Digital Cameras 35mm Cameras APS Cameras Camera Reviews
APS Cameras (Advanced Photo System)Kodak has introduced a film format called APS (Advanced Photo System). Many camera manufacturers have adopted APS and now make both APS and 35mm cameras. APS film is smaller than 35mm film--it requires a mere 56 percent of the area that a 35mm negative uses. The small negative allows for a smaller film canister, making APS cameras the smallest and the lightest cameras on the market. Another plus for APS cameras is that loading film is absolutely foolproof. The special completely enclosed APS film canister makes it almost impossible to improperly load or accidentally expose the film--you simply drop in the canister to begin shooting and then remove the canister when the roll is done. The canister also has handy indicators that let you know if your film is unexposed, partially exposed, completely exposed, or developed. The APS format makes it easier to get reprints as well. When you get your film back from processing, you receive an index print with thumbnails of all your photos. You also get your negatives back inside the film canister, making it harder to lose or damage them. APS cameras allow you to choose among three picture formats for each shot: classic (6 by 4 inches), wide-angle (7 by 4 inches), or panoramic view. When you order reprints, you can request a different format for the reprint than what you originally used for the photo--for example, if you took a classic photo, you can later reprint it as a panoramic. APS film also uses a magnetic storage system, which allows images to carry "cheat" messages for the film developer; for example, if you shot a picture in poor light, the cheat message tells your developer and he or she can try to compensate during the printing process. The greatest downside to APS cameras is that the reduced negative size results in inferior picture quality. While the effects on standard-size prints is negligible, if you enlarge APS photos to any size greater than 5 by 7 inches, the image becomes dull and grainy. Another disadvantage is that many photo labs are not equipped to develop APS film.
Since many 35mm cameras offer comparable features to APS cameras, such as date imprinting
and panoramic view shooting, and they tend to offer a wider array of artistic options,
35mm cameras are still the favorite pick of most seasoned snapshooters. Finding 35mm film
is also much easier than finding APS film, particularly if you are traveling in a country
where APS cameras have not entered the local market. APS Camera ReviewsCanon Elph 2 Camera |
Digital Cameras 35mm Cameras APS Cameras Camera Reviews