Since its invention in the eighteenth century, and coming of age in the seventeenth century, the camera has been the door to the inner soul.  Superstars such as Ansel Adams,  Brassal, Alvin Langdon Coburn, William Eggleston and Jerry Uelsmann ushered in all types of specialties that aided in the growth of the medium.  As in any field, change is constant.  We are currently in a continuing explosion of technology, leaving many to ponder what the difference is between film and digital cameras, and how does it affect each person’s photography.  There are many arguments pro and con for either side of the fence.  What can be done with either technique, and what is best for me?

Traditional photography has always lent itself to manipulation.  When using film, alterations are produced in-camera by use of lighting and shadows, ISO of the film, shutter speed and aperture.  At the point of processing, other manipulations can be done by changing the exposure time of film to paper, light exposure to paper, and you can even combine different photographs together to produce a multi-neg photograph such as something Jerry Uelsmann may produce.  These techniques have a smaller learning curve, so that with some practice you can perfect the craft.

Manipulation can also be done digitally, and this is largely one of the key points.  In digital exposures alterations can be done at the time the photograph is taken by adding frames to it, changing the color, etc.  On the computer screen, in a program such as Photoshop, the user has the ability to change backgrounds, colors, delete wrinkles and smile lines, fix shirt bulges, etc.   The problem with using Photoshop and comparable software is that in order to produce the perfect image, you need to be somewhat of an expert at computer manipulation which can take years to master.  You can have a lot of fun, but if you are only slightly okay at the craft, then you will only have a slightly okay picture.

Prints that are made from traditional negatives can be enlarged for wall portraits without much work of loss of detail.  They can be blown up to sizes 30×34 inches and the portrait or image will be just as clear as a wallet-sized picture.  Traditional photography lends itself to high-resolution images each time they are taken.  Digital photography, on the other hand, can have a tendency to blow out, or pixelate, when the images become too large from a smaller resolution image.

Digital cameras come in different sized Megapixel resolutions, with the ability to do “low, medium, high/best, and better” dpi images.  The lower the resolution, the bigger the dot, the less likely it will become a high quality 30×34 print.  The plus is, you can manipulate the ISO and dpi on an image-to-image basis.  This allows for the user to be able to complete a lot of different images in one batch, as you go. You will need to worry about white balance, as well, when using a digital camera. You need to be aware of computers, screen resolutions, screen manipulations, camera settings, lighting and posing to perfect the craft.

So, the bottom line can be stated that in the long run, you can do the same thing with traditional cameras and negative film processing than you can with digital images.  Pictures and portraits from film can last a lifetime and be produced at large sizes without a problem, while digital will fade often and need to be reprinted often.  Digital images, when everything is optimum for settings, can lend to absolute beauty. While you have great control over film, you have more creative choices with digital photography.  Either way; time, skill and patience will be the key to the perfect image.

Whether you are simply upgrading your existing digital camera, or you are ready to jump into the 21st century and dump your old film camera, the choices are astronomical out there in the marketplace, so let's help you narrow those choices down.  Selecting a digital camera does not need to be a hard task.

Several things need to be taken into account as you ready yourself for a digital camera purchase.  These include resolution, lens aperture, quality and zoom range, in-camera software, and LCD screen.  What you need to know about yourself is:  what do you plan on doing with the camera, what type of photographs will be taken and in what environment, how much experience do you have, and what type of final product are you looking for?  Let's narrow down what all of this means in terms of acquiring that perfect camera for all your needs.

≈ Resolution will dictate what size print you can produce well from your camera.  Megapixels is the term used to determine resolution in digital cameras.  The more pixels, the more detailed the image will be.  So, if you plan on just shooting pictures for your personal enjoyment and you are only going to print small photos, the 1.3-2 megapixel range will be good for you.  E-mailing, home, and family web pages, auction, and real estate sites will only require 3-4 megapixels.  You can print decent 11x14s with this range.   Professional quality websites, designs, presswork, and online photo albums will require 5-10 megapixels.  Professional photographers prefer the largest number.  You can print wall portraits with the later resolution with clarity.
≈ Lens Aperture refers to how much light comes in through the lens.  The bigger the aperture, the more light is gathered and the dimmer your surroundings can be.  The f/ (#) is what indicates this feature.  The best range to look for would be f/2.8 through f/3.5 so that you may use your camera in any lighting situation and still come out with perfect prints.
≈ Zoom Range talks about magnification.  Pay attention to only the optical zoom number on the camera because the digital zoom only refers to how close you can crop the image in-camera.  When using telephoto super zooms at 300mm make sure you accompany your camera with a tripod to escape blurriness. Shorter focal lengths are good for expanding vistas, while close-ups require long focal lengths.  The digital SLRs are the best in this category and perfect for the professional photographer.
≈ Lens quality is extremely important.  If your camera has a shoddy lens, your images will always be horrible.
≈ In-camera software dictates color compensation, allows you to correct red-eye and allows you to see the image before it is saved.  If your experience level is low, the more features the camera has to figure things out for you, the better.
≈ LCD screens should be able to work in any amount of lighting.  You should not use it as a viewfinder; it doesn't allow you to see enough of the scene in front of you to know accurately how it will come out.  Use optical viewfinders for best results, as you will see what the camera sees.

Some of the best pros when you purchase and select digital cameras are the savings from having to purchase film and get it processed.  The digital SLRs are the closet to having a good old-fashioned film camera.  In-camera software can allow for easy manipulation so you don't need to produce extra effects through processing procedures.  Always have in mind what you want to do with the camera, what you want the outcome to be, and you should have no problem in selecting your own digital camera.

Essentially, we re going to be publishing articles about different digital cameras available from several different manufacturers.  The focus will be squarely on digital cameras, but we will also diverge into articles on accessories from time to time.