by
Michael Bordenaro
Digital cameras, like many technology
tools, come in such a dizzying array of options, with so many
features and capabilities, that it’s hard for architects
to know which device is the best choice. Architects experienced
with traditional single-lens reflex (SLR) film cameras who seek
similar functionality and print quality in digital cameras have
been hesitant to enter the digital realm because of the high
cost of top-end equipment. Those seeking low-cost convenience
have had better luck but have still lost ground on photo resolution,
memory capacity, and battery life.
Fortunately, 2002 has been a good year
for both camps. Due to improvements in charged-couple devices
that act as the “film” for digital cameras, small,
inexpensive cameras have improved in quality, and professional-grade
SLR-style digital models have dropped in price. The cost of
storage media for pictures has also fallen, making digital
cameras an affordable investment for firms large and small.
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Patrick Mays of NBBJ (above)
reviews poster-size prints taken with one of his firm’s
Nikon D100 digital cameras (top left). For lower-resolution
photos, Mays has opted for Sony’s Mavica digital
cameras (bottom left).
Photography: Eric Phillips (top); Nikon (top left); Sony
(bottom left) |
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Framing the decision
The main consideration when choosing
a digital camera is knowing how the photos will be used. Will
they be posted to Web sites? Shown as presentation photographs?
Published in printed material, like magazines or marketing
brochures? E-mailed for review purposes? Saved for construction
documentation? Working backward from the answers to these
questions will help architects evaluate the plethora of models
available.
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The primary yardstick of a camera’s
quality (and price) is its optical resolution, measured in
megapixels. The higher the megapixel rating, the better the
resolution of the resulting photos and the larger the prints
that can be made. Photos used in electronic media like Web
sites, e-mails, and PowerPoint presentations can be handled
easily by cameras in the 1- to 2-megapixel range, which cost
about $300 to $500 currently. Cameras with a 2-megapixel resolution
are capable of taking pictures that print clearly at a size
up to 5 inches by 7 inches. Large-scale images for presentation
or print publication, however, require a higher-resolution
camera so they will reproduce clearly and accurately. Cameras
with a 3-megapixel rating or higher should be used for this
purpose, like the 6-megapixel models introduced this year
by Canon and Nikon, which cost about $2,000.
Lens type is another important feature
that drives camera prices. To preserve image quality when
shooting close-ups, a camera should have an optical zoom lens,
not just digital zoom. Lenses for film cameras are sometimes
compatible with digital cameras, but more often than not special
lenses will be needed.
Virtually all cameras save pictures on
removable memory cards or disks that are available in various
capacities (e.g., CompactFlash, SmartMedia, even old-fashioned
31¼2-inch floppy disks). Most experts say a 64-megabyte
card is sufficient for the casual photographer shooting a
mix of low- and high- resolution photos. Pictures taken at
the highest resolution setting on a camera use more memory
than low-res photos, so on extended shoots for print-quality
photographs, high-capacity and/or multiple storage cards may
be needed.
Many digital cameras are also capable
of recording short video clips, with or without sound. Though
the videos are not of the same quality as those taken with
a video camera, this feature can be handy for documenting
things like site conditions or construction processes.
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Video
