Remember the times when having a Polaroid camera was considered “”cool””? What about cumbersome film rolls that you had to bring to the shop for developing, with someone else being able to see your embarrassing and candid shots?
Gone are those times, with the introduction of digital cameras into the market. Digital cameras and video cameras with memory cards are able to capture photos that can automatically be transferred into your computer. With the right software, printer, and paper, you can produce your own photographs without the need for a darkroom, at the comfort of your own home or office. Digital cameras also offer so much more functions than the primitive cameras of yesteryear, such as night vision, multiple scene modes, multiple shooting modes, and so much more.
Along with the battle of megapixels and zoom rates, came the race for video cameras as well. Formerly large and extremely bulky, video cameras have become so small that they fit in the palm of a hand. Video cameras with still camera functionalities are also common, where users can switch from photo to video mode at a simple push or rotate of a button.
Now videographers can capture family moments and other treasured memories with so much ease and convenience than before.
Storage has also never been easier. Films and tapes are now non-existent, with digital and video cameras using flash memory cards of varying storage capacity. A 1 Gigabyte memory card can easily carry over 300 to 500 high quality images, and you can opt not to print a single one. Simply transfer it to another device, or burn it into a CD, and you can shoot photos to your heart’s content again. Videos, while heavier, can also be easily carried in these storage devices, being able to hold much longer video time that the old videotapes from before.
With the constant advances in technology, digital cameras, video cameras, and especially memory card storage has never been cheaper. Designs however have made these devices smaller and more powerful, with new features being added with every new iteration of their products. So what’s next to be released for our picture and video taking pleasure?
Behold, 3D camcorders are now available. Through this technology, now we could create our very own 3D movies, things that we to pay 10 to 15 dollars to watch in cinemas. We also have HD TVs, 3D LCD Display Screens as well as other gadgets that help enhance our photos and videos. Truly we live in an amazing world where technology never ceases to amaze us all.
So what’s next? Holographic images and videos where you can fully immerse yourself in the environment? With the way things are advancing now, maybe that’s not too far from the truth at all. Only time will tell what the next step would be.