Working principle of a Digital Camera, how images convert in to data?

Now a day almost everyone is familiar with digital camera. And often many of us wonder that how this digital camera replaced our conventional cameras so quickly. There were many reasons for that like it was very simple to use, it needed no specialization even a child can use it , and also we could see the photos just after clicking it. So in this article we will discuss that how it actually works.

A brief introduction of Digital Camera Working

We can call digital camera an alteration of conventional camera. But there lies many differences like in conventional analog camera photosensitive film is used and in digital camera we use image sensors. Getting photos from conventional camera takes longer time as many mechanical as well as chemical processes are involved which is not in case of digital camera.

When E-mail gained popularity people felt a strong need of digital photos and then digital camera became very popular. Suppose if you are using conventional camera you will get a hard copy of photo, if you need to send it by mail you need to get it scanned then only it changes to digital format. But if you are using digital camera you will directly get it in a digital format. The digital photos are in 0 and 1 format and the string of 0 and 1 are called pixels.

Components of Digital Camera

As told earlier, image sensors are used (either CCD or CMOS). Image sensor is a small microchip made by array of sensors. Their job is just to convert light into electrical energy. Here in image important component is marked.

Lens is also a main component and its job is to focus light falling on image sensor to get better quality of image. When a photographer presses the shutter button, focused light fall on image sensors and as shutter button is released pixels get illuminated by that light in different intensities.This leads to formation of an electric signal which are then converted in digital form. You will be surprised to know that color blind sensors are used in digital camera. Then you may wonder that how we get colorful photos? For getting a colored photo, filters are used, they obtain three basic color and form a spectrum which is used in getting colored photos. The filters are responsible for small size of the digital camera.

Resolution of Image

Whenever we buy a camera or a smartphone, there is a very common question asked that camera is of how many mega pixels. So what does this question actually mean? Here we are with the answer. The pictures which we take from digital camera, their quality as well as clarity both depends on resolution and we measure resolution by the number of pixels. We can say that resolution is directly proportional to number of pixels. Some resolutions are listed below:

256*256- cheapest in market, gives blurred image.
640*480- gives clearer image, used in homes.
1216*912- gives better image, used in studios.
1600*1200- used in photo-lab (when we need passport size photos)
We really have a wide range up to 20 million pixels or so on.

Aperture, Shutter Speed, Focal Length and other parameters

There are many parameters which regulate the focused light falling on sensor like aperture, shutter speed, focal length and lens.

Aperture in simple words is opening of camera. This is adjusted automatically as well as mechanically. It depends on photographer that whether he is a beginner or a professional. Generally beginner go for automatic and professional for manual.

Shutter speed controls or regulates the light passing through aperture. Normally for beginners automatic selection is good, but when it used in manual mode a dramatic effect can be generate in photos.

Focal length is inbuilt by manufacturer and can’t be changed. The distance between lens and sensor is focal length.

Lens are also built in by manufacturer and can’t be changed (except replaceable lens system). The quality of lens is directly proportional to cost of camera.

Why digital camera is better?

Very easy to use, needs no specialization.
Saves time as we see the photo just after clicking it.
Digital photos are easy to share(via mail, social sites etc).
Very small in size and light in weight.

Digital Cameras v/s Analog Camera

No doubt that picture quality of analog camera is much better than a DSLR camera but digital camera is very easy to use with good results. And also a major factor is Social Media and Internet, because here we cant use Analog Camera`s Image.