Digital camera

A digital camera, also called a digicam, is a camera that uses digital storage to capture images. Most cameras produced since the start of the 21st century are digital, largely replacing cameras that captured images on photographic film or film stock.

Many digital cameras are now integrated into mobile devices such as smartphones. However, high-end dedicated digital cameras are still commonly used by professionals.

Digital cameras typically use a lens with an alterable diaphragm to focus light. The diaphragm and shutter work to admit a controlled amount of light to the image. Digital cameras can display images on a screen right after they are taken and allow users to store and delete pictures easily. They can also record moving videos with sound.

Some digital cameras can crop and stitch pictures and do other kinds of image editing.

History

Further information: History of the camera § Digital cameras, Digital imaging, Digital single-lens reflex camera, and Camera phone

The first device that could capture digital images was created in 1969. It was called a charge-coupled device, or CCD. This technology helped scientists and engineers develop new ways to take pictures using computers instead of film.

By the 1990s, digital cameras started to appear in stores. One of the first was introduced by Fujifilm in 1988. These early cameras saved pictures on special memory cards. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, cameras were added to mobile phones. This made it easy for people to take and share photos whenever they wanted. Today, most phones have built-in cameras, and many people use them instead of separate digital cameras.

Image sensors

Further information: Image sensor

Digital cameras use special parts called image sensors to capture pictures. There are two main types: CCD and CMOS. CMOS sensors use less power than CCD sensors. Some cameras use a special kind of CMOS sensor called BSI-CMOS, which is found in small sensors. The way the camera processes the image is more important for the final picture quality than the type of sensor used.

The resolution of a digital camera depends on its image sensor, which changes light into signals. The sensor’s pixels — tiny points that capture light — determine how many details the camera can record. For example, a sensor that is 1,000 by 1,000 pixels can capture 1,000,000 pixels, or 1 megapixel. Some cameras let you choose a lower resolution to save space, such as 640×480 pixels, which is 0.3 megapixels. This can be useful when you want to take many pictures without running out of storage.

An image’s sharpness depends on many factors, including the camera’s resolution, lens, and settings. Higher resolution usually means sharper images, but other things like lighting and how the picture is processed also matter.

Types of digital cameras

Digital cameras come in many sizes, prices, and abilities. Besides everyday digital cameras, there are special cameras like multispectral imaging tools and astrographs used for science, the military, and medicine.

Compacts

Compact cameras are small and easy to carry, perfect for taking quick "snapshots". They often have a zoom lens that can pull out to get closer to things. Most have an automatic mode that sets everything for you, but some let you change settings yourself. They usually have a small flash and a screen to see what you're taking. Almost all can also record video.

Rugged compacts

Rugged compact cameras can handle tough conditions like water, cold, heat, and bumps. Many can still take pictures and videos even when things get rough.

Action cameras

GoPro and other brands make action cameras that are small and tough, meant to be attached to helmets, bikes, and more. They can take pictures and videos, often with sound.

360-degree cameras

Main article: 360-degree camera

A 360-degree camera can capture pictures or videos in every direction using two lenses. Some popular models include Ricoh Theta S, Nikon Keymission 360, and Samsung Gear 360.

Bridge cameras

Main article: Bridge camera

Bridge cameras look like professional cameras but are smaller and use a fixed lens. They can zoom very far and often have special features like image stabilization.

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras

Main article: Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera

These cameras, called mirrorless, don’t need a mirror to see through the lens like older cameras. They show what the sensor sees on a screen or viewfinder. They can be small or large, with different-sized sensors.

Digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR)

Main article: Digital single-lens reflex camera

DSLRs use a mirror to show you exactly what the lens sees through a viewfinder. When you press the button, the mirror moves out of the way so the sensor can capture the picture.

View cameras

Main article: View camera

In 2019, Phase One introduced very high-resolution digital camera backs, with some reaching up to 150MP.

Digital Still Cameras (DSC)

Digital Still Camera (DSC), like Sony DSC models, are common cameras that don’t use a mirror. They’re like simple point-and-shoot cameras but often give better quality.

Fixed-mirror DSLT cameras

Cameras with fixed mirrors, called DSLT cameras, like Sony SLT cameras, don’t need to move a mirror. This means they can keep focusing even while you’re taking pictures quickly.

Digital rangefinders

Main article: Rangefinder camera § Digital rangefinder

A rangefinder helps a camera focus by measuring how far away something is. Most digital cameras focus by looking at the image they’re about to take.

Line-scan camera systems

Main article: line-scan camera

A line-scan camera has just one row of sensors instead of many rows. It’s often used in factories to measure things quickly or in satellites to take pictures from space.

