Taking a picture on Mars

I have been reading about the work needed by NASA to complie the pictures being sent back from Mars. How they use all these different filters, and use computer as well as people power to put them all together to form a single picture. Which they think represents what it truly looks like on Mars.

My question is, why all the hard work? Wouldnt any camera be able to take the same picture? A camera works on light being reflected into the camera onto the film. There is light on Mars, there are objects reflecting light, so why wouldnt just a simple camera work?

Im sure its a simple answer, but I havent been able to find one looking thru google and such. Any ideas?

This NASA article, Revealing Mars’ True Colors, goes into it in some detail. The quick answer is, yes, a simple camera would give you a picture - but the Rovers aren’t there to take holiday snaps appealing to the human eye. The ‘travelogue’ pictures are a processed by-product of images taken through filters at scientifically useful wavelengths.

Ah, but is there a FilmDrop 1-hour developing shop on Mars? :slight_smile:

Actually, I believe the cameras are all digital, so there is no film involved.

Well, in the early days spy satellites (I´m not sure if probes too) did use film cameras, after finishing the roll, it was either dropped down to earth in a capsule or scanned on board.