Digital Photography is performed with CMOS or CCD sensor cameras rather than film to capture an image, and is the primary way that photographs are generated in our modern age. This tag doesn't need to be on everything that is digital, but can be used when the question is specifically about the ...
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22answers
5k views
What kind of photography is still better done with film cameras?
Are there any kind of photography left today which digital cameras are still in the disadvantage to film cameras?
40
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5answers
2k views
How do I get started in Astrophotography?
I have a Canon 20D. I'd love to take some photos of the moon and stars.
How do I get started? I've search the web and the information is sparse and cryptic.
I'd like to know what equipment is the ...
36
votes
7answers
3k views
Are there reasons to use colour filters with digital cameras?
Digital photos can have colour filters applied after the fact by software, so are there any good reasons to use colour filters with a digital camera? As I understand it, the main reason for them ...
36
votes
6answers
2k views
How is ISO implemented in digital cameras?
If I change the ISO settings on my camera, obviously the gain of the system is increased, amplifying the signal from the sensor. What's not clear to me is where the amplification takes place. I see ...
28
votes
6answers
2k views
Why take diagonal photos?
In the "old days" I sometimes composed my photos diagonally, but I've not had success doing that in the "modern" era, because there's not really any nice way to present it digitally.
Is there a ...
27
votes
4answers
5k views
What's the difference between CCD and CMOS image sensors?
I keep reading articles about CCD vs CMOS image sensors. What is the difference between these two types? What exactly do these sensors do in terms of photography?
Is a CCD-based camera going to be ...
22
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3answers
2k views
Why is the blue channel the noisiest?
It is widely observed that the blue channel in digital cameras is the noisiest. I've certainly noticed that with my camera. Why is this?
Is it an artifact of some particular technology (e.g. Bayer ...
20
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5answers
2k views
Do megapixels matter with modern sensor technology?
Are more megapixels good?
Are more megapixels bad?
Do more megapixels increase detail? Do they make my images sharper? On the other side, is there a point that is too much? Do megapixels cause ...
20
votes
3answers
1k views
Why can't the ISO level on most digital cameras be set below 80?
Why is it that the ISO level on most digital cameras doesn't seem to go lower than ISO 80?
I understand (vaguely) that the sensors adjust the gain in order to achieve the equivalent of a high ISO ...
20
votes
4answers
801 views
What are good advanced books on the physics and science of photography?
I am looking for books about the physics of DSLR, including modern photography optics and sensor electronics. If I already have some books on optics and electronics, I have found fairly hard to find ...
19
votes
8answers
857 views
Should higher ISOs really be preferred (all other things being equal)?
My understanding of the ISO setting on digital cameras is that, unlike film-cameras, changing the ISO does not evoke any physical change in the camera. Rather, it simply tells the camera to multiply ...
18
votes
6answers
1k views
What good DIY projects (which involve a digital camera) do you know?
Recently I found my old digital 3.2 MPix point & shoot camera which has been mainly just sitting on my shelf for the last few years. I'd like to get it back to use, but since it is rather bulky ...
18
votes
7answers
1k views
Digital camera for someone without a computer?
My (rural living) mother-in-law has recently been told by her local camera shop that they will soon stop offering processing and prints from film based cameras.
I'm wondering if it is practical to ...
17
votes
6answers
3k views
How many stops can a digital camera capture?
How many stops can a digital camera capture?
I wondering if some one know, or have measure, the stops also for the negative or positive film, the human eyes, the monitor, the television, etc...
...
16
votes
5answers
12k views
Are there any free but comparable alternatives to Lightroom?
Does anyone have any recommendations for free software that provides the key features of Lightroom in one package? The main things I am looking for are:
RAW photo editing
Library management
Multiple ...
16
votes
4answers
531 views
Is it possible to do infrared photography with digital cameras?
I remember taking infrared pictures with a simple filter and black and white film. How can I do something like this with digital cameras? Or is this even possible?
