Lecture 2 - Film VS. Digital Photography

1. VDIS10021
WORKING IN DIGITAL DESIGN
SANGEETA JAIN

2. DIGITAL VS. TRADITIONAL FILM PHOTO MEDIA

3. PHOTO MEDIA HAS CHANGED TO

4. SO HAVE THE CAMERAS…

6. AND NOT TO FORGET THE CAMERA PHONES!

8. AND SELFIES!

9. FILM VS. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Digital versus film photography has been a topic of debate in the photography
world, as well as the film industry since the availability of digital cameras
towards the end of the 20th Century. Both digital still photography as well as
digital cinematography versus film and motion picture film photography have
advantages and drawbacks. 21st century photography is now dominated by
digital operation, but the older photochemical methods continue to serve many
users and applications.

10. FILM VS. SENSORS
Traditional photography uses films made with
light sensitive material which records the
image which is then developed in either a
darkroom or a machine using a mix of
chemicals. The image captured on this film is
printed on light sensitive paper which we call
photographs. Edits are limited and are done
in the darkroom. The film has a limited number
of exposures possible on it. A 35 mm analog
camera has only 36 frames on a roll of film.
Digital photography uses a sensor with a huge
number of light sensitive pixels. This sensor
and the cameras processor record the image
which is then saved onto a memory card. For
editing, the images are transferred onto a
computer and can be edited using a software.
With a digital camera one can keep shooting
until you run out of battery or space on the
memory card (or both). It is possible to delete
pictures and instantly make room for more.

11. RESOLUTION
• Resolution is the ability to distinguish fine spatial details. Resolution of both film and digital
are subject to the quality of lens fitted to the camera. The medium which will be used for
display and the viewing distance, should also be taken into account.
• For instance, if a photograph will only be viewed on an old analogue television that can
resolve approximately 0.3 megapixel or modern HDTV set of 1080p with 2 megapixels, the
resolution provided by high-end camera phones may suffice, and inexpensive compact
cameras usually will. Similar or more expensive hardware may also fill the screens of
computer displays, though those few that show tens of megapixels is currently out of reach of
low-end film photography and all but specialized scientific or industrial digital cameras.

12. RESOLUTION
• Many professional-quality film cameras use medium format or large format films.
Because of the size of the imaging area, these can record higher resolution images
than current top-of-the-range digital cameras. A medium format film image can
record an equivalent of approximately 50 megapixels, while large format films can
record around 200 megapixels (4 × 5 inch) which equates to around 800
megapixels on the largest common film format, 8 × 10 inches, without accounting for
lens sharpness. Medium format digital provides from 39 to 80 megapixels. Thus film
and digital work each provide a wide range of performance in this regard,
overlapping but with film tending to higher resolution.

13. RESOLUTION
The resolution of film images depends upon the
area of film used to record the image (35 mm,
Medium format or Large format) and the speed.
More information may be recorded if a fine-grain
film, combined with a specially formulated
developer, are used. Conversely, use of poor
quality optics or coarse-grained film yield lower
image resolution. A 36 mm x 24 mm frame of ISO
100-speed film was initially estimated to contain
the equivalent of 20 million pixels, although this
estimate was later revised to between 4 and 16
million pixels depending on the type of film used.
The quality of digital photographs can be
measured in Pixels. The quantity of pixels in the
image sensor is usually counted in millions called
“megapixels” and often used as a figure of merit.
Other important factors are the effect of the Bayer
pattern or other sensor filters and the image
processing algorithm used to interpolate sensor
pixels to image pixels. Digital sensors are
generally arranged in a rectangular grid pattern,
making images susceptible to pattern artifacts,
whereas film is not affected by this because of the
random orientation of its grains.

14. DIGITAL NOISE VS. FILM GRAIN
The random appearance of small textures within a photograph may be referred to as digital noise or film
grain. With analog film, grain is the result of small chemical particles that have not received enough light.
Within digital image sensors, noise is the result of unwanted signals created by the camera’s digital
circuitry; this can be due to excess heat or a sensor’s ability to handle unruly signals in the airwaves.
Increasing the ISO of a digital camera or selecting high-speed film will make photographs more
susceptible to noise and grain. In most situations, noise is unwanted in color photos; however, with black and
white images, some artists view the grain as adding character and thus not as a negative point.
One last item to consider with noise/grain is that film may be a better medium for capturing long exposure
photographs. Image sensors must be operated at low temperatures to avoid thermal noise, a process that
can become difficult with prolonged usage of the imaging circuitry. Film, on the other hand, does not have
any issues with overheating.

