online in July 2004, it has been downloaded more than 10,000 times, and has been established as the primary German source of information on HDRI. The HDRI Handbook is the successor of Bloch's diploma thesis, rewritten completely from the ground up in English, and heavily expanded and updated. |
|
|
|
