The key difference is that instead of focusing the light on a strip of photochemical film as in traditional cameras, digital cameras use an image sensor, called a charge coupled device (CCD), to capture the image.

FORBES: Technology briefing

In essence the charged CCD now stores an image, albeit an analog (as opposed to digital) one.

FORBES: Technology briefing

The real hotness is going on in the former: the T30 packs a 3-inch touchscreen LCD, 3x zoom and 7.1 megapixel CCD, along with face recognition for beefing up auto focus and auto exposure, high ISO digital shake reduction and some stylus-based frivolities.

ENGADGET: Pentax debuts a pair of 7 megapixel Optios, the T30 and M30

Apart from the arrival of less pricey full-frame digital SLRs, the other recent development that has impressed your correspondent is the way imaging chips are migrating from CCD (charge-coupled device) technology to CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor), used widely in the computer industry.

ECONOMIST: A die-hard analog photographer goes digital