Photography Information

How a Digital Camera Works


The digital camera is not something of a magic box that came out of the blue and made wonders! The digital camera is very much like the conventional analog camera, but the technology has been altered. It also contains most of the associated components that the conventional camera contains, like lens and a shutter for letting in light, however instead of reaching a photosensitive film, the light is made to fall upon array of image sensors or photosensitive cells. Much of the differences are like this, yet most of it still remains in oblivion for the ordinary people. And it order that the digital camera gets its true respect, it is necessary to explore these areas of truth and reveal them in light.

Looking a bit more in details about the working of the fantastic device, the digital camera. As a continuation of the above lines, it can be further investigated that the sensor array is basically a microchip about 10 mm across. Every image sensor is a charged-couple device (CCD) converting light into electric charges, and is essentially a silicon chip used to measure light. These charges are stored as analog data that are then converted to digital via a device called an analog to digital converter (ADC). Over the chip are present a collection of very small light-sensitive diodes, named photosites, or pixels that convert light (or more scientifically, photons) into electrical charges called electrons. The pixels are very much light sensitive, therefore with brighter light striking them, produces greater build up of electrical charges. Each 1000 array receptor creates 1 pixel, and every pixel corresponds to some information stored. The light enters the digital camera via the lens, which is the same mechanism as the conventional analog camera. And this light hits the CCD when the photographer presses the shutter button. The shutter opens and thereby illuminates every pixel, however with various intensities.

Taking a look apart, it can be observed that quite a few digital cameras use CMOS (meaning complementary metal oxide semiconductor, a technology of manufacturing these microchips) technology based microchips as image sensors. The basic advantage is that the CMOS sensors are appreciably cheaper and simpler to fabricate than CCDs. Another great advantage from CMOS sensors is that these take very less power compared to other technology, which adds up to the fact as to their extensive use, and can thus even support the implementation of additional circuitry on the same chip like ADC, some control units etc. Thus it can be stated that CMOS technology based cameras are small, light, cheap and also energy efficient, yet at the cost of some amount of image quality.

However the common trend remains that all cameras of the mega pixel range and higher up use CCD chips instead of CMOS. This is because of the fact of picture quality only, leaving aside the price differences.

This is basically the fact about how digital cameras work! Having known this much difference would not come in the photographing expertise of the users, but it always feels a kind of satisfaction on understanding the inner depths of a device that is so close to the eyes!

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.


MORE RESOURCES:

New York Times

Landscapes Framed by a Chevy
New York Times
That perverse thought seems to have inspired a recent series by another photography great, Lee Friedlander. Mr. Friedlander's “America by Car” has just been ...

and more »


Community briefly: Photography begins for 'Trespass' thriller
Shreveport Times
The new thriller from Nu Image, Inc./Millennium Films, directed by Joel Schumacher, stars Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage. ...

and more »


Guardian Camera Club: Puppkin on pet photography
The Guardian
This portfolio starts with 'Tim'; it's a fantastic image; perfect viewpoint, excellent composition, with great low contrast tonality. ...



Honeycomb Archive Named Digital Asset Management System for New Free Stock ...
Online PR News (press release)
Honeycomb Archive has recently been named the Digital Asset Management System provider for Pure Creative Commons, a new stock photography website. ...

and more »


Pawtography – Intro to Pet Photography
Boston Globe
Join Cheryl Colombo of Boston Dog Photography for this informative and fun two-day introduction to pet photography. Topics will include: discovering your ...



The Age

Eye-Popping HDR Photography Now Standard On iPhone
Cult of Mac (blog)
01, 2010) The iPhone's strong nod to photography just got more emphatic with the introduction of HDR in today's iOS 4.1 update. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, ...
iOS 4.1 HDR Photo Capabilities Previewed on VideoPhones Review
HDR comes built into iOS 4.1, bad news for developers?Today's iPhone (blog)
Ios4.1.Hdrtuaw.com (blog)
Evansville Courier & Press -Geeks are Sexy Technology News -WirelessGround.com Blog (blog)
all 334 news articles »


Art Barn features Digital photography
White Mountain Independent
Matt Suess displays his unique fine art digital photography prints at the Art Barn for his premier season. Posted: Friday, September 3, ...



Sept. 15 photography show depicts Galapagos Islands
Madison Eagle
Brennick, interested in photography for many years, is a watercolor artist, a teacher and a reading specialist. She has been a jeweler and a health care ...



Keep bird watching and photography respectful
Kansas City Star
Wildlife photography and bird watching go well together, provided nature shutterbugs minimize the impact on subjects, and respect resource managers, ...

and more »


Jamaica Gleaner

Adrian Creary clicks with photography, graphics
Jamaica Gleaner
In music, literature, film, dance and photography, young Jamaicans are making strides inside and outside the country. The generation coming is innovative ...


Google News

home | site map
© 2009 Professional Photographers Guild Of Abilene, Abilene Texas