Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Cameras
It is really interesting to notice how cameras have evolved over the years. As a kid, I distinctly remember how flabbergasted I was, when told that the funny-looking thing propped up on a tripod in the Charlie Chaplin film was nothing but a camera! Having seeing Walkman-sized roll film cameras all my life, it was quite difficult to believe that the weird-looking device on the tripod was actually a camera. To come to think of it, I guess an 8-year old who has seen digital cameras all his life, would pretty much feel the same when it comes to hand-held roll film cameras of yesteryear.
Advantages of Digital Cameras
- Eliminates Film Processing: This is probably the most significant of all digital camera advantages. No longer do you have to waste your time and energy in developing the roll of film in a dark room. With digital cameras, you simply click the picture and transfer it to your computer using the camera's data cable. If you wish to print it, you can take it to the photo store in a CD and get it printed instantly. It's as simple as that!
- Massive Photo Storage: Digital cameras can easily store up to 10,000 photos, depending on the size of the memory card. This completely outweighs the storage capacity of traditional roll film cameras. Moreover if the storage capacity runs out, a larger capacity card or back up facility can be used.
- Operating Speed: In case of earlier cameras, one always had to wind the film after clicking a photograph. This led to a certain amount of time delay and inconvenience. No such activity is required in case of digital cameras. Digital cameras are simple point and shoot, complete with auto focus and image stabilizing. You don't have to worry about the subject being out of focus or your hand shaking, simply click, click, and click!
- User-friendly Features: High-end digital cameras have been meticulously designed for face detection through the camera lens. Hence you can say goodbye to all those blurry faces and red-eye photographs. These days, high-end digital cameras also come equipped with inbuilt motion detection mechanisms which adjust moving images and thereby avoid blurriness. This becomes particularly useful when clicking pictures of moving objects; for example, a horse race or a football match in progress. Also, clicking pictures in the dark, or in dim-lit surroundings, has become much easier, thanks to special night mode features that are commonly available in today's digital cameras.
- Editing and Sharing Options: Digital photography enables you use editing software to do a variety of things to your images. You can upload your images to a computer and make them sepia, or erase unwanted objects, images, colors from a photograph. With digital photos it easier to share them with everyone around the world using social media, or you put them up for public viewing on an image uploading site or online store.
- Preview of Images: Digital cameras have viewing screens on the camera body which allow you to view the image as soon as you have clicked it. If you do not like it, you can simply delete it then and there. Isn't that great?
- Video Recording: Today, most digital cameras come fully-equipped with inbuilt video recording features. So if you come across something that you would prefer to record rather than click, you can easily do it using the same camera.
- Environment-friendly: Using a digital camera is easier on the environment. With the world encouraging and moving towards a greener planet, processing film using toxic chemicals is obviously bad for the environment, what with more and more governments regulating the processing of film. Now, with digital images say goodbye to long processing time and processes.
- Storage Space: The size of a digital image can be substantially large and it won't be long before your designated storage space fills up. This leaves the user with the option of extending his existing storage space with a hard drive or extra memory card. Increase in storage space, naturally, comes at a price which may seem slightly on the higher side. In certain rare cases, the memory card can become corrupt or can develop other problems which can result in loss of data.
- Durability: It is vital to pay attention to the ambient weather while using a digital camera as they are sensitive to heat, extreme cold and moisture in comparison to the old film cameras. A digital camera is susceptible to extreme conditions that may cause malfunction and hence are rendered useless when using in snow or rain or desert areas.
- Battery Consumption: Battery consumption is much more faster in case of digital cameras. This makes it necessary to keep a few spare batteries in hand, especially during lengthy photo sessions.
- Complexity: An individual using a digital camera needs to know how to upload and edit images and be tech savvy with using computers. With a wide array of features and functions crammed in a digital camera, for those who aren't technologically inclined may find it overwhelming to learn digital photography.
