Cameras

Cameras have made a significant impact in the way they capture the images of our lives.  One of the first and most primitive cameras was knows as a sliding wooden box camera was used in the early 1800’s. The most common camera used to day is the digital camera. Over the years, cameras have evolved along with technology.  Despite the years of development, all cameras contain five basic elements.  These elements include the lens, diaphragm, shutter, body, and viewfinder. 

The lens is a basic camera element.  The lens is a glass or plastic element that collects light and focuses an image for capture.  Some lenses are attached to the camera, while other cameras have removable lens which can diversify the light and focus.  Within the lens is an aperture or opening which controls the amount of light that enters the camera through the lens.  This is also known as the diaphragm.  The diaphragm can be manually adjusted or automatically controlled depending on the camera type.  Basic cameras generally have a fixed lens opening.  Some cameras have a light sensitive cell that adjusts the opening for a variety of light conditions.

The shutter is a device within the camera that determines the length of time film is exposed to the light entering the camera.  The shutter is one of the most basic and important controls on a camera.   If a camera has a fast shutter, it has the ability to “freeze” a fast moving object.  Cameras that record moving pictures, or motion pictures, use a 180 degree shutter that spins while the film advances at a rate of 24 frames per second.

The body of a camera the camera is the most basic part of the camera.  It contains the lens, diaphragm, shutter, and view finder.  The body also holds the battery, light meter, and other controls.  It is important that a camera has a strong, durable body that travels well in all types of weather.  The body of a camera must protect the important elements that capture the images in a picture.

The viewfinder is the whole in the back of the camera that allows the photographer to see the image to be photographed.  Some viewfinders use a mirror within the camera to look through the lens while others are simply a hole in the body of the camera.  Viewfinders that look through the lens allow photographers a better view of the image they are trying to capture.

Today, the most common type of camera used is in a digital format.  digital cameras record images using electronic sensors rather than film.  They are far more convenient than traditional cameras.  Digital cameras allow photographers to upload photographs to their computer, alter images, and provide a much higher resolution than using film.  Digital cameras are the most current form of photographic technology.  They provide a better means of preserving and maintaining images.  This technology continues to improve and develop over time.  There are several types of digital cameras available in stores and online.