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Saturday, March 14, 2009

Post-Digital Photography

By James Gilbert Pynn

The digital revolution is no longer upon us; it has crested and we're now in the post-digital age. Hard to believe revolutions in technology come and go so quickly. From vinyl records to cassettes to CDs, the innovations never stop and our anxiety only increases. The reluctance some traditional photographers had to the digital SLR cameras seems quaint now. The art of 35mm film photography is little more than an introduction for most photography majors. The real meat is the digital camera.

The choices abound. Four mega pixels, eight mega pixels, 40 mega pixels, the capacity of modern digital SLR cameras is phenomenal. It is not hard to be bewildered by the choices. Even the most died-in-the-wool digital camera aficionado can use some digital photography tips, it seems.

A key to understanding your needs is being honest with how often you see yourself using it. Most professional photographers will opt for a digital SLR. Even traditional film photographers can make the transition a relatively painless one. Indeed, some lenses are compatible with digital SLR bodies.

Some advantages of a digital SLR are lens interchangeability, high speed photography, and through-the-lens viewfinders. If, however, none of these features matter very much to you, a simple digital point-and-shoot is all you will need. Be advised, though, that a point-and-shoot with an electronic viewfinder is the best option. Those with optical viewfinders are frustrating as they can distort the image.

No matter which kind you choose, going digital is not longer a viable alternative -- there are no alternatives, except for using film camera. The resistance is over and the future is now and it is digital. As the traditional film development facilities dwindle away, the roots of the digital revolution grow more and more entrenched. Film photography cannot hold a candle to the bonfire of convenience the digital camera offers. The king, so to speak, is dead long live the king.

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