15. DYNAMIC RANGE
Dynamic range is the measurement between the whitest whites and the blackest blacks
in an image or the lowest and highest values of density and luminance. It can be
measured in Exposure Value (EV for short) or 'stops'. Some scenes have a wide dynamic
range, meaning that there is a significant difference in exposure value between the
shadows and the highlights - such as shooting a silhouette at sunset - while others have
a much narrower range of brightness levels. While the dynamic range of an image is a
complex process that takes into account the sensor used, the type of file compression
and other factors, digital is ultimately winning against analog film. In additional, many
digital cameras have the advantage of sequential shots and HDR capabilities to take
pictures with exceptional high dynamic range beyond what is capable with film.

16. Dynamic range is of considerable importance to image quality in both the digital and emulsion
domain. Both film and digital sensors exhibit non-linear responses to the amount of light, and at
the edges of the dynamic range, close to underexposure and overexposure the media will
exhibit particularly non-linear responses. The non-linear dynamic response or saturation qualities
of emulsion film are often considered a desirable effect by photographers, and the distortion of
colour, contrast and brightness varies considerably between film stocks. There is no limit to the
number of possible levels of colour on emulsion film, whereas a digital sensor stores integer
numbers, producing a limited and specific possible number of colours. Banding may be visible in
the unusual case that it is not obscured by noise, and detail may be lost, particularly in shadow
and highlight areas.
DYNAMIC RANGE

17. FILM SPEED
When it comes to shooting in low light conditions, digital image sensors easily take the cake. Film can
usually be found available in speeds between 100 and 3200, although 6400 film does exist.
Today’s digital camera systems can match the noise produced by analog cameras in these ranges, as
well as push their sensitivity many stops higher. Consumer digital cameras such as Fujifilm’s X100T can
simulate sensitivities as high as ISO 51200 while professional Nikon systems, such as the D4s, can
shoot as high as ISO 409,600.
Digital cameras are capable of much higher speeds (sensitivities) than film, can perform more
desirably in low light situations at night or indoors, and are more useful for ultra-fast photography. In
addition, on digital cameras the speed can be adjusted at any time, while a film camera requires
changing the film to change the film speed. Analog film can be pushed or pulled multiple stops when
needed, but the amount of contrast within the image is affected.

18. Comparisons between film and digital media should consider:
• Film speed: For example, low-contrast print film has greater dynamic range than
slide film's low dynamic range and higher contrast.
• Data format: Raw image format or lossy compression.
• Pixel density of the sensor: The large sensors in DSLRs and medium-format digital
cameras generally have larger photo sites, which collect more light and therefore are
generally more sensitive. The larger sensors tend to have better signal-to-noise
characteristics. However, signal processing and amplification improve with generation
and small sensors of today approach the dynamic range of large sensors in the past.
FILM VS. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

19. • Pixel density of the sensor: The size of sensor that a camera has ultimately determines how
much light it uses to create an image. Almost all compact digital cameras, and most digital
SLRs or ILCs, have sensors smaller than the 36 mm × 24 mm exposure-frame of "35 mm" film.
The smaller sensors found in DSLR cameras affect:
• depth of field;
• light sensitivity and pixel noise;
• relative cropping of the field of view when using lenses designed for 35 mm camera;
• optimizing lens design for smaller sensor area;
• increased relative enlargement of the captured image.
FILM VS. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

20. • Scanner: Variations in optics, sensor resolution, scanner dynamic range and precision
of the analogue to digital conversion circuit cause variations in image quality.
• Optical versus digital prints: Prints differ between media and between images
shown on Visual display units.
• Signal/noise ratio: This defines the limits of dynamic range within a single
photograph, and may vary with subject matter. A single comparison cannot
demonstrate that digital or film has a smaller or greater dynamic range.
FILM VS. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

21. COST AND CONVENIENCE
When it comes to cost and convenience, both digital and analog formats have their advantages and
disadvantages. Noting the number of photographs you take within a given time, the urgency of needing an
image available, and the type of subjects you shoot, will help you choose between the two options.
Digital has a much more expensive up front cost and evolving technology means you will most likely want to
upgrade your equipment within a few years. For those who demand instant access to their photographs, there is
nothing faster and more convenient than digital. When shooting high-speed action photography, there is also no
concern about running out of film; large memory cards can easily store hundreds or thousands of high-resolution
photographs.
Analog is much more affordable up front, and you will most likely be able to use your film body for decades to
come, as genuine enhancements are to the film itself. That being said, analog shooters will be spending a lot
more money on film rolls and development costs. There is the need to conserve film more carefully as nothing can
be just deleted as with digital and photos are not availably instantly. Most available processing labs take at
least 24 hours, if not a few days, to complete the process.

