A question about digital cameras.?
Around thirty years ago I was heavily into photography and had a large amount of Olympus OM equipment and did my own processing.
Having come across a question in this section, I wondered if the current crop of high-end digital cameras have the same creative qualities as film cameras with regards to shutter and aperture settings?
Please don’t lambaste me as an idiot, this is a genuine question by someone who enjoyed his hobby and had work published, but let his interest lapse into obscurity!
Sorry, I suppose ‘qualities’ should read ‘abilities’.
Digital SLR cameras do indeed offer the same type of control as a traditional 35mm SLR. You can manually control the aperture, shutter speed and all sorts of other characteristics. The main difference is that while for 35mm SLR kit you generally adjust the aperture by twisting a ring and the shutter speed by twisting a knob, with DSLRs it’s generally driven by a thumbwheel or through menus. There are a number of automatic and semi-automatic modes so you can have as much or as little involvement in metering and choosing the settings as you wish.
The range of apertures is the same as it ever was, and most DSLRs can use lenses that were originally intended for 35mm SLRs.
The range of shutter speeds is probably similar to your OM kit, perhaps with one or two faster shutter speeds due to incremental improvements in the technology of shutter curtains.
If you are after a more detailed comparison, the biggest difference in using these cameras comes from the fact that most DSLRs come with an APS-C sensor that is smaller than a 35mm negative. This effectively extends the focal length of a given lens by 1.5-1.6x and alters the depth of field. If you’re prepared for this, though, it’s no problem. Professional DSLRs have full-frame sensors so this isn’t an issue.
In terms of resolution, a well-exposed and well-developed 35mm negative might offer 20-25 megapixels equivalent resolution. Today’s professional DSLRs are starting to offer resolutions in this league.
In terms of sensitivity to light, you get greater dynamic range from film (especially black & white film) than you do with most digital sensors. This might be a selling point for using film in extreme circumstances, but probably not too noticeable for general photography.
I hope this answers some of the technical points of your question. However as you were asking about “creative qualities” this is entirely subjective! A good photographer can be creative with an awful camera, and conversely a professional camera won’t produce good photos in the hands of an idiot.
Have fun!
Jonathan
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