Image processing can occur directly on a camera or with software that you place on your computer prior to processing your images. The best camera for image processing depends on how complicated you need your images to be once they are completed and how much editing you plan on doing afterwards. Budget is also a concern when choosing a camera for image processing, as the more that a camera can do directly on it, the more expensive it will be. Film and digital cameras provide different types and styles of photography so it is important to consider that when finding a camera for image processing.
If you are looking to be able to change simple settings such as lighting, image rotation and tone, a point and shoot camera might be all that you need. These cameras are much less expensive than single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras that have more complicated image processing abilities including various exposures, highlighting and shadowing capabilities. Film cameras have film inside them that have to be developed prior to being edited further, so a film camera needs to have settings on the camera that can affect the image. The more settings you have on a film camera, the more you will be able to adjust your shots before they are developed onto the film for good.
Digital cameras have many more options for image processing as the images can be downloaded onto a computer and changed after they have been taken. There is still a large range of image processing features on digital cameras, ranging from automatic settings to manual settings where many things can be adjusted prior to taking the shots. Most digital cameras work with image processing software, so it would not be a problem to edit them after the fact. There are both film and digital point and shoot and SLR cameras available.
If you want a hobby camera for image processing, it is not as important to have as many features, but if you are a professional photographer, you should go with the most expensive camera you can afford. Digital SLR cameras offer many types of image processing and can import pictures onto your computer in a range of file types depending on your needs. More features available on a camera for image processing will cause it to be more expensive. Film cameras are generally less expensive than digital, but there are exceptions to this with high-end film cameras.