| Photographs enable us to capture events and | | | | (4) Viewfinder: This is a part of the Camera that |
| moments in time and preserve these for years. This | | | | helps us decide which object we want to photograph. |
| is made possible by the use of photo Cameras. A | | | | It helps us point the camera in the correct direction |
| Camera is a technological device for obtaining | | | | and indicates what will or will not appear in the final |
| photographic images of objects of interest. | | | | photograph. Viewfinders are of two types: (1) Those |
| This device is made up of three basic elements: the | | | | that work independent of the lens, known as aim-and |
| mechanical element (the Camera body itself), the | | | | -shoot cameras; (2) Those that show exactly what |
| optical element (the Lens), and the chemical element | | | | the lens is seeing, found in SLR (Single Lens Reflex) |
| (the Film [although there are also digital cameras that | | | | cameras. |
| don't make use of the traditional film]). All the other | | | | (5) Shutter: The shutter determines how long the film |
| numerous parts and components that make up a | | | | is exposed to light or to the image coming from the |
| camera simply function to support or enhance any of | | | | lens. Shutters are of two types: the one located just |
| the above mentioned core functions. | | | | behind the lens, called the leaf shutter; the second |
| Listed below are 15 functional components of a | | | | type is located in front of the film plane, it's called the |
| Camera, following which I will explain the function of | | | | focal plane shutter. The shutter consists of two |
| 10 of them. | | | | metal sheets or "curtains" which remain shut or |
| 1. The Camera Body | | | | closed when the camera is not in use. But when the |
| 2. Lens | | | | shutter release button is depressed, one of these |
| 3. Film | | | | curtains slide open to allow the image from the lens |
| 4. Viewfinder | | | | to hit the film. After a brief moment, the second |
| 5. The Shutter | | | | metal sheet of curtain will slide in to close the |
| 6. Aperture | | | | opening. The interval between the opening and |
| 7. Shutter Release Button | | | | closing depends on the speed we selected using the |
| 8. Shutter Curtains | | | | shutter speed knob. |
| 9. Shutter Speed Control Knob | | | | (6) Aperture: This is an opening, or hole, at the |
| 10. Film Cavity | | | | center of the lens. The function is to cause images |
| 11. Film Rewind Knob | | | | to be brightened or dimmed uniformly. This is |
| 12. Film Sprockets | | | | achieved by increasing or reducing the size of the |
| 13. Flash Shoe (Accessory Jack) | | | | hole, using a knob called the Aperture Ring. When the |
| 14. Focusing Ring | | | | opening is enlarged, more light passes through the |
| 15. Self - Timer Button | | | | lens, causing the picture to brighten. Conversely when |
| (1) The Camera Body: All the internal mechanical, | | | | the opening reduces, less light is let in, thus dimming |
| optical, and chemical parts of a camera are held | | | | the image or picture. |
| together by the Camera body. This serves to | | | | (7) Flash Shoe (or Accessory Jack): This is the hook |
| protect these very sensitive parts. The Camera body | | | | to which one may attach a flash, if one chooses to |
| also serves as a framework against which the other | | | | use a flash and the camera supports it. This |
| parts of the Camera articulate to function properly. | | | | accessory is located just above the Viewfinder. |
| (2) The Lens: The Lens is undoubtedly the most | | | | (8) Focusing Ring: When we are looking through the |
| important component of the Camera (considering the | | | | Viewfinder, it is the Focusing Ring that is used to |
| main purpose of a Camera). The lens takes the | | | | bring the object into focus. It is more like an adjuster. |
| beams of light bouncing off an object and focuses | | | | (9) Film Cavity: This is the location where the roll of |
| this light on the image plane so that a real image is | | | | film is placed in the camera. This cavity is secured |
| formed that can be photographed. The greater | | | | from light. It is a sort of dark chamber whose job is |
| majority of the modifications and refinements that | | | | to ensure that the only light reaching the film is the |
| have occurred in the camera since its invention have | | | | one coming through the lens, and even then only |
| centered on or around the Lens, and that | | | | when the shutter is open. This is important since the |
| underscores the importance of this part of the | | | | film cannot differentiate between the light coming |
| camera. | | | | from the lens and the one coming from other |
| (3) The Film: This is a thin roll of light -sensitive plastic | | | | sources. Without this cavity lights from the |
| which is placed at the image plane of the Lens. When | | | | surrounding area would easily hit the film and distort |
| the Camera is ready to take pictures, several devices | | | | the picture quality. |
| combine to ensure that the film is exposed to the | | | | (10) Film Rewind Knob: This knob is used to return all |
| image formed by the lens. When the film is exposed | | | | the exposed roll of film back into their casing. This |
| to the image coming from the lens it records the | | | | must first be done before removing the exposed film |
| image, and we have pictures! Before and after use, | | | | from the camera; otherwise the negative will be |
| the film is stored in a light-tight film holder. Unknown | | | | ruined! Some modern cameras perform this function |
| to most persons, there are no black and white or | | | | automatically once we've taken the last exposure. |
| color cameras. We only have black and white and | | | | Summary: A Camera helps us preserve memories. |
| color films. It is the film that determines whether a | | | | Understanding how the various parts of this devise |
| picture will come out as black and white or colored. | | | | work will help us get the best from our Cameras. |