digital camera

[′dij·əd·əl ′kam·rə]

(electronics)

A television camera that breaks up a picture into a fixed number of pixels and converts the light intensity (or the intensities of each of the primary colors) in each pixel to one of a finite set of numbers.

digital camera

(graphics, hardware)

A camera that captures and stores still images as digital data instead of on photographic film.

The first digital cameras became available in the early 1990s

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digital camera

A still camera that records images in digital form. Unlike traditional film cameras that record a light image on film (analog), digital cameras record discrete numbers on a flash memory card. As with all digital devices, there is a fixed, maximum resolution and number of colors that can be represented. Images are transferred to the computer via a USB cable, the memory card or wireless. Earlier digital video cameras used FireWire (see camcorder and FireWire).

Digital Advantages
There are three advantages of digital cameras over their earlier analog counterparts. First, the image is viewable immediately and can be erased. Second, any single picture can be printed without having to develop an entire roll of film. Finally, the memory card "film" is reusable over and over. See film camera.

Chips: The Camera's Film
Digital cameras record color images as intensities of red, green and blue, which are stored as variable (analog) charges on a CCD or CMOS image sensor chip. The charges are converted to digital and stored in flash memory chips on a memory card such as CompactFlash, SD or Memory Stick. Some earlier digital still cameras used optical discs for storage instead of flash memory.

The number of pixels in the sensor chip determines the picture's resolution, but the analog-to-digital conversion establishes the number of colors. See megapixel, A/D converter and color depth.

Digital video cameras use the same image sensing methods as digital still cameras, and they have also used tape, optical discs and hard drives for storage (see DV). See digital camera features, Bayer pattern, flash memory, photo sharing site, photo editor, photo scanner, X3 and DSLR.

Digital Camera

Behind the lens, a CCD or CMOS image sensor chip picks up the image as variable (analog) charges that are turned into digital by an analog-to-digital circuit (see A/D converter). A DSP chip adjusts contrast and detail and compresses the digital data for storage.

Camera and "Film"

A classic now, in 1996, Kodak's DC50 was one of the first digital cameras. Holding 24 images in internal memory, it used CompactFlash for more storage. Actually, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975, weighing in at eight pounds and storing 30 images on a digital tape cassette. (Image courtesy of SanDisk Corporation, www.sandisk.com)

Adlake Camera (1897) - Not Exactly Digital

Film chemicals on 4x5" glass plates were placed in light-tight holders (upper left) in a darkroom and stored inside the camera (upper right). To take a picture, an unexposed holder was moved to the front. After the lid was closed, a lever opened the holder exposing it to the lens. Camera and 12 holders sold for $12. (Images courtesy of Bob Schenewolf.)

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References in periodicals archive

At PMA the company launched nine new digicams, seven of which incorporate smile-and blink-detection technology as well as upgraded lenses.

Advances in imaging

Yutaka Nakagawa, president of the Sony digital imaging business group, told reporters the company "will target for at least 20-25 percent of the world digicam market, and even a higher share as far as DSLRs are concerned, by making the most of its advantage," i.e., its capability to make key devices such as CCDs, lenses and LCDs.

Sony plans big push into DSLR arena

And without that almost invisible digicam in my hand, I doubt that I could have made this image.

The digital edge: three shots I never would have made on film

Lee and an increasing number of reporters also use the digicam for hard news.

Bureau of missing bureaus: although television networks have closed many of their expensive foreign outposts, executives say they can cover the world just as well by dispatching reporters from central hubs. But critics say the shuttered offices come at a steep cost to the public. What is the future for foreign news on TV?

It may interest the digital generation that Jose Rizal took two selfies without a cell phone or digicam.

Rizal's self-portraits late 19th century's selfies

Like its precursor, the M8, it's a range-finder but you now get more megapixels (18) and a full-frame sensor - a world-first for a digicam of its size - allowing you to employ Leica's full arsenal of lenses.

gadgets and gizmos

recently unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas three digicam collections that capture high-definition still as well as video images.

Cameras deliver quality, value

Attempting to preserve unselfconscious images of his dad, Iraj spends much of his time ambushing the unsuspecting elder with a digicam. Though motivated by affection, Iraj's candid-camera technique aggravates crotchety old Roshan, who feels his privacy is being invaded.

Lonesome Trees

In the film, Beryl, who has recently been given a digicam, attends the wedding of a family friend to record the event for posterity.

Beryl wins gold and steps closer to Oscar

Enter the Nikon Coolpix P1, a digicam that can send images wirelessly to your PC.

GIFT IDEAS: GADGETS: STAR TECH; STILL LOOKING FOR THAT LATE PRESSIE? HERE ARE SOME GREAT GADGET IDEAS

Simon says: "There are comic and toy-laden tables brimming with temptation and more celebrities than your Digicam can cope with.

Paradise of sci-fi paraphernalia; WHAT'S ON:Family Days Out:The Winter Memorabilia Show, NEC

One major advantage of a digicam over a film camera is that you can see exactly how the image looks on the camera's built-in LCD viewscreen before pressing the shutter button--in other words, what you see is what you get.

Shoot the moon with your digital camera