The Basic Equipment
The camera, and its lenses, are the photographers brush
Types of Camera:
pin hole
pocket
disposable
instamatic
modern compact
SLR
Medium Format
Large Format
The SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Camera:
The Canon Camera Museum web site is worth a visit if you are interested in learning more detail on the history of cameras
Other web sites worth a visit
Components of a basic SLR Camera
Body - Lens - Shutter - Shutter Release - View Finder - Prism - Mirror - Film Advance - Shutter Speed Control - Lens Release - Light Meter - Film Speed Control - Flash Shoe - Depth Preview - Lens Mount
Extra features of an advanced SLR camera
Auto Focus - Auto Shutter Speed - Auto Aperture - Auto Film Advance - Advanced Light Meter - Advanced Computer Control - Customer Program Settings - External PC Connection - Multiple Functions
click here to see full .pdf brochure of the Nikon F5
click here for another on-line parts diagram - Minolta Dynax 9
Lenses:
Types:
Short (14mm,
18mm, 20mm etc)
Standard (or Normal) (usually around 50mm)
Long (100mm, 300mm, 1000mm etc)
Telephoto (100mm, 300mm, 1000mm etc) (600mm or more usually mirror)
Zoom (35-85mm, 35-120mm, 150-300mm etc)
Construction:
Body Optic
Elements (usually glass but plastic becoming better - cheaper)
Focus Adjustment - Aperture Adjustment - Zoom Control (zoom lens only)
- Auto Focus Motor (auto-focus lens only) - Camera Mounting - Tripod Mount
(heavy Lenses)
Focal Length:
The focal
length of a lens is the distance from its centre to the focal point (where
the film is).
Telephoto lenses have the same focal length as long lenses but are physically
shorter. Therefore the focal length of a telephoto lens is theoretical.
Modern lenses are usually telephoto rather than long lenses, due to improvements
in optic element quality.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Digital Cameras