22. FILM PHOTOGRAPHY
ADVANTAGES
• Lower initial cost than for a comparable
digital camera
• Film delivers a higher dynamic range, which
makes it better at capturing detail in whites
and blacks.
• Film is more forgiving of minor focusing issues
• Film is more forgiving of exposure problems
• Film offers higher resolution than most digital
cameras
DISADVANTAGES
• Film cameras are usually heavier than
similar digital cameras.
• Film storage takes up a lot of space.
• Film and development is a continuing cost.
• Film has a limited number of exposures.
• Unless you have a darkroom, you are
dependent on a lab to develop your
images.

23. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
ADVANTAGES
• The resolution in even point-and-shoot cameras, which is
often 12 to 20 megapixels is high enough resolution for
large prints.
• The cameras are generally lighter weight than film
cameras.
• Memory cards are tiny so they don't require much storage
space. One memory card can store more images than a
dozen rolls of film.
• Images can be viewed immediately.
• You can edit your images directly on the camera or on a
computer with photo-editing software.
• You can choose to print only the images you like best.
• Many cameras offer built-in filters.
DISADVANTAGES
• The initial cost for a digital camera is higher than for a
comparable film camera.
• Digital images easily lose detail in whites and blacks.
• Some digital cameras are difficult to focus.
• Digital images are less subtle than film images.
• Digital cameras become obsolete much quicker than film
cameras.
• Storage can be lost. Backups are absolutely necessary.
• Many digital cameras do a poorer job focusing in low light
than film cameras.
• Digital cameras are bigger consumers of batteries than
film cameras. Digital photographers need to keep extra
batteries on hand.

24. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4586313_slr-camera-work.html

25. HOW AN SLR CAMERA WORKS?
• An SLR camera is a SINGLE LENS REFLEX Camera. Light enters through a single lens at the
front of the camera, and is reflected on a mirror or sensor in the camera, recording the light.
An aperture ring inside the SLR camera adjusts how much light may enter the camera. The
shutter speed function on an SLR camera adjusts how long the light may enter the camera.
Photography is simply a recording of light on film emulsion, or a digital sensor.
• An SLR camera can be made as a film-based or digital-based camera. Both styles accept a
variety of accessories, including lenses, flash units, remote controls, filters and tripods or
monopods. These different accessories allow the photographer to change the look of the
photo. A compact film or digital camera doesn’t have as much versatility as an SLR camera.

26. LENSES THAT WORK WITH AN SLR CAMERA
• An SLR camera can accept a variety of lenses. A telephoto, or zoom lens, can be mounted on
the SLR camera body to allow the photographer the ability to zoom in close on a subject that
is far away. The resulting picture will make it seem as though the photographer was close to
the subject.
• A wide-angle lens can also be mounted on an SLR camera. This type of lens allows the
photographer to get a wide view, even in tight spaces, such as a small room.
• Specialty lenses, such as macro lenses, allow the photographer to photograph very small
objects with close-up detail. Close-up filters allow a similar effect, but must be used in bright
situations, since they cut down on the amount of light that can get into the SLR camera body.

27. ACCESSORIES THAT WORK WITH AN SLR CAMERA
• SLR cameras illuminate subjects at a distance better than a compact camera, since they can
use an external flash unit to brighten a photograph. Mounted on the top of an SLR camera, a
flash unit can project light up to ten times further than a small built in flash on a compact
camera. This is very helpful when photographing sports and stage productions.
• A tripod or monopod can be threaded into the base of an SLR camera for stability. A tripod
will allow the camera to stand alone on three legs, and be operated with a remote control or
delayed shutter function. A monopod gives stability to an SLR camera with a heavy lens, and
makes it easier to shoot for a long period of time with a heavy set-up.

