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Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series that offers timely tips for photographing award-winning projects.

“My new digital camera just made my photography life a lot easier!” Perhaps. However, a digital camera differs significantly from the “old-fashioned” film camera that we’ve been using for decades. It may look the same, but it doesn’t use film in the traditional sense of the word, and just a click of the finger processes images.

Just how does a digital camera work? How do I know which one is right for me? And how can I use one to create the images I want? The following explanation and tips will help you address these questions.

How they work

A digital camera records the analog image (what we see). Immediately after exposure, it processes and writes that image in bits and bytes onto a memory card. Generally, a digital camera’s ultimate quality is determined by the quality of the sensor chip and the software that reads and converts the analog data to a digital format. More costly cameras usually have better sensors, software, and plenty of megapixels (5 or better) to capture enough data for high-quality images.

Three basic classes of digital cameras fall into relatively the same classes that define traditional film cameras:

1. Point and shoot (P&S). These cameras are inexpensive, compact, and feature noninterchangeable, lesser-quality lenses.
2. Prosumer. These SLR (single lens reflex) body cameras have interchangeable lenses and come in a wide range of quality and prices. They are larger and bulkier than the P&S but have more professional-level settings and controls.
3. Professional. These digital cameras are similar to prosumer SLR cameras, but they are built tougher to withstand constant use. They also include additional features needed by professionals or avid hobbyists.

Which camera to buy

Go for the best quality you can afford. Because P&S cameras have a fixed, nonchangeable lens, the widest angle of view they generally offer is equivalent to the moderate wide-angle view provided by 35-mm lens on a traditional film, 35-mm SLR camera. To gain flexibility and achieve the wide-angle view oftentimes required in a landscape image (equivalent to 28 or even 20 mm), you’ll need to step up to a prosumer SLR that offers wider, interchangeable lenses.

Currently, you can buy a 6-megapixel digital SLR camera body and basic zoom lens for about $1,000. For less than $1,500, you can purchase the camera body and necessary wide-angle zoom lens. A prosumer SLR not only will give you the flexibility to select the right lens for the application, it also will allow you to shoot in RAW format (more about that later).

Capture settings

Since you won’t always know the final destination of the image you are taking, set your camera at its highest resolution and best quality capability. This involves two settings, one for the “size” of the image captured (set at largest possible) and one for “quality” (set at highest possible). By selecting these settings, you are capturing the maximum amount of data in your camera’s sensor chip.

Next, you should turn off the camera’s feature that automatically changes the ISO setting (i.e., film speed) as lighting conditions change. Then, set the ISO to the lowest number available, e.g., 50, 100, or 200, and instruct the camera to use a smaller aperture (higher number) to ensure maximum depth of field. One note of caution: Since you have chosen the lowest ISO and maximum depth of field, the shutter speed most likely will be too low to hand-hold the camera without getting a blurry image because of camera shake. You will need to mount your camera on a tripod to prevent blurry images.

Megapixel madness

Pixel is short for “picture element” and, as a general rule, the more megapixels (millions of pixels), the better. A camera with a 5- or 6-megapixel capability will have sufficient data, at full resolution, for Environmental Improvement Awards entry images that can be printed on the cover of PLANET News when you win an award or “blown up” to 12 inches x 18 inches for your office wall. (Note: Award entries must include images taken with a 3-megapixel or higher camera.) Be aware, though, that having more megapixels doesn’t automatically imply a better image. Again, image quality also depends on the quality of the sensor’s chips and the camera’s processing software.

Format frenzy

Digital point-and-shoot cameras, by default, capture in the JPEG (.jpg) file format. With this format, the camera’s software recognizes typical scenes and makes all the choices for you. It processes the image based on what it thinks it is “seeing” and the reference data stored in the software. In addition to making technical choices, it compresses the capture into a smaller file to save storage space. During compression, the software makes more decisions and literally throws away any data that it deems redundant.

Some higher-end, point-and-shoot cameras may also capture in the TIFF (.tif) format. If available, this option is a better choice than JPEG because it does not compress the file and throw away data. Since the camera’s software processes the image in the same manner in TIFF that it would in JPEG, you still have a control issue.

If you choose to move up into the world of prosumer or professional digital cameras, you gain the option to use the RAW file format (file extension depends on the brand). Professional photographers prefer RAW since it gives them ultimate control over image processing. With RAW, the camera neither makes any processing decisions nor tosses away any data. Instead, it writes all the data to a RAW file, leaving processing decisions to the photographer. The downside? Although RAW dramatically increases your control over the final image’s color rendition and quality, it adds another, more time-consuming step and creates a larger file.

Unless you are a professional photographer or an avid hobbyist, a prosumer digital camera will likely meet your photographic needs and create images suitable for most any application (including PLANET’s Environmental Improvement Awards competition). For best results, make sure your camera is rated at or above 5 megapixels and set at its highest capture setting. For more flexibility, turn off automatic controls and set the camera to its lowest ISO number and smallest aperture (higher number). Then, click away. Take as many photos as you like. Unlike slide or print film, digital film (memory card) can be used over and over again, and the processing is immediate and inexpensive.

To find more technical information about digital photography in general, visit luminous-landscape.com. Visit dpreview.com to find a plethora of reliable reviews and information about every known digital camera on the planet.