essential skills: digital photography in available light
Choosing a system
The two major differences between the prosumer digicams and DSLRs is the size of the sensor
and the type of view that we see through the viewfi nder of each type of camera. The size of
the sensor leads to the issue of image quality whilst the type of viewfi nder image leads to an
operational or handling issue. First we will look at the issue of size, i.e. does size really matter?A case of try before you buy - the shop assistant from Ted’s shot with the Fuji FinePix s9500,
ISO 200. 9 megapixels of detail with minimal noiseSensor size
Sensors in the prosumer cameras have always been small, whilst in DSLRs the sensor size is
comparatively much larger (more than double the dimensions and quadruple the surface area).
The use of small sensors in prosumer digicams usually leads to increased levels of noise when
compared to the images captured with an average DSLR camera at the same ISO - especially
when comparisons are made at higher ISO settings. Larger sensor sites typically lead to less
problems with noise. If money is not an issue then you can play fi nd the noise with images captured
with Canon’s full size sensors found in the EOS 1Ds Mark II and new EOS 5D. The fi fth generation
Super CCD sensor used in the new Fuji s9500 digicam however is a marked improvement from
previous sensors found in your average digicam. At ISO 80, 100 and 200 the level of noise is
effectively suppressed and can match the levels of noise found in some of the budget DSLRs
using CCD sensors.