Superzoom cameras

See also: List of superzoom cameras

Superzoom cameras can zoom in very far with their lenses, from wide angles to very long distances.

Light-field camera

These special cameras don’t just record how bright things are — they also record the direction of the light, giving extra information about the scene.

Event camera

Instead of taking pictures over a set time, these cameras notice when the light changes quickly, catching exact moments with very precise timing.

Integration into other devices

Many devices, like smartphones, mobile phones, PDAs, and laptops, have built-in digital cameras. These cameras usually save pictures in the JPEG format, but cameras in Apple's iPhone line have used the HEIC format since 2017.

Camera phones were first introduced in Japan in 2001 by J-Phone. By 2003, camera phones sold more than standalone digital cameras, and by 2006, they sold more than both film and digital standalone cameras. Five billion camera phones were sold in just five years, and by 2007, more than half of all mobile phones had cameras. Sales of separate cameras reached their highest point in 2008.

Notable digital camera manufacturers

Main article: List of digital camera brands

Many companies make digital cameras, often called DSLRs. Each company has its own goals and special features that make their cameras unique. While most cameras share common modern tools, some focus on particular details, like how the camera looks or the quality of the pictures it takes.

Market trends

Traditional digital cameras are not selling as much anymore because many people use smartphones to take photos. Smartphones make it easy to share pictures online. Some cameras, called "bridge cameras," still sell well because they have special features like zooming that most phone cameras do not have.

In the past, companies made cameras that worked like smartphones. For example, in 2012, Nikon and Samsung made cameras that could run apps and connect to the internet, just like phones. Some phone makers also made phones with very advanced cameras, mixing phone features with camera features. Overall, the number of digital cameras sold has gone down a lot since 2011, as more people use their phones instead.

Connectivity

Many digital cameras can connect to a computer to share pictures. Older cameras used a special computer connection called a serial port, but now most use USB, which works like a tiny storage drive. Some cameras also have wireless connections, such as Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi, which let you send pictures to a phone or computer without wires. Smartphones can also share pictures using wireless networks or special services online.

You can also print pictures straight from a camera using a special printing system, or even use a camera with a built‑in printer to make instant photos. Many cameras can also show pictures on a television using special connections like HDMI, making it easy to share photos with family and friends.

Weather-sealing and waterproofing

Cameras can have special coatings to protect them from water, dust, and sand. This helps keep the camera safe when it gets wet or dirty. Some cameras can even go underwater for a little while without getting damaged. These cameras can also be tough enough to handle drops and cold weather.

To go deeper underwater, some cameras can be put inside a special waterproof case. One example is the Olympus 'Tough' series of small cameras.

Modes

Many digital cameras have special settings, called modes, to help take better photos. These settings let you change things like how bright the photo is, how much of the background is in focus, and the color balance. For example, a portrait setting might blur the background to make the person stand out.

Some cameras also have special modes for different situations, like taking pictures of landscapes or sports. These modes help the camera pick the best settings automatically, sometimes using smart technology to decide what works best. A few cameras can even record voice notes without pictures.

Main article: Modes

Image data storage

Many camera phones and most stand alone digital cameras store image data in flash memory cards or other removable media. Most stand-alone cameras use SD format, while a few use CompactFlash, CFexpress or other types.

The Joint Photography Experts Group standard (JPEG) is the most common file format for storing image data. Other file types include Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF), and various Raw image formats.

Batteries

Digital cameras have gotten smaller over time, so they need batteries that are small but still give enough power. Most cameras today use special lithium-ion batteries made by the camera company. Some cameras can also use standard AA batteries, which you can buy from any store.

Some cameras use special batteries made just for that camera, while others can use common batteries like AA. These common batteries can be used once and thrown away, or they can be recharged and used again.

Conversion of film cameras to digital

When digital cameras became popular, many people wondered if their old film cameras could be changed to digital. For most regular 35 mm film cameras, this wasn’t possible because it would be too expensive and complicated. Some early professional cameras, like the Kodak DCS series, were built from film cameras but needed big digital parts added to them.

A few special cameras, such as the Nikon E2 and Nikon E3, could change 35 mm film to work with a smaller sensor. Some makers, like Leica with the Leica R8–R9, made digital parts that could fit their cameras. Bigger cameras that used larger film often had very costly digital parts, sometimes costing more than $10,000.

These big digital parts created very large images. For example, one camera back could make an image almost 225 MB in size! These types of cameras were mostly used in studios for portraits, and they didn’t change light as much as smaller digital cameras did.