Emulsion film, as a medium for capturing photographic images, has been around in one form or another for more than 150 years. But due to the rapidly growing popularity of digital cameras, newcomers to photography are sometimes surprised to discover that film is still being manufactured and sold for all-purpose photography. Once their first digital camera is in hand, and they have mastered the art of recording images electronically, and storing them as files, the idea of using film seems a strange concept indeed.

So why is film still being used by some photographers?

To understand the answer to this, we will need to take a look at the differences between film stock and the modern image sensors that make digital cameras possible.

Let's start with the newer technology: the light sensitive electronic surface that sits at the center of a digital camera, and which is known as an image sensor. Basically these sensors are a specialized form of microchip. But they do not carry out any computations. Instead, all they do is measure the amount of light that falls on different parts of the sensor surface in a given time window. If you were to zoom in on one of these thumbnail-sized chips, blowing it up to the size of a football stadium, you would see that the surface of the sensor looked a lot like your tiled kitchen floor.

Each one of those square tiles represents a separate photodiode, capable of measuring just the amount of light that falls on it. In fact, sitting just above each photodiode is a colored filter. The filter is there to block all but the wavelength of light that it sends on to the photodiode. These filters come in red, green, and blue, so that any given photodiode will be measuring only the intensity of light for the particular color of the filter sitting above it.

Imagine for the moment that every tile on that kitchen floor is green. Now take one row of tiles and color every second tile blue. For the next row of tiles, color every second tile red, but shift the red tiles across by one space so that the red tiles appear beneath the green tiles of the previous row. Then repeat the process with blue tiles on the next row, and so on, until the entire floor is covered with these alternate rows of green/blue and green/red tiles. This is just what the surface of the image sensor looks like when seen close up.

In point of fact, this particular arrangement of colored filters, with twice as many green pixels as either red or blue, is known as a Bayer array. It is the most commonly used color filtering method employed in digital cameras, but it is by no means the only one used. Because the human eye is more sensitive to green light than red or blue, the green-favoring of the Bayer system actually works to its advantage when the colors are finally combined to produce printable images.

Every time a digital camera is used to record an image, this mosaic of colored tiles captures the various intensities of red, green, and blue light. So every photodiode, or "electronic pixel", has associated with it a color and a number. If a perfectly green lime was being photographed, the red and blue pixels would have the number zero associated with them, while the green pixels around them would carry non-zero numbers. In reality, small contributions of red and blue light would be mixed with much stronger green contributions to produce the hues of green that color the skin of the lime.

All of this information is whisked away from the image sensor and stored in a temporary image buffer, later to be transferred to the memory card used by digital cameras to store images as files. Software is then used to manipulate the images (or not) before they are finally sent to a photo printer.

The resolution of the images is determined by the number of photodiodes (pixels) that can be crammed onto the surface of an image sensor. These days it is not uncommon to find about 4000 pixels along one edge of the sensor, and 2500 along the other. The product of these numbers is 10 million, or 10 megapixels in the digital camera parlance.

So, how does this compare with film resolution?

Well, these days the brand of film stock recognized as offering the finest resolution is Fuji's Velvia 50 RVP. While it is not possible to ascribe a grain size to the emulsion that is used in slide film (there are a number of different sized grains in the dyes that make up the emulsion) an effective number of pixels per inch can be assigned to film stock based on how many closely-spaced "thin lines" can be resolved in the laboratory. The effective PPI, or pixels per inch, for Velvia is about 4000. This translates, assuming a 35mm frame size, to about 22 megapixels of image resolution. For better known film brands, like Kodachrome, the number is closer to 9 megapixels.

Clearly, with current top-end digital SLR models offering resolutions that surpass 20 megapixels, the numerical advantage that film once offered in terms of image resolution has all but vanished. Digital cameras now match the image resolution of even the very best film stocks, and will surpass them as image sensor technology continues to improve.

So now we are back to our still-answered question: why is film stock still produced when digital imagery is on a par with it, at least in terms of resolution?

The answer is that resolution is by no means the full story when it comes to creating a great image. As mentioned, emulsions contain a range of grain sizes and dye components that work together to produce effects that cannot easily be reproduced with three sets of red, green, and blue numbers. Velvia, for instance, adds more warmth to the actual recorded colors, and produces landscape images that look better than the real thing.

Fortunately for us, the makers of film stock, and the makers of digital cameras, are not, by and large, the same people. Otherwise film stock might disappear a lot more quickly from the world of photography. That probably will not happen for a while though. Not as long as film stock can produce images that surpass the quality of digital methods. Until that is no longer the case, photographic film will have a place in the world of photography.

