Basic Photography Course

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

contents

Basic Photography Course

<- previous page

next page ->