ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Advantages Of Shooting Digitally

1) Immediate gratification:

When you have a chance to make a very important photograph, there is no denying the fact that being able to instantly look at a histogram, verify your exposure, double check your composition, etc., is very rewarding and reassuring.

2) You have the ability to immediately deliver the image to client:

Clients LOVE being able to get their images quickly. In the wedding and portrait business or the advertising world, there are few more powerful phrases than; "You can have the picture today."

3) Instant ISO/white balance change from shot-to-shot:

In the film days, I would think nothing of rewinding a roll of Velvia if it got too dark to shoot at ISO 50. I would just move to Provia 100 and waste the rest of the roll. Changing film like that is not only expensive, it is time consuming. With my digital camera, I hit a button and can change the ISO from 100 to 3200 on a shot-by-shot basis. I also don't have to worry about adjusting (adding filters) for indoor/outdoor lighting since I can change the white balance with the click of a switch.

The Disadvantages Of Shooting Digitally

1) Higher initial cost:

There is no denying the fact that digital has a higher initial cost. A flagship film body will usually cost 50 to 75% less than its digital counterpart.

2) Digital cameras are not equal to film cameras in features:

My Canon EOS 3 has a faster frame rate and better auto-focus than my 20D. While the difference in features between the two is narrowing fast, I would have to give a slight edge to film cameras in this department.

3) Perception problems:

This is another area that is quickly changing but there are some who still think that digital photography is somehow less valuable than film photography. Reasonable or not, it is a stumbling block for some people.

4) Poor low-light performance:

Every digital camera I have used performs poorly (when compared to film) in low light. Everything from poor auto focus to noisy images can be a problem with digital photography. There are ways to work around these problems and they are quickly becoming non-issues, but they are real for now and should be considered.

Conclusion

Whether or not you switch to digital photography, digital is and will remain a force in the photo universe. If you are interested in digital, rent or borrow a digital camera to get the feel of it. Spend some time with a friend who shoots digitally and see how they handle their digital workflow. In time, I think that digital photography will be the norm and that film will fall far behind. Whether or not you agree, it only makes sense to investigate digital as an alternative medium. Then you can decide for yourself if it is time to switch.