To help you select a suitable digital camera to get started with, I have put together an article for you about how to find the right Beginner Digital Camera.

Whether you need a simple point-and-shoot model, or a more complex digital SLR model, you will find the answers, and greatly discounted digital camera offers, at http://www.bestdigitalcameradiscounts.com/

Olympus has always been known to produce quality cameras, either point and shoot or professional cameras. However, these days Olympus has joined the digital scene by producing their own line of digital cameras.

Olympus digital cameras are best known for producing DSLR cameras. These digital cameras are the kind that professional photographers use in their craft. Although this is for a fact, this company has also produced their own line of point and shoot Olympus digital cameras.

First up is an Olympus digital camera called the MJU-mini. A 4.0 mega pixel Olympus digital camera, it is cute, portable and can capture great pictures. Also, a tough Olympus digital camera, it is made with a metal frame and known for its solid weight - this is great because hands get too shaky when a camera is too light. With 2x digital zoom, a 5.8-11.6mm Olympus lens, this baby is your best bet for your personal Olympus digital camera.

Another personal Olympus digital camera is the MJU 500, obviously the higher version of the MJU-mini. the MJU 500 is a 5.0 mega pixel Olympus digital camera that is easy to use and one favored by consumers who are looking for a digital camera within this particular price range. (The MJU 500 is around $400-$500). The first notable feature of the MJU 500 is its large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen. With its 160-degree wide view range, this large LCD screen enables its users to view subjects at extreme angles (though it does not feature the flip or rotate like other LCD screens from other digital cameras). Made from durable lightweight metal with rubber gaskets in its interior and weighing only 3.0 lbs., the MJU 500 is also weatherproof. Meaning that this Olympus digital camera can withstand a few splashes here and there. (Note: it is weatherproof and not waterproof, there is a big difference between the two - splashes and not water). The MJU 500 of the Olympus digital camera line, introduces an alternative design apart from the curvy MJU series with its new flat surface and smooth and round edges. It is so compact, with its 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches dimension, it can easily fit in your handbag or the back pocket of your pants (just be careful not to sit on it). This Olympus digital camera also features 23 shooting modes, one of which will enable its users to shoot in consecutive sequences and just choose the best one later. Another one of its many features is its ability to record and playback those videos and sounds. It has an expandable memory card slot, but when you buy the package, you would have to settle with temporarily with the 32MB xD card that comes with the package. this fashionable Olympus digital camera comes in two colors - silver and blue.

for a professional Olympus digital camera, the Olympus 5300 is the right DSLR for you. it is the first 8-mega pixel camera out in the market. with a 7-14mm lens, it gives the equivalent of a 14-28mm lens. also, a first for this Olympus digital camera is its side-swing mirror that doesn't need a pentaprism, giving you a smaller and sleeker camera. another unique feature is the Super Sonic Wave Filter (SSWF) that shakes off the dusts in your sensor, this way dust can never accumulate in your camera. with features like four exposure modes and 14 scene modes, this USB 1.1 compatible Olympus digital camera is one of the best DSLR cameras in the market.

another Olympus digital camera is the Olympus CaMedia C-70. It is also a small and compact digital camera but equips a 7.0 mega pixel camera that gives you power and portability at the same time. Packed with 5x optical zoom and, it start up fast and auto focus even quicker than most digital cameras in the market. It has a 2.0-inch LCD screen, a xD picture card slot and furnished with a 7.9-39.5mm Olympus lens that has 5x optical zoom. The CaMedia C-70 is the perfect choice for high quality shots, good features, great build and excellent portability.

Visit Olympus' website at www.olympus.com to look for other Olympus digital cameras and other Olympus products available in the market.

Mention Sony and the first thing that comes to the mind are Sony cameras. Yes, though Sony is known for electronics, and information technology products in the consumer and professional markets, yet Sony cameras are the most popular both in India and abroad.

And fortunately for all Sony fans, all the series of latest Sony digital cameras are available all across the country India through a distribution network. Here are a few of them for your benefit:

Sony H- Series:
The Sony H-Series cameras are known for their high zoom digital camera line that feature an image stabilized Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 12x optical zoom, manual, aperture and shutter priority modes, electronic viewfinders and focal length ranges of 36 to 432 millimeters. They also have great boosted sensitivity with Sony's Clear RAW noise reduction technology. Clad in black or shimmering silver, the Sony H-Series cameras have the easy-to-use functionality of point-and-shoot cameras.

