The digital camera is completely different to a conventional camera that focuses light onto a roll of film and then depends on the use of chemicals for processing. The digital camera does focus light, but it is focussed onto a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) - or a charge coupled device (CCD) - devices that record the image electronically. It is then broken down into digital data that can be read by the computer in the camera. The CMOS consumes little power, but the light sensivity is low. The CCD takes quite a bit of power to run, but has more pixels that are of better quality.
The digital image recorded by the camera is basically a string of bits and bytes - Os and 1s that represent the pixels that make up the picture. The shift in technology that enabled the digital camera to be invented happened when it was found that analogue sound waves could be converted from wavy lines into data that could be read by a computer - ones and zeroes, or bits. This basic technology was also used to produce MP3s, DVDs, CDs, DVRs and HDTV's.
The pictures that digital cameras record are not quite as good as the conventional camera but they are gradually improving. It probably won't be long before the conventional camera is no longer used.
Mel writes about digital cameras and laptops to help you stay informed and updated at http://au.shopping.com/xPP-digital_cameras
