DigPhotog: Basic Tech: How Does a Digital Camera Work? [VID] (W7-P2) Fa15

Before we move further with understanding the settings on a camera, let's take a look at how the camera works on the inside.  Understanding how it works on the inside, helps with the understanding of how and why the settings do what they do.

Let's start with, how does a digital camera work? What are the steps in the process (a list of the steps)?
Along with this, what are the parts of the camera relevant to a discussion of how it works (a list of the parts)?

How DSLR Cameras Work


Let's take a look at the process again, in a slightly different way.



If you'd like to learn more, I'd recommend two additional YouTube videos: (1) the more detailed "How Digital Cameras Really Work" and the longer "How Does a Camera Work?".


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DigPhotog: Basic Tech: Film vs. Digital and Steps to Taking a Digital Photograph [VID] (W7-P1) Fa15

So, advances in technology have brought us the digital camera.  However, just because it is new tech, does that mean digital photography is better than film photography?

Compared to traditional film photography, what are the benefits of digital photography?   In the video below, two benefits are offered.*  To that list we can add: (3) digital photography allows for a smaller storage space and (4) digital photography allows for easy editing.

Note the key photography terms defined in the video?  Watch for the misspelling in the clip?



So, it can be argued that digital is better.  But, how to take a digital photograph?  What is the process? What are the steps in the process?

Technical Steps to Taking a Photograph (camera set-up, etc.)





If you are looking for videos that explain the technical basics of digital photography, I'd recommend Brian Ratty's video series (Digital Photography - The Camera (Tutorial DVD)).  The videos are now a little dated, but still cover the basics well.  Of course, there is good content on YouTube as well.

*Note that the video is a little dated. He says, for example, that film photography is still the standard. That is no longer the case.

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DigPhotog: Basic Tech: File Formats in Digital Photography [VID] (W6-P3) Fa15

And now, let's move from video back to still photography and from the artistic and on to the technical.

Let's start first with some discussion on how still photographs are stored digitally.  On your phone, camera memory card, or computer, digital photographs are stored in three possible formats.

The three primary file formats used in digital photography are jpeg, tiff and raw.*
Ever look at a list of photos on a computer and noticed ".jpg" at the end of the file name?  That photo was stored in the jpeg format.

So, what are the formats?  What are the differences?  What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?  Which should you use?*



Now with the basics out of the way, let's take a closer look at the idea of a raw file.  I like Mike Browne's cake metaphor.



If you want to learn more, I'd recommend "File Formats in Photography".

* Note that this discussion mainly applies to digital SLR cameras, since smartphones usually only allow jpeg formats.

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