Sony S- Series:
The Sony Cybershot S-Series cameras are feature packed and let the user capture clear, blur-free pictures even in low light. Selecting 'High Sensitivity' mode on the mode dial boosts allows shooting at faster shutter speeds to reduce camera shake. An important feature in the Silver colored S-Series Sony digital cameras is the Face Detection technology that can track up to three faces in the frame at a time, adjusting focus and exposure for clearly exposed portraits of friends and family.

Sony T- Series:
Sony's CyberShot T-Series digital cameras are popular in the market for their slim, compact bodies and ease of use while still allowing a fair degree of control over photos. They feature an image-stabilized lens branded with the famous Carl Zeiss name, coupled with high pixels imager, and maximum ISO sensitivity. Among other features are USB and video connectivity, and both Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo storage coupled with high MB built-in memory. The Sony CyberShot T-Series digital cameras are available in black color.

Sony W- Series:
The Sony W-Series line of digital cameras allows users to directly connect them to High-Definition TV for photo-viewing into a home theater. The cameras in this series are powered by the Bionz processing engine which delivers the fast image processing speeds needed to produce color rich, detailed pictures for true high-definition photo viewing. The Bionz engine also helps to speed up the cameras' response times and extend battery life. The cameras incorporate Sony's new face detection technology, which can identify up to eight faces in the camera's LCD frame, and automatically adjust white balance and flash as well as focus and exposure.

Conclusion
If you are really looking for a camera with quality brilliance, outstanding accuracy of colors and enhanced definition with zero distortion, then Sony Cameras are indeed one of the best options. And where else can use get one than an online mart which saves time, money and energy! Just log on to your favorite online portal and enjoy shopping!

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There are a world of options out there when it comes to digital cameras.  Trying to choose the right one is not easy.  Here is a list of the top 10 digital cameras on the market.  Maybe this will help.

Canon Power Shot A620

Packs a host of features into an easy to use, compact point-and-shoot, the Canon Power Shot A620 is tops in its class.  This camera has a boasting 7.1 mega-pixels CCD and customizable settings.  A large 2 inch LCD screen and has a grid option to help you line up and center.  This camera is the top of the line.

Canon Power Shot A610

Has the same features as its cousin, the A620, but with only 5 mega-pixels, its also cheaper.  This camera makes picture taking fun and easy.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC P200

Small camera.  Big LCD.  The compact Sony DSC P200 is only 4 inches wide, 2 inches high and 1 inch deep, but has a high resolution 2 inch LCD.  Also features a robust 7.2 mega-pixel CCD and quick auto focus.

Kodak Easy Share Z740

If you want to take pictures of subjects close-up and still appreciate the simplicity of a point-and-shoot camera, consider the Kodak Easy Share Z740.  Has a 10 x optical zoom. 16 shooting modes.  Oh yeah!

Fuji Fine Pix S5200

Toeing the line between digital SLR and point-and-shoot is the Fuji Fine Pix S5200.  Its larger and heavier than the average point-and-shoot.  10x optical zoom and 5.7 digital zoom.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

A great camera for amateur digital SLR photographers, the EOS Digital Rebel XT offers the easiest operation in its class.  It features an 8.0 mega-pixel CMOS Sensor.

Canon EOS 5D

Boasts a full frame 12.8 mega-pixel CMOS Sensor in a relatively compact magnesium alloy body.  Outstanding image quality.

Olympus Evolt E-500

Never worry about dust on the image sensor interfering with your picture with the Olympus Evolt E-500.  Easy to handle digital SLR.  Exclusive vibrating filter to eliminate dust.

Konica Minolta Dynax 5D

Its called the Maxxum 5D in North America, the Dynax 5D everywhere else.  This is a great little camera from Konica Minolta. 

Nikon D50

Compact and light weight, the Nikon D50 can go anywhere you go and its lithium-ion battery lets you shoot about 2000 images before needing to be re-charged.

Olympus has always been known to produce quality cameras, either point and shoot or professional cameras. However, these days Olympus has joined the digital scene by producing their own line of digital cameras.

Olympus digital cameras are best known for producing DSLR cameras. These digital cameras are the kind that professional photographers use in their craft. Although this is for a fact, this company has also produced their own line of point and shoot Olympus digital cameras.

First up is an Olympus digital camera called the MJU-mini. A 4.0 mega pixel Olympus digital camera, it is cute, portable and can capture great pictures. Also, a tough Olympus digital camera, it is made with a metal frame and known for its solid weight - this is great because hands get too shaky when a camera is too light. With 2x digital zoom, a 5.8-11.6mm Olympus lens, this baby is your best bet for your personal Olympus digital camera.

