A camera which is reasonably compact, easy to operate, and can take a whole range of lenses opens up dozens of new possibilities for any photographer. Telephoto lenses for sports action pictures and better portraits, wide- angle lenses for depth in sweeping landscapes and pictures in cramped spaces, or close-ups of insects using a macro (close-focusing) lens. The pentaprism SLR camera can provide all these things. It is the most popular interchangeable lens camera, widely used by amateurs and professionals alike. There are others with interchangeable lenses—for example medium format SLR cameras and some viewfinder cameras—and these are discussed in detail later on. Read the rest of this entry »
Apart from the shutter release, film winder, focusing and exposure controls, even the simplest cameras have a few additional knobs and switches that are either safety devices or provide an extra degree of control. Used correctly they may not only make picture taking more reliable but can also increase the versatility of the camera.
Here’s how to use the extras most commonly found on modern cameras, and in some cases what you can do if your own camera lacks them. Read the rest of this entry »
A few sophisticated automatic cameras have a dual metering system, one to provide guidance to the photographer in the form of a viewfinder exposure display, while the other system takes a reading of light reflected from the film plane during exposure. The Olympus OM2n is an example where CdS cells provide viewfinder information while silicon cells control the exposure when the camera is set to automatic. Read the rest of this entry »
Most modern cameras have a light meter built in. This has proved to be very popular among amateurs and professionals alike because of the speed and convenience it offers.
All exposure meters work towards the same end—to give the photographer exposure information—but the ways in which they operate vary widely. There are two basic types however: coupled and uncoupled. Examples of both systems are found in 35mm reflex and non–reflex as well as in smaller and larger format cameras. Read the rest of this entry »
Choosing the best exposure for a picture is just as important as getting the image sharp. A beautiful holiday picture on the beach is spoiled if you cannot see details of the people in the photographs—they may be too light or dark.
A correctly exposed negative or slide will have a full range of tones from deep shadows to bright highlights. Under-expose your photograph and the darker parts of the picture will contain little detail; over-expose, and the bright parts will appear all washed out and lacking in detail. Read the rest of this entry »
Basically, there are two main types of shutter: those that work inside or just behind the lens, known as between lens shutters, including sector shutters; and focal plane shutters, which are positioned close to the film.
The between lens shutter closely resembles the aperture and is positioned between the lens elements, near the aperture blades. It is made up of two or more overlapping metal blades. which spring open for the time of the exposure and then close again. These shutters are very light and compact, and can synchronize with flash at all speeds. But between lens shutters have two drawbacks: few work at speeds of over 1/500, and they are costly to produce for cameras with interchangeable lenses. This is because each lens requires its own integral shutter and a separate means to block light from the film when the lens is removed.
Between lens shutters are used mainly on rangefinder 35mm cameras and roll film cameras. Read the rest of this entry »
When you open the back of a camera to change the film, look inside and then press the shutter release. As the shutter opens the aperture can be seen beyond it. This shows more clearly if you look through the front of the lens or, on a camera with interchangeable lenses, take the lens off and look through that. Turn the aperture control and the size of the aperture will alter within the lens as you change the settings.
As the size of the aperture changes, so does the brightness of the light allowed through the lens. Aperture size, and therefore brightness, is controlled by the iris diaphragm, made up of a number of thin, interleaving blades which rotate to make the aperture larger or smaller. Making it smaller (stopping down the lens) reduces the amount of light reaching the film; increasing the size allows more light through. Read the rest of this entry »
The lens illustrated is the type usually fitted to an SLR camera. It encompasses more or less the same view you see with one eye closed. The information on the front of the lens gives its focal length (50mm), maximum aperture (f2), maker’s name, brand name, and serial number. The side view shows scales for focusing, aperture setting and depth of field.
Modern lenses are made up from several glass elements ground to a precise shape and mounted inside a tube. Read the rest of this entry »
