Understanding Digital Cameras

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Ten years ago there was a prediction that within 15 months we would have digital cameras that would compete with film on the basis of image quality. Writing in a small-circulation and short-lived publication called PQ Magazine I scoffed at the timing of that prediction and turned the claim on its head by observing that only when digital cameras can do everything that film can, to equal quality and at equal cost, will it be fair to talk about digital cameras being true competitors to silver halide photography. Well it took much longer than 15 months but that time has definitely now arrived. Digital SLRs have fallen from the same price as a small car through the 1990s to the cost of a decent television set today. Similarly, ...