Camera Types

R. B. Burrows 302.4 Figure 4-3.–35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. diaphragm to control the brightness of the image, a means of holding the film at the back of the camera, and a viewfinder so the photographer knows what the image is, and of course a body to hold it all together. Simple cameras, such as the one described, have limited capabilities. They have a fixed-focus lens that cannot pro- duce a sharp image of a subject closer than about 6 feet. Also, the shutter speed and diaphragm are preset and cannot be altered. The capabilities of a simple camera can be enhanced by adding features to perform the following: Change shutter speed to “capture” images of moving subjects Use synchronized electronic flash Meter the image brightness of the subject to either manually or automatically adjust the diaphragm and shutter speed Figure 4-3 illustrates a common 35mm camera and identifies the various camera controls. CAMERA TYPES Focus on subjects at various distances Adjust the lens for different lighting conditions Change various lenses quickly to change focal length and fields of view In this chapter, the characteristics and functions commonly found on most cameras are discussed. No single camera can meet the requirements of every photographic assignment. There are a number of cameras to choose from in the fleet. These cameras 4-2