16
votes
4answers
493 views
What is ISO and how does it affect my photos
What is the ISO setting on my camera? What does it represent? What should I be aware of with regards to ISO when taking photographs
15
votes
4answers
585 views
Why do digital cameras need an exposure time at all?
From what I understand of digital cameras, they are basically a lens plus a tiny two-dimensional array of millions of photo-diodes. And from what I understand of photo-diodes, they create a voltage ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
Why do photos look best without any sharpening?
Maybe it's a subjective question, but most of the time my photos look best when I leave the Sharpening slider of Lightroom in a value close or equal to zero.
Which are the benefits of digital ...
15
votes
7answers
4k views
Are there any really silent but good DSLR cameras?
When photographers take pictures at events, like at the latest British open golf tournament, you can hear a lot of loud shutter(?) noises? Is that really necessary for a digital camera? Especially ...
15
votes
3answers
779 views
What is the Orton Effect and how can I apply it to digital photographs?
I have heard of a photographic effect known as the 'Orton Effect'.
Can anyone tell me what the effect is, what its history is and how I would create it in both film and on my digital SLR?
15
votes
3answers
4k views
Are digital sensors sensitive to UV?
Is there any way, shape, or form that ultraviolet light is recorded by a digital sensor? Ideally, this question is related strictly to the sensor, without even a glass lens in between which could cut ...
14
votes
15answers
2k views
What advantages does 35mm film have over high-end digital?
In this day and age, do 35mm film cameras have any advantages over high-end digital cameras?
I am thinking mostly about image quality, but sure, other aspects are interesting, too.
14
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13answers
2k views
What is a good two lens “starter kit”?
A friend of mine is buying his first DSLR. He's chosen an entry-level Canon model, and wants to know which lens he should go for.
My advice is to go for a good 70mm prime and an 18-200mm. The former ...
14
votes
9answers
1k views
How can I justify a new camera purchase when I'm not a top photographer?
I am just wondering your thoughts on my dilemma.
The other day I was traveling on a train to work. The train ride is about 20mins. I noticed a man drawing/sketching. He is a construction worker, ...
14
votes
3answers
390 views
How does photography for digital display only differ?
I only want to capture images with the intent of displaying them on a digital screen. I do not want to print the images, ever. Do any specific considerations need to be made upon capturing the image ...
13
votes
6answers
2k views
Why are blown highlights particularly bad in digital photography?
I've heard that digital sensors are less "forgiving" of blown highlights than film. Why is this?
There's something called "characteristic curves". How does this related, in film and in digital?
Can ...
13
votes
9answers
699 views
How to compare RAW photos quickly?
It's not uncommon for me to return from a hike or outing and have 500+ images to "sift" before getting started on post processing.
Is there a better way to compare 5-10 photos of the same image ...
13
votes
7answers
2k views
Where can I see examples of great photos from cheap cameras?
I am looking for examples of really great photos made from cheap (sub-$250) point-and-shoot digital cameras. I have a group of friends who are just getting into photography, and I thought it might be ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
What camera & lens combination(s) are ideal for animal and bird photography?
I am interested about shooting animals (including, but not limited to, birds and in general animals that can move fast). So far, I would say I know the basic concepts of camera but I have never ...
13
votes
3answers
4k views
Can a laser pointer damage the sensor in a digital camera?
I once experimented with standing in a dark room and directing a laser pointer towards my digital camera with a long shutter speed while moving the two about. I made a few images that way; one was ...
12
votes
12answers
2k views
Which DSLR brand should I pick as a beginning photographer?
I'm planning on starting photography as a hobby and I will be purchasing a DSLR very soon. Many of my friends have upgraded to DSLRs from P&Ss nowadays, but they all use different brands. Most ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
Where can I sell digital photos online without advance commissions or fees?
I am looking for an online place to sell my photos. My requirements are slightly different to normal.
Don't pay anything upfront. Only pay commission when a sale falls through.
No filtering of ...
