Digital or analog: The debate continues

Back to the basics, we can trace back the roots of

modern photography to the early 19th century. Since then photography has been

based on the use of light sensitive films. This film captures a negative of the

image and is revealed only when film is developed.

But giving credits to the ever changing and improving

world of technology, somewhere in 1990, a device called digital camera hit the

market. This innovation of modern times does not require any light sensitive

film roll of old times. Instead, it uses a concept of CCD, or Charge Coupled

Device. CCD sees through the lens of the camera and converts the captured image

into a data and stores it on a memory card in a file format. This captured image

can be viewed immediately on the display screen, plugged within the camera.

Individually if we talk of both the devices, they have

their own pluses and minuses. Starting with the elders first, analog cameras

offer a much better resolution in the final images. In technical terms, any

decently priced 35-mm 100-speed camera would have the picture quality up to 25

million pixels (which is too good!!). The images can be placed 'nicely' in an

album and are very convenient to share and handle. Again the development of the

roll is easily available, so one really would not want to have the whole package

of electrical gadgets to see the image.

Looking at the other side of the coin, digital cameras

use memory cards, which are as good as a hard disk and can be used over and over

again. The photographs can be viewed immediately on a display screen or a PC and

can be redone if not satisfactory (and of course using the same space of the

memory card). The image taken can be fiddled with endlessly. Because it uses the

fully computerized laws to give the final product, it can be edited, retouched,

improved, or can even be made to appear not as good as it really is. There is

absolutely no development cost.

Multiple copies can be made absolutely free of charge

and distributed around the world in seconds via email. The photographs have the

potential permanence to be preserved indefinitely in its original state. Apart

from the technical reasons, digital cameras also have advantages from an

ecological standpoint. Since no film is required for digital photography, this

eliminates the need for film manufacturing, developing and all the related

chemicals and toxic by-products.

Now that's honey. But the fact is there is also a

vinegar part to it. A roll used in an analog is only for one time use. If it

finishes at a crucial point of time, the user is in the tight spot. It is

thin-skinned to light and if by any chance, gets exposed to light, the

imitations of memories are gone forever. The consistency of the images is

uncertain, as developed films have a finite shelf life and are very vulnerable

to light, heat and humidity. The risk of yellowing or tear is always there with

the passage of time, which further makes the maintenance, a pain.

For the newcomer (digital camera), till one or two

images it may be fine, but emailing is not the perfect alternative for sharing a

whole wedding album. The printing in the finest photographic quality does not

come cheap, which makes hard copy for every image clicked, nearly impossible.

Quality of the image is in direct line with the file size. Any averagely priced

consumer model digital cameras currently available, have a resolution capability

of only 1.5 million pixels (which denotes a great compromise in the quality!!).

So what's the bottom-line? Film based photography, as of

now, is a very mature technology. It is not likely that there can be a huge

improvement or advancement in coming times. Film companies continue to inch

forward in the areas of technology to improve the existing film chemistry, which

result in photos or slides with enhanced colors and better resolution. Also with

the rising preference of electronic cameras, it seems a little too far to reach

the desired goal.

Electronic cameras can be made to measure lighting

conditions and distance to the subject and make all the necessary adjustments,

'automatically' to take a perfect photo. It is therefore likely that the

traditional photography will continue to improve in this manner, slowly but

surely.

But again, on the other side, digital photography

already has many convenient and interesting advantages over film photography and

they are quickly gaining popularity also.  There are only two main hitches,

which will need to happen before digital actually 'replaces' analog. First, cost

of digital cameras would need to come down substantially. Secondly, the

resolution of digital photos will have to improve to a level comparable to that

of photos from film. Many professionals and serious amateurs would not be

willing to settle for lower quality, especially if the cost is higher too.

It can however, be safely said that the new technology

effects will be swift and numerous. This revolution might be a turning point in

photography arena, but it is just another advancement, if we look at it from a

broader and bigger perspective, adding grease to the wheels of change. Anyhow,

creating, copying, and distributing photos are 'virtually free' to anyone with a

PC and Internet and this will help to accelerate the information revolution.

Again, the cost of technology is on a constant path of decreasing, which further

makes the way for digital photography.