A camera that stores images digitally rather than recording them on film. Once a picture has been taken, it can be downloaded to a computer system, and then manipulated with a graphics program and printed. Unlike film photographs, which have an almost infinite resolution, digital photos are limited by the amount of memory in the camera, the optical resolution of the digitizing mechanism, and by the resolution of the final output device. Most digital cameras use CCDs to capture images, though some of the newer, less expensive cameras use CMOS chips instead. They can look like mini camcorders, a regular 35 mm camera, or a Polaroid camera that does not open to take the picture.
Digital cameras have applications in both the consumer and business market.
Digital cameras are used in the professional publishing markets, where digital image capture is rapidly replacing traditional film in businesses like catalog production, news gathering, and advertising. This is a result of the digital camera's advantages in speed and cost of ownership. Digital cameras are the best solution for activities like emailing images or placing them on Web pages. They're also ideal for images included in documents such as newsletters and holiday cards where the new high resolution ink jet printers makes it possible to produce photo quality prints at a very low cost. Most companies producing traditional film cameras have entered the digital photography market.