Traditional cameras still have benefits over digital cameras but only for serious photographers.
Since digital cameras became popular in the mid 1990s, they have taken over the photography market. By 2009 the global digital camera market had grown to 40 billion dollars. Both digital and traditional photography have their strengths and weaknesses, depending on your level of experience and photographic goals.
History
Traditional photography was invented in the 1820s when Niepce created an image by using a substance that hardened when exposed to light. Niepce's partner, Louis Daguerre, created the first commercially available method of imprinting an image, called the Daguerreotype. Photography took off in popularity when George Eastman invented the Kodak camera, which was small, light and usable by anyone.
Digital photography had its start back in 1951, when the first video tape recorder captured live images and converted those images into electrical impulses for storage and playback. Sony released the first commercial digital camera in 1981; although it was just a video camera that took freeze frames. It was in 1994 that a true digital camera was available. Shortly after that, sales of digital camers exploded and overtook 35mm as the format of choice for amateur photographers.
Resolution
Traditional photography using film has a higher resolution than even the best digital cameras available. 35mm film, can capture the equivalent of 20 megapixels, while high end digital cameras can get only 12 or 13 megapixels. The conflict with the resolution argument, is that very few people will ever need a high resolution. For people who will look at an image on a computer screen or a 13" by 19" print, the digital camera has adequate resolution. Only professional photographers creating large gallery prints will ever need the 100 to 500 megapixels available in medium and large format cameras.
Brightness
The digital sensors in digital cameras do not always handle light well, such as shooting into the sun. Overexposure will cause the digital sensors to record unnatural color shift in areas of the picture, that shift from bright to white. Film, does not have this issue.
Ease of use
Digital cameras are by far easier to use than traditional cameras. Point and shoot 35mm cameras still require developing. A photograph from a digital camera can be on your computer just a few seconds after you take it. There is no film and almost all digital cameras have automatic sensors that can maximize the quality of your picture without knowing alot about photography. Digital cameras do need batteries to operate, and constant use of the LCD can drain those batteries quickly. Digital cameras also require a memory card inorder to save the pictures when you take them.
Types of photography
Digital cameras have replaced 35mm cameras in news and sports because they can capture a similar image while having several advantages over traditional cameras. Digital cameras are lighter, have interchangeable lenses and the digital photographs can be uploaded and emailed from the photographer's location. For landscape photography there is no replacement for medium and large format traditional cameras. Digital cameras do not have the resolution or control required to create large prints of landscapes or murals.
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