28. http://www.differencebetween.net/object/difference-between-slr-and-dslr/#ixzz35FcQJJxO

29. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLR AND DSLR
• Pictures are an integral part in keeping memories. Before the days of digital photography, there was film. Although
film has started to disappear from the general public view in the last few years, it’s where we begin our discussion.
• SLR or Single Lens Reflex camera are a class of cameras that allowed for much better photographs due to an
innovative solution to an old problem. Most cameras have two light paths from the target, one leading to the lens
itself while the other to the viewfinder. This leads to the final photo being slightly different from what you saw on the
viewfinder. SLR cameras fixed this by using a certain mechanism that lets you see through the lens. After you push the
button to take the picture, the mechanism then moves to let the light hit the film behind it.
• Most SLR’s are used in professional photography, where the need for utmost quality is very high. It would not be
surprising that most of the advanced features also appear on SLRs and not on the common camera.
• At the early stages of photography, the LCD viewfinder grew in popularity. Since the LCD viewfinder usually takes its
image on the image sensor, it should already be considered as an SLR; but it isn’t. SLRs have begun to become a class
of high end cameras with more advanced features, like manual controls, interchangeable lenses, among others. It was
no longer just about the path of light.

30. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLR AND DSLR
• DSLR or the Digital version of SLR is basically an SLR that has been converted from saving the
image in film to saving an image in a memory card. It still shares a lot of the advanced
features of the SLR along with a few more improvements that makes it a lot more superior.
• The nature of memory cards and the high capacities that are available today means that a
professional photographer would not need to change the storage medium as often. The use of
very high quality sensors coupled with the capability to instantly review the image you took
also gives modern day photographers an undeniable edge.
• Despite being a few folds more expensive compared to their counterparts, the SLR and the
DSLR were an indispensable tool in professional photography. Even hobbyists who have the
money can enjoy and enhance their talents on photography. As most technologies evolve, so
does the technology in photography. The DSLR is just the next evolutionary step from the SLR.

31. PHOTO QUALITY OF DIGITAL CAMERAS VS.
CONVENTIONAL CAMERAS
• Film is an analog medium, so it doesn't have "pixels". The
finest films (which are slow and need a lot of light) have
very fine grains. Finer grains mean more grains per inch.
This means more detail in your image which will allow you
to enlarge your photos to a much bigger size without the
visibility of deterioration. If your objective is to take
advantage of these pixels, you need to work on your
lighting conditions and the quality of the optics used.
• If you want to get the maximum advantage from your film,
you need to use the best optics you can get from your
camera system. Cheap optics can have a low resolving
power due to imperfections in the glass quality and the
coatings used. In addition, sharpness, brightness and
contrast depend strongly on the quality of your lenses.
• Next to pixel count, each grain can be set to display any
color, color intensity and brightness. On a digital camera,
this is limited by the "color depth" as each pixel can be set
to a limited number of levels.
• One important factor to be considered with conventional
cameras is that the images are only previewed by you
after they are processed at the lab, not during the time
you took the shot as in the case of a digital camera. You
are completely in the dark whether it's good or bad
images. Furthermore, you have to pay for all your prints.
There is also little you can do to post process your shot
unless you have access to a well equipped darkroom.
http://digitaltrends.blogspot.in/2004/12/photo-quality-of-digital-vs.html

32. PHOTO QUALITY OF DIGITAL CAMERAS VS.
CONVENTIONAL CAMERAS
• The highest resolution available is 14 mega pixels with a very
expensive professional camera. But 6 Mega-pixel pro-summer
digital cameras can be bought at a much cheaper price. These
digital cameras are capable of producing a 3000 x 2000 pixels
image. This means that it is capable of producing an A4 size image.
• Digital cameras have larger image sensors than the average pocket
digicams. They produce better images than that of a pocket camera
with the same resolution. This is possible because the larger image
sensor of the digital camera is less sensitive to stray electrical
signals. A smaller sized sensor produces more 'noise'. Noise in
digital cameras is much lower than grain in film. This can be seen as
small variations in color and tone in image. As the 'amplifiers' in the
sensor make the electrical signals stronger with each higher ISO
setting, the amount of noise will also increase. This is comparable to
bigger grains on high speed conventional film.
• The advantages of digital cameras are many and very popular.
Direct preview of results make it possible for you to re-shoot. And
unlike its conventional counterpart, once you bought your
equipment, there is no additional cost in the pictures you take even
when it's more than a hundred times. Just simply store your shots,
and when you want some prints, print only what you need and
want. These help you to become more unconventional and try out
different experiments that you would normally avoid with
conventional film. More shots increases the chances of good images,
thereby making you a better photographer.
• Your choice between the two cameras depends entirely on what
you want to do with your images. Also, if you're not too keen with
the use of computers, you should probably stay with conventional
cameras. Nevertheless, if you are primarily concerned with taking
relatively small images for email or to use on a web page, then an
inexpensive digital camera will do. Combined with appropriate
post-processing, you are now able to create artistic and creative
results with the range of digital cameras in the market today.
http://digitaltrends.blogspot.in/2004/12/photo-quality-of-digital-vs.html

33. NEW TRENDS IN DIGITAL PHOTOMEDIA

34. Due to advancements in technology and social media there
are several new trends and developments in the way we take
photos, access them and share them. These are relevant to
how photography is viewed and used in design.

