Cameras (with a “C” not Kameras)

Cameras are defined by Size (film or sensor) Format (film or sensor) Viewing system Focusing systems Special use

Camera Size & Format Typical Film/Sensor sizes –Miniature –APS (Advanced Photo System) Server beginning at 24mm –35mm - 24x35mm –Digital – varies by size and proportion –Medium Format - 2 ¼ x X, (2 ½ x 1 5/8 up to 2 ¼ x 3 ¾) –Large Format 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14 & Panorama

Camera Viewing & Focusing View Finder –Pre, manual & auto focused –Split image SLR –View through the taking lens –Manual focus or Auto Focus Ground Glass –Medium and large format

Camera Shutters Leaf shutter –quiet, reliable, exposes entire frame at one time –limited to 1/400 sec –In lenses, difficult to interchange lenses Focal plane shutter –fast, over 1/4000 sec –In camera body, east to interchange lenses –Exposes part of frame at a time

Exposure Control Pre-set ( point-and-shoot ) Manual Automatic –automatic –manual Programmed –programmed –automatic –manual

Camera Viewing Systems Classified by their viewing systems –Rangefinder –Single Lens Reflex (SLR) –Twin Lens Reflex –View Cameras

Rangefinder - pros View through a viewing window Simple to sophisticated Good in low light levels Usually has built-in light meter Miniature to “field camera” size Usually has leaf shutter –Focal plane shutters more expensive Rugged & quiet

Rangefinder - cons Has a “parallax” problem - you do not see what you will get Inter-changable lenses tend to be more expensive

Single Lens Reflex View through taking lens - you see what you will get Typically 35mm & medium format Some medium formats have interchangable backs. Interchangeable lenses inexpensive

Usually has built-in light meter Usually uses focal plane shutter –Some medium formats use leaf shutters Tend to be noisy

Twin Lens Reflex Medium format Rugged Leaf shutter Parallax Few made today Digital version ? Few lenses

Twin Lens Reflex Image reversed left-to-right

View Camera Large format Requires a tripod Very flexible Slow to setup and use

Swings and tilts, rise and fall

Field Camera Large format, usually 4x5 Made to be hand-held May or may not have swings and tilts Rangefinder or ground glass focusing