Points that FLAAR cover to decide what camera to buy.

So many people ask for help deciding what digital camera to buy that Nicholas Hellmuth has now finished a comprehensive report which surveys professional digital scan backs. Includes tri-linear are format scanning backs, area array scan backs, 1-shot, 3-shot (multi-shot), micro-step, CCD backs, CMOS, and other professional digital camera systems.

Nicholas Hellmuth evaluating the Nikon D200 medium format digital camera.

If you need to figure out which megapixel point-and-shoot camera under $1000 to buy, this is not the appropriate source. FLAAR covers only professional studio equipment.

* Why Digital (why not stick with traditional film)
* If digital cameras are so fabulous, why don’t more photographers use digital cameras?
* Scan backs, also called scanning backs or tri-linear systems
* Area Arrays (one shot cameras)
* Micro-stepping variant of 1-shot cameras: piezo
* Three-shot (multi-shot) digital systems
* CMOS Technology
* Inventory of digital cameras, by technology
* Scan backs: model by model
* Digital Lenses for digital photography with scan backs
* 35mm Digital Cameras
* Rebranding, Housebrands, OEMing
* Recommendations on large format scan backs
* Recommendations on 1-shot/3-shot digital backs
* Recommendations on 35mm digital cameras
* Point and shoot megapixel cameras under $1000
* Overcoming downsides of digital technology
* Standard Myths
* Other Advertising Hype to watch out for
* Cameras to hold your large format scan backs (PhaseOne, BetterLight, etc)
* Lighting for Digital Photography
* Electronic Shutters
* Best Magazine to subscribe to
* Annotated Bibliography of Books and Articles (other than on the Internet).

Design updated June 24, 2008.