Creative photography

[Fred]

Our family owns two recently purchased digital cameras, A Fuji S3500 and a Ricoh CapiloR1, both 4 megapixel cameras. Previously to this we were using an Olympus Superzoom 120 compact camera with Kodak 400 Max film. We chose these cameras after reading reviews in magazines and on the internet.

99.9% of pictures with the film camera  were perfect in any  conditions considering it is used in fully automatic mode all the time. Why can we not achieve the same results with either of the the digital cameras?

Some pictures are too dark others too light and more disturbing, quite a few are soft on focus. Both cameras exhibit the same traits.

We had hoped to take the Capilo to the UK next year to take our happy snaps but fear a lot of the snaps will not be good pictures.

We recognise that the digital pictures can be compensated by use of software but this is like playing around with analogue audio tape where each process results in a loss. Should we not be using the digital cameras in total auto mode or is digital auto mode not as good as film? After all happy-snap photography needs to be spotaneous. We feel as if we have wasted our money.

[Deb]

Hi Fred, your question is a very good one and there is much discussion (and debate) about it. I'm including a few links that you may find useful. These discuss and compare digital to film in greater detail than I'm able. I found them to be quite useful.

http://www.sphoto.com/techinfo/dslrvsfilm.htm

http://www.normankoren.com/Tutorials/MTF7.html

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/shootout.shtml

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/filmdig.htm

http://www.dlcphotography.net/Digital%20vs%20Film.htm

[ShutterbugGail]

We recognise that the digital pictures can be compensated by use of software but this is like playing around with analogue audio tape where each process results in a loss. Should we not be using the digital cameras in total auto mode or is digital auto mode not as good as film? After all happy-snap photography needs to be spotaneous.

Hi Fred,

Yes, it's true and sometimes frustrating, that digital cameras seem to be more difficult to use than film cameras. Here are a few suggestions:

- check if your camera has a setting to control sharpness. If so, set it higher.

- auto and scene modes are fine to use, however if your digital camera is set to "continuous autofocus" change it to "single auto focus" for more control (see below)

- make sure you're using the shutter-release button correctly, in two steps! Also learn how to use it effectively to get better exposure and focus:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/shutter-release-button/index.htm

A fact of digital life is that you have to apply some mild sharpening to an image, particularly if displayed on a web page or viewed on a monitor. If you scanned a "perfect" print from a film camera, you'd most likely have to do the same (or sharpen the image prior to scanning).