12
votes
1answer
892 views
Can the effects of a polarizer be replicated in post-processing?
According to my knowledge Polarizing filters are mainly used to make sky appear more bluish in the day sunlight which gives more dramatic effect to your pictures.
I don't have polarizing filters yet ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I keep skin color from coming out too red in prints?
I've noticed lately that subjects with darker skin, especially brown hues, tend to come out with lots of red in prints.
When shooting against red or brown backgrounds, this effect is significantly ...
11
votes
3answers
840 views
How to start the basics of photography, which is the best entry level SLR camera?
Am an Painting Artist, I would like to start photography. But I don't know the basics of photography, and I need to purchase a good entry level SLR Camera. So Please help me to findout a good beginner ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
If someone makes a picture of me, who owns the right to it?
Say, someone snaps a picture of me. Do I own the rights to it? Or is it the photographer?
EDIT I apologize for being vague in my original question. My intent was to find out for U.S. but a plethora ...
10
votes
3answers
965 views
Points to be taken care for a good photo snap
Thanks to answers given to my previous questions on white balance and image stabilizer, due to which I could experiment all my photographs on recent tour. The answers were very helpful. Anyway, but ...
10
votes
3answers
628 views
What advantages does a pure black and white camera have over colour cameras?
Now that Leica has released a pure black and white camera, the Leica M-Monochrome, I started to think about the advantages a pure black and white camera has compared to a colour camera.
I guess you ...
10
votes
3answers
349 views
How can one determine the ideal resampling algorithm for a given type of image?
Was reading this question and got to thinking. How exactly can you determine what the best resampling solution is? I have a concept, albeit somewhat vague, of what the basic methods do.
Are there ...
10
votes
3answers
887 views
What are the best resources for Indoor Product Photography?
I would like to know if there any good online resources for indoor product photography ?
Preferably with a Table Top setup.
Im looking for commercial grade product photography tutorials/resources.
...
10
votes
4answers
369 views
Does the convergence of video and photo technology in digital cameras have a negative impact on strictly photographic ability?
With every new Canon and Nikon camera we are witnessing the progression of an unprecedented convergence of video and photography ability, something completely unthinkable during the film era.
But I ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
What happened to Foveon sensors?
It seems like the Foveon sensor should be able to produce better images, because it's not dependent on the separate red, green, and blue pixels as exist on most digital cameras. However, cameras ...
9
votes
6answers
413 views
Why can't digital camera sensors expose each photosite individually?
Why is it impossible for camera sensors to function the way the human eye can?
What I mean is, why does a certain portion of the image have to be over/underexposed if we compensate for dark and light ...
9
votes
3answers
315 views
What resources would help me when I'm getting back into photography?
The last time I did photography I was in high school, shooting black and white photos on film with an old, fully manual Nikkormat, and developing and enlarging them by hand.
The world of photography ...
9
votes
3answers
720 views
How does altitude affect camera and lenses?
This summer I'll be attempting to get to the top of Kilimanjaro. I'm bringing my Olympus E-30 and a couple of lenses. The instructions I've received mentions that you should check the height range ...
9
votes
3answers
217 views
When travelling, how do I decide what's interesting enough to be photographed
I'm a total amateur. I went to Verona, Italy a couple of weeks ago. I was just taking photos of random stuff that I thought might be interesting and especially to improve my composition. So I wasn't ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
What colour space to use when printing digital photos?
As is customary with preparing images for print in a magazine or newspaper, I convert my digital photos from RGB to CMYK before inserting into my publishing application. However, when I'm printing ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you use dodge and burn in post-process to enhance a photograph?
How do you use dodge and burn in post-process to enhance a photograph?
In lightroom, I've used dodge only to dial back some of the more drastic global settings in specific areas, but that's really ...
9
votes
2answers
396 views
Recommended tips to conduct a workshop
Please suggest some good tips on conducting a photography workshop. I am planning to start a basic one first and then will proceed to advanced photography workshops. What tips do you suggest?
