This week's banner is by James Smith

Problems and solutions
Back to the book | Post New Topic | Search | Help | Log In | Register

» Forum Index » Problems and solutions » Topic: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?

Posted on 27/03/08 1:43:24 PM
jenn62
**
Posts: 73

Reply
Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Seems with digital cameras, that peoples faces turn out older looking with age lines and wrinkles etc accentuated. One person was shocked saying when she looks in the mirror her face doesn't look as old as when she sees a digital picture of herself. It seems like that to me too. Has anybody else noticed this?

Posted on 27/03/08 3:00:04 PM
cy98
**
Posts: 115

Reply


Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Wrinkles and age lines would be accentuated if the lighting is harsh or from one side. In dimly lit areas the camera would have to boost the lighting and contrast to get a decent picture which would also cause more lines. Try it with the Hollywood technique, evenly lit, washed out lighting.

Posted on 27/03/08 3:36:22 PM
Steve Caplin
Administrator
Posts: 7068

Reply


Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
I think there are a couple of issues here. First, when we look in the mirror, that's how we're used to seeing ourselves - reversed. Everyone's face is slightly unbalanced, and it's the mirror image that we get used to. When you see yourself the right way round, the unbalancing is exaggerated because everything appears twice as far out of true as it really is. Look at someone you know well in a mirror, and they'll just look weird.

The other thing is that we're used to seeing people in motion, and the activity conceals most blemishes. In the still image, everything's frozen.

I think this is photography in general, not just digital captures!

Posted on 27/03/08 4:10:54 PM
Mister Jon
*
Posts: 25

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
I'd love to get myself a digital camera. Any recommendations?
I'd want to spend less than $200

Posted on 27/03/08 4:32:11 PM
jenn62
**
Posts: 73

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Thanks Steve and Cy, those points make sense. I wonder too if it's the brightness and clarity of LCD monitors that really can show every little flaw and perhaps that's more than the eye notices in real life in most situations.
And Cy, I wouldn't know how to do the Hollywood washed out lighting. I don't have any photo lights. I just have a compact camera.



Posted on 27/03/08 4:34:43 PM
jenn62
**
Posts: 73

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Mister Jon, I really like Canon cameras. And since at that price it would have to be a compact, you would also most likely get movie mode with the camera and the Canon movie mode beats all others esp in the sound pickup.

Posted on 27/03/08 4:45:15 PM
Mister Jon
*
Posts: 25

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Jenn, do you recommend any particular Canon cameras?

I've seen what a standard compact digital camera can do and I am quite pleased with the results. Since I'm not a photographer at all, $200 or so seems to be a good price for me.


Posted on 27/03/08 4:46:19 PM
cy98
**
Posts: 115

Reply


Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Washed out lighting is nothing more than reflected light from multiple angles, and the image is slightly overexposed.

As Steve says the image is a still picture which you can study, and it is also probably bigger than life size you see in mirror if put on a monitor.


Posted on 27/03/08 5:22:45 PM
jenn62
**
Posts: 73

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Mister Jon, at that low price range, the best from Canon would be something like the Powershot A560 which is rated by Steve's Digicams as one of the tops for entry level cameras. See the review with sample pics here:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/a560.html

For other choices, browse around the site. It's a great one for digital camera reviews.

Posted on 27/03/08 5:32:46 PM
Mister Jon
*
Posts: 25

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Thanks for the link Jenn


Posted on 27/03/08 6:41:54 PM
cy98
**
Posts: 115

Reply


Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
When looking for digital cameras don't be too concerned with the megapixel figures. A rating above 4 megpixel will produce a perfectly fine picture with at least a 8x10 enlargement.


Posted on 28/03/08 08:10:15 AM
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi
Posts: 2166

Reply


Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
jenn62 wrote:
Seems with digital cameras, that peoples faces turn out older looking with age lines and wrinkles etc accentuated. One person was shocked saying when she looks in the mirror her face doesn't look as old as when she sees a digital picture of herself. It seems like that to me too. Has anybody else noticed this?


I think it's more when we look in the mirror, we tend to see only what we want to see. Like when you check your clothing in the mirror at home, you don't really look too close. Go to a shop and try on something new, and suddenly all your 'floors' show up, because you are really looking, while at home in your old clothes you are just confirming what you want to see.
Which is why we all, once we are over 12, usually hate photos of ourself.

Posted on 28/03/08 4:56:06 PM
Mister Jon
*
Posts: 25

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
cy98 wrote:
When looking for digital cameras don't be too concerned with the megapixel figures. A rating above 4 megpixel will produce a perfectly fine picture with at least a 8x10 enlargement.



Is a camera with a higher optical zoom more important?


Posted on 28/03/08 5:17:17 PM
jenn62
**
Posts: 73

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Yes, I think it's always nicer to get wider range in zooming, but it will cost you more. The Canon compact I recommended has 4x optical zoom which is not bad at all. Roughly equivalent to a 35-140mm lens. Disregard digital zoom. It's rather useless.

Posted on 28/03/08 5:22:15 PM
jenn62
**
Posts: 73

Reply
Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
vibeke wrote:
jenn62 wrote:
Seems with digital cameras, that peoples faces turn out older looking with age lines and wrinkles etc accentuated. One person was shocked saying when she looks in the mirror her face doesn't look as old as when she sees a digital picture of herself. It seems like that to me too. Has anybody else noticed this?


I think it's more when we look in the mirror, we tend to see only what we want to see. Like when you check your clothing in the mirror at home, you don't really look too close. Go to a shop and try on something new, and suddenly all your 'floors' show up, because you are really looking, while at home in your old clothes you are just confirming what you want to see.
Which is why we all, once we are over 12, usually hate photos of ourself.


You are so right though as far as one hating to see photos of themselves, I think there really are some people who are just more photogenic than others. Some look better in pics than real life and others look better in real life than in pics. Of course, the lighting makes a huge difference.

Posted on 28/03/08 9:42:02 PM
Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend
Posts: 361

Reply
Re: Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?
Mister Jon wrote:I'd want to spend less than $200
Any recommendations?


Yes. Spend more than $200. You will only end up selling it quickly and buying something better. I speak form experience.

Posted on 29/03/08 03:41:22 AM
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi
Posts: 2166

Reply


Do digital cameras see more than our eyes?

[/quoted]

You are so right though as far as one hating to see photos of themselves, I think there really are some people who are just more photogenic than others. Some look better in pics than real life and others look better in real life than in pics. Of course, the lighting makes a huge difference.
[/quoted]

Oh Yes, Years ago when I was working as a photographer in a big hotel, the current Miss World turned up, we all looked at her and said, "Well she is pretty but nothing spectacular." I snapped a couple of shots of her, and WOW in the photographs she looked stunning, and she hadn't even been posing.
Back

[ To post a reply, please Log In or Register ]

Powered by SimpleForum Pro 4.6