Editing Camera (section)

=== Film and sensor ===
Image capture in a camera occurs when light strikes a light-sensitive surface: [[photographic film]] or a [[digital sensor]].<ref name="Focal" /> Housed within the camera body, the film or sensor records the light's pattern when the shutter is briefly opened to allow light to pass during the exposure.<ref name="Warren-35mm" />

Loading film into a film camera is a manual process. The film, typically housed in a cartridge, is loaded into a designated slot in the camera. One end of the film strip, the film leader, is manually threaded onto a take-up spool. Once the back of the camera is closed, the film advance lever or knob is used to ensure the film is correctly placed. The photographer then winds the film, either manually or automatically depending on the camera, to position a blank portion of the film in the path of the light. Each time a photo is taken, the film advance mechanism moves the exposed film out of the way, bringing a new, unexposed section of film into position for the next shot.<ref name="Warren-35mm" />

The film must be advanced after each shot to prevent [[Multiple exposure|double exposure]] — where the same section of film is exposed to light twice, resulting in overlapped images. Once all frames on the film roll have been exposed, the film is rewound back into the cartridge, ready to be removed from the camera for developing.<ref name="Focal" />

In digital cameras, sensors typically comprise [[Charge-coupled device|Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs)]] or Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) chips, both of which convert incoming light into electrical charges to form digital images.<ref name="Columbia" /> CCD sensors, though power-intensive, are recognized for their excellent light sensitivity and image quality. Conversely, CMOS sensors offer individual pixel readouts, leading to less power consumption and faster frame rates, with their image quality having improved significantly over time.

Digital cameras convert light into electronic data that can be directly processed and stored. The volume of data generated is dictated by the sensor's size and properties, necessitating storage media such as [[CompactFlash|Compact Flash]], [[Memory Stick|Memory Sticks]], and [[SD card|SD (Secure Digital) cards]].<ref name="Focal" /> Modern digital cameras typically feature a built-in monitor for immediate image review and adjustments.<ref name="Columbia" /> Digital images are also more readily handled and manipulated by computers, offering a significant advantage in terms of flexibility and post-processing potential over traditional film.<ref name="Focal" />