The Magic of Digital The Magic of Digital PhotographyPhotography

A Presentation by John O’Sullivan

to the Bray Camera Club January 2006

Introduction Introduction

Tonight's topic is “Digital Film and stuff like that” if you where hoping to learn some new knitting patterns you’re at the wrong event, so leave now.

Please try to keep awake, there will be a little quiz at the end (but no prizes given)

Any questions will be answered at the end of the presentation

AgendaAgenda

Types of Digital Cameras AvailableThe Digital SLRDifference between Digital and FilmDigital Sensors ExplainedTypes of Digital Film/Memory CardsSetting up a Digital DarkroomChoosing the right SoftwareWhere to get more Information

So what will I get out of this So what will I get out of this then? then?

Apart from a free Eye Test, You’ll learn the main features associated with Digital Capture

You will no longer feel anxious about using a digital Camera

Just as CD has not fully replaced Vinyl and Video has not replaced your local flea pit, Digital Cameras will NOT replace Film Cameras we hope, Or do we?

VocabularyVocabularyDSLR - Digital SLRPixel – Picture Element, Digital photos are

comprised of millions of themMegapixel – Equal to 1 Million PixelsCCD - Charged Couple DevicePhotoshop - photo editing softwarePC - Personal ComputerUSB - Universal Serial BusCompact flash - Digital FilmJPEG - Image file typeCD - Compact Disk

Photographic PathwaysPhotographic Pathways

Digital PathwaysDigital Pathways

Types of Digital CamerasTypes of Digital Cameras

Entry Level - 1.3 to 2.1 Million Pixels examples are mobile phones Fuji Finepix etc..

Mid Compact 3.34 to 4 Mega Pixels eg Canon Powershot G1, Nikon 4300

Digital SLRs 6 - 12MPixels e.g. Nikon D70/100,Canon 20D,Canon 350D, Nikon D2X

Medium Format Digital Back - up to 39MPixels More Pixels More money, Bigger Prints!

Some Cameras AvailableSome Cameras Available

Entry Level 1.3 to 2Mega Pixel Price Range €150 to €250

Mid Range 3 to 4 Mega Pixel Price Range €300 to €500

Top end 5 to 12Mega Pixel Price Range €1500 to €6000

A Typical 4 Million Pixel CameraA Typical 4 Million Pixel Camera

The Nikon 4300 will easily produce prints of up to A4 (10x8) and above in size

Medium Format Digital RouteMedium Format Digital Route

Anatomy of a Digital SLRAnatomy of a Digital SLR

Some DSLR's AvailableSome DSLR's Available

Nikon D100 6.1MB Nikon D2X 12.1 MB

Differences between Film and Differences between Film and DigitalDigital

Film and digital make use of light energy to make some change to light sensitive material.

Film is constructed of light sensitive material arranged in random patterns called grain.

Film grain responds to light energy based on the levels of the three primary colours, Red, Green & Blue.

DigitalDigitalThe light sensitive material in a digital

camera is called the photo sensor. The photo sensor generates electrical

signals based on the levels of light energy hitting the sensor.

The photo sensor is comprised of millions of small cells called pixels.

The cells are covered by red, green and blue filters with the majority cover by green filters as green is the colour of light that the human eye is most sensitive to.

ResolutionResolution

The number of individual cells on the photo sensor determines the number of dots that will make up the final picture.

The larger the number of dots, the greater the quality of the image recorded.

This image quality is often termed the resolution and is typically referred to as the number of mega-pixels.

Sensor SizeSensor Size

Digital SLRs typically have a smaller sensor than a 35mm frame.

The cost and complexity of sensor technology dictates that all but the most expensive SLRs use this smaller size (Same as APS Negative).

The effect of the smaller sensor is to narrow the field of view so the effective focal length of lenses is different when used on digital cameras.

Effective Focal LengthEffective Focal Length

Most digital cameras have a field of view that corresponds to 1.5 X the focal length.

So a 100mm lens becomes 150mm and a 300mm becomes a 450mm. This feature is great for increasing the effective

length of long lenses The downside is that an 18mm lens is required to

simulate the effect of a 28mm lens on a film camera.

So an ultra wide angle lens is required in addition to the digital camera

Sensor Size and Field of ViewSensor Size and Field of View

Digital Memory Cards Digital Memory Cards ExplainedExplained

5 Major Digital Memory Card Types Smartmedia - Fuji and Olympus Cameras SD and XD - Fuji Cameras Memory Stick - Sony Compact Flash - Nikon, Canon, Kodak,Fuji,

Pentax, Minolta (most DSLR) Card Sizes vary from 16MB to 8GB depending on

card type. Lexar and Sandisk good reliable Brands. All cards are reusable 512MB card will store 150 High Quality Images

Some Types Some Types of Memory of Memory

CardsCards

What about Future What about Future Developments?Developments?

What can we expect? More Pixels! will eventually settle down to

maybe 25MP only Nikon ,Canon etc can answer this one.

Larger Sensors. Full frame i.e. size of 35mm Faster cycle times Larger capacity memory cards min 8GB Remember digital has only been around for less

than 10 years, a lot will change over the next decade

The Digital Darkroom, What The Digital Darkroom, What you needyou need

Choosing the Best SoftwareChoosing the Best Software

Depends on what you want to do. Use Adobe Photoshop Elements Version 2/3/4 or

Paintshop pro for basic photo editing. Reasonably priced for Mac and PC

For serious work try Photoshop Version CS/CS2 - Very Expensive

You will need Windows XP or Mac OS X for latest versions, older versions will run on Windows 98/ME/2000, Mac OS 8/9

For Slide shows use Adobe Photo Album for PC or iPhoto for Apple Mac

I Hope I Haven't Confused YouI Hope I Haven't Confused You

Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information

The WEB, www.dpreview.com, www.adobe.com,

www.luminous-landscape.com

www.fredmiranda.comThe Bray Camera Club, feel free to ask

any of our Digital Experts

SummarySummary

We’ve discovered how Fantastic our Digital life’s will be!!!

Plenty of Good Books are available check out your local library. Night Course’s are available in the Bray area on Digital photography and Photoshop

Any Questions??????

The EndThe End

Thank you for your interest

Good Night.