Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Photography

1. Lesser cost

One of the advantages that digital cameras provide is the fact that it is largely practical and convenient. There is lesser cost in the long run as one need not buy films anymore and will need not develop the pictures the old fashion way. They would only need to charge the batteries, get a reasonably large memory stick and they are good to go.

2. Better storage

Photographers can now store the pictures that they have taken in their computers and in their cds, allowing them to use the memory stick over and over again. There is no more need to store rolls of film and worry that they might disintegrate.

3. Printing convenience

Another convenience that digital cameras provide is the fact that it can be printed at home the same way one would print any kind of file.

4. Trial and Error

Another convenience that digital cameras provide is the fact that one can actually view the photos right after taking it and have the option of erasing it when it is not good. This, according to experts, spoils photographers. Because they can do a take over and over again, they don’t learn the discipline of planning for their shot before actually pressing the button.

Still, for the amateur photographer, this is like manna in heaven as this enables them to easily take good photographs and see their mistakes.

Disadvantages

1. Need for Computer literacy

Similar to film photography where you need to be also familiar with working in the dark room, one needs to have a modicum of computer skills. Not only will you be storing your photographs in the computer, operating the camera is like operating a small computer. You really have to be computer literate in order to maximize the functions of your camera.

2. Artistry is lost

There are some that argue that artistry and spontaneity is lost when using a digital camera because photographers do not shoot using various effects. For instance, some would not bother to blur the background anymore because they can fix the photo in Photoshop and other graphic programs. One can do a number of things with the computer, erase flaws, fix red eyes and sharpen some features.

Some Disadvantages of Digital Photography

There are disadvantages to digital cameras. Only you can compare the disadvantages to the advantages and decide what your preference is.

Some of the disadvantages are:

* Many believe the quality of digital photos is inferior to those of conventional film cameras.

* Unlike digital cameras, some film cameras work without batteries, or power needed to use CCD/CMOS sensors.

* Lack of batteries is a real advantage when shooting in remote locations.

* Film cameras offer various types of film, like used with infrared light, there is no digital camera available commercially that has the equivalent. While they can be converted to be very sensitive to infrared light, it often takes very long periods of exposure.

* Film is still the most admissible in court as it is much more difficult to change than digital.

* Film offers a more quality reproduction for human perception; this is called the dynamic range.

* Film has varying sized 35 mm, full-format, half-format etc.

* Digital cameras are more sensitive to heat, extreme cold and moisture than film cameras, and are therefore not as efficient in the areas of the world which meet these extreme conditions.

The advantages of digital cameras far outweigh the disadvantages in the more prosperous countries like Western Europe and the United States; for most consumers, they are quite advantageous. The professional community, however, isn't so clear cut on this issue, being about equally split in their opinions. The photographer now does much of the work after shooting that was once done by a photo lab.

Some of the problems professionals have spoken of include:

* RAW files take longer when editing and post-processing than 35mm film.

* Valuable shooting time can be lost while downloading large number of photos into a computer.

* Digital cameras can't always be fixed on location as easily as some of the film cameras.

* The necessity of carrying extra batteries for digital cameras increases the load the photographer must carry into the more remote locations.

Even with the numerous complaints, it is believed that as technology advances, more and more professionals with change to digital photography.