35. NEW TRENDS IN DIGITAL PHOTOMEDIA
• We all walk around with a smart phone in our pockets loaded up with social media apps and
an accessible camera ready to capture our everyday moments. Cameras have been mass
produced and accessible for some time however smart phones have seen the development of
incredibly compact cameras that fit in our pockets. Not only can we have our camera with us
all the time and take photos easily and conveniently, but we can share these photos instantly
with wireless connections. We can even print the photos with a wireless connection.
• The smart phone has seen an increase in people taking photos and sharing the data online. It
has also fed the obsession for the selfie and driven the creation of applications such as
Instagram and Pinterest.

36. THE SELFIE
• A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone.
Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Tumblr. They are
often casual, and are typically taken either with a camera held at arm’s length or in a mirror. Initially popular
with young people, selfies gained wider popularity over time. By the end of 2012, Time magazine considered
selfie one of the “top 10 buzzwords” of that year; although selfies had existed long before, it was in 2012
that the term “really hit the big time”. According to a 2013 survey, two-thirds of Australian women age 18–35
take selfies - the most common purpose for which is posting on Facebook. A poll commissioned by smartphone
and camera maker Samsung found that selfies make up 30% of the photos taken by people aged 18–24.
• By 2013, the word “selfie” had become commonplace enough to be monitored for inclusion in the online
version of the Oxford English Dictionary. In November 2013, the word “selfie” was announced as being the
“word of the year” by the Oxford English Dictionary, which gave the word itself an Australian origin.

37. PINTEREST
• Pinterest is a visual discovery tool that people use to collect ideas for their different projects
and interests. The site was founded by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra and Evan Sharp. It is
managed by Cold Brew Labs and funded by a small group of entrepreneurs and investors.
Pinterest is a free website in which users can upload, save, sort and manage images, known as
pins, and other media content (e.g. videos and gifs) through collections known as pinboards.
Pinterest acts as a personalized media platform, whereby users’ content and the content of
others can be browsed on the main page. Users can then save individual pins to one of their
own boards using the “Pin It” button, with Pinboards typically organized by a central topic or
theme. Users can personalize their experience with Pinterest by pinning items, creating boards,
and interacting with other members. By doing so, the users “pin feed” will display unique,
personalized results.

38. INSTAGRAM
• Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that
enables its users to take pictures and videos, apply digital filters to them, and share them on a
variety of social networking services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. A distinctive
feature is that it confines photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid
images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio typically used by mobile device cameras. Users are
also able to record and share short videos lasting for up to 15 seconds.
• Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and launched in October 2010.
The service rapidly gained popularity, with over 100 million active users as of April 2012.
The app allows users to apply a series of borders an effects to their photos that may enhance
the image.

39. FLICKR
• Flickr (pronounced “flicker”) is an image hosting and video hosting website, and web services
suite that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo in 2005. In addition to
being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, and effectively
an online community, the service is widely used by photo researchers and by bloggers to host
images that they embed in blogs and social media.
• All your pictures in one place. On Flickr, everyone gets 1000GB of free storage, enough
space for more than 500,000 photos. The powerful search technology means you can find
them anytime you want. No matter where you are, automatically sync your phone’s photos to
Flickr.

40. OLDER TRENDS STILL GOING STRONG

41. As we all continue absorbing amazing photography in our everyday
lives through social media, “Light as an artistic element” continues to be
experimented with and get our attention with geometric shadows, sun
rays, and triangles or cascading lines from a window blind.

42. Black and white is definitely timeless. So are the basics of
composition, color and theories of visual communication and
perception. We will take a look at them in the next lecture.

43. RESOURCES
• www.google.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_versus_film_photography
• https://petapixel.com/2015/05/26/film-vs-digital-a-comparison-of-the-
advantages-and-disadvantages/
• https://www.thespruce.com/film-vs-digital-photography-2688470