Photography

Camera Types

There are two basic types of camera that are currently being used. They are grouped according to the medium that they use to store photos.

1. Film Cameras

Cameras of this type uses the traditional photosensitive films to capture images by exposing the films with the right amount of light at the right length of time. This type may also be considered as an analog camera. Film cameras are slowly becoming difficult to find due to the advances in technology and quality of digital cameras, although some traditional photographers still believe that film quality is still superior as an artistic medium.

2. Digital Cameras

This type of camera is gaining more and more popularity these days. It uses an array of photosensitive electronic devices to capture images electronically and store them as a series of digital data. The most common types of imaging chips or sensors are the CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) and the CCD (Charge-Coupled Device). The digital camera is preferred by most since it is easier to use and maintain and it gives you an immediate preview of the images you took as well as the ability to erase unwanted images to save storage space. Images are stored in easily accessible memory cards.

Succeeding discussions from here on will generally focus on digital cameras. Most of the basics will apply to both types but digital cameras are a bit more complex, specially since it employs more electronic and digital parts -- we will give more focus on these new features.