Another personal Olympus digital camera is the MJU 500, obviously the higher version of the MJU-mini. the MJU 500 is a 5.0 mega pixel Olympus digital camera that is easy to use and one favored by consumers who are looking for a digital camera within this particular price range. (The MJU 500 is around $400-$500). The first notable feature of the MJU 500 is its large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen. With its 160-degree wide view range, this large LCD screen enables its users to view subjects at extreme angles (though it does not feature the flip or rotate like other LCD screens from other digital cameras). Made from durable lightweight metal with rubber gaskets in its interior and weighing only 3.0 lbs., the MJU 500 is also weatherproof. Meaning that this Olympus digital camera can withstand a few splashes here and there. (Note: it is weatherproof and not waterproof, there is a big difference between the two - splashes and not water). The MJU 500 of the Olympus digital camera line, introduces an alternative design apart from the curvy MJU series with its new flat surface and smooth and round edges. It is so compact, with its 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches dimension, it can easily fit in your handbag or the back pocket of your pants (just be careful not to sit on it). This Olympus digital camera also features 23 shooting modes, one of which will enable its users to shoot in consecutive sequences and just choose the best one later. Another one of its many features is its ability to record and playback those videos and sounds. It has an expandable memory card slot, but when you buy the package, you would have to settle with temporarily with the 32MB xD card that comes with the package. this fashionable Olympus digital camera comes in two colors - silver and blue.

for a professional Olympus digital camera, the Olympus 5300 is the right DSLR for you. it is the first 8-mega pixel camera out in the market. with a 7-14mm lens, it gives the equivalent of a 14-28mm lens. also, a first for this Olympus digital camera is its side-swing mirror that doesn't need a pentaprism, giving you a smaller and sleeker camera. another unique feature is the Super Sonic Wave Filter (SSWF) that shakes off the dusts in your sensor, this way dust can never accumulate in your camera. with features like four exposure modes and 14 scene modes, this USB 1.1 compatible Olympus digital camera is one of the best DSLR cameras in the market.

another Olympus digital camera is the Olympus CaMedia C-70. It is also a small and compact digital camera but equips a 7.0 mega pixel camera that gives you power and portability at the same time. Packed with 5x optical zoom and, it start up fast and auto focus even quicker than most digital cameras in the market. It has a 2.0-inch LCD screen, a xD picture card slot and furnished with a 7.9-39.5mm Olympus lens that has 5x optical zoom. The CaMedia C-70 is the perfect choice for high quality shots, good features, great build and excellent portability.

Visit Olympus' website at www.olympus.com to look for other Olympus digital cameras and other Olympus products available in the market.

Establishing an exact top of the best digital cameras on the market is a difficult task, but here are 5 digital cameras that are definitely worthy your attention. And, in addition, they do not come with the highest prices of all, so check them out before you go shopping for a new camera!

1. Samsung Pro815 is an advanced camera that has all the qualities in order to enter on your must have list. Firstly, this camera comes with 8 megapixels, with a 15X optical zoom and with an impressively big 3.5-inch LCD screen. But one of the most impressive features of all is represented by its large battery, a battery that has 1900mAh of charge capacity. Actually, this is the largest battery of all digital cameras.

2. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 was released in 2007 and seems to become more and more popular nowadays. The first feature that comes in mind when thinking about this particular camera is its impressive megapixels, namely 12. But what else does Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 offer? The camera comes with Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens traditional, eye-level viewfinder and a fairly large LCD screen (2.5').

3. The list of the best digital cameras can not miss the latest Canon camera, a camera that appeared this February on the market. We are talking about Canon EOS-1D Mark III, the camera with the fastest D-SLR. But what are the main features of the latest Canon digital camera? Well, it comes with 10.1 megapixels, with 10 fps for continuous shooting until 110 frames, with an EOS cleaning system and with a 3' LCD screen with a view mode. Now this is a camera that needs your attention!

4. Panasonic brand released a new camera after their hit Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ30 and we are talking about the improved version, FZ50. Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ50 is a 10 megapixel digital camera, with a resolution of 3648x2736 pixels, a 2' LCD screen, optimized video functions and an optimized optical zoom: Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x optical zoom.

5. And last, but not least, one of the most recent apparitions on the digital cameras market: we are talking about Nikon D40X. How recent? Well, this camera was launched this March, so you can bet on this Nikon to create a rave in 2007. But what does this camera offer? First of all, it offers 10 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop), plus a 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50), SD cards over 2 GB in capacity, and a whole package of optimized cutting-edge digital technologies. You even have the possibility of retouching your pictures in the camera (you don't need Photoshop anymore!), since you can adjust the lightening, reduce red eye effect, filter effects and so on.