CAMERA may be defined as a light tight box, with a means of forming the image (lens), holding

sensitized materials (film holder), and with a means of controlling the amount of light that reach the
film.

It is a device used in photographing objects.

A light tight box

With a means of forming an image (lens)

Holding sensitized materials (Film holder)

With a means of controlling the amount of light that reach the film

1. PINHOLE CAMERA

A camera of single design and construction, usually home-made consisting of a box having a small
aperture functioning as a lens at one end, the image being projected on the film at the other end.

2. BOX CAMERA

A simple camera more than a pinhole camera. It has a lens and shutter. The pinhole is replaced by a lens
to enable the photographer to gather more light to be recorded.

3. CAMERA OBSCURA A box used for sketching large objects. It literally means “dark chamber”. The
image of the objects is transmitted through the lens and appears on the mirror. The mirror reflects it
upward to a ground glass screen on the top of the box. There it can be sketched easily.

CLASSIFICATION OF CAMERA

According to: 1. The size of the film they use or format of the picture they produce

2. The Viewing/Focusing System

3. Overall Design and Functions

SIZE OF FILM OR FORMAT

A. LARGE FORMAT CAMERAS

These cameras have bellows and use sheet films in the size 4”×5”, 5”×7” and 8”×10”.

B. MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERAS

Some of these cameras are folding type with bellows and some are rigid-body with film size of 120, 220,
and 70mm. The double lens reflex camera falls under this category.

Mamiya 645 Super and its possible configurations

1– Camera body

2– Lenses

3– Focusing screens

4– Power drive

5– Wind-up crank

6– Metered prism finder

7– Prism finder

8– Waist level finder

9– 120 roll film holder loaded with a film X

10– 120 roll film holder loaded with a film Y

11– 220 roll film holder, 35 mm roll film holder, Polaroid land pack film holder, digital back (only for
more recent models), etc. ;

12– Cable release adapter

C. SMALL FORMAT CAMERAS

Those with film size 126, 110, 35mm., 16mm, and 8mm.

A. Those with focusing mechanism at the back of the camera.

B. Those with optical viewfinder.

VIEWING AND FOCUSING

A. VIEW CAMERA A large format camera - a term that applies to cameras that produce an individual
image size of 5" X 4" or larger. It is most often found in a studio, and is sometimes even called a "studio
camera," although the view camera can be transported and set up in the field.

B. DIGITAL CAMERA

This camera digitalize the image which can then be put into a computer and enhanced through a
software

A. Those with focusing mechanism at the back of the camera.

B. Those with optical viewfinder.

A. VIEW CAMERA A large format camera - a term that applies to cameras that produce an individual
image size of 5" X 4" or larger. It is most often found in a studio, and is sometimes even called a "studio
camera," although the view camera can be transported and set up in the field.

B. DIGITAL CAMERA

This camera digitalize the image which can then be put into a computer and enhanced through a
software package.

Those with fixed memory

Those with removable memory

OTHER TYPES OF CAMERA

1. Box Camera

For more than several decades the box camera (viewfinder) was the instrument of choice for the casual
amateur photographer.

Box cameras were normally fitted with a singleelement lens, a limited range of aperture control, and a
single-speed leaf shutter.

2. Folding Roll Camera

The Folding-Roll Film Camera Second in popularity only to the box camera, the folding camera was
manufactured in a variety of formats.

It was a box camera whose lens was incorporated into a movable bellows that could slide back and forth
on a rail, allowing the lens to change focus.

Lenses and shutters were often one-piece units.

3. Range Finder Camera

Similar to a Viewfinder type camera this camera does not use a lens to view the subject but instead
relies on a separate viewing system in the camera for aiming and for focus.

In this camera there are two images in the viewfinder.

One is usually only a portion of the viewer area and is usually slightly yellowish in color.

4. REFLEX CAMERA

A camera that has a mirror directly in the path of light traveling through the lens that reflects the scene
to a viewing screen.
a. SINGLE LENS REFLEX

A camera with one lens only for both viewing and picturetaking. The image is reflected onto a viewing
screen by a moveable mirror in the camera. The mirror flips out of the way just before the shutter
opens, permitting light to strike the film.

B. Twin-lens Reflex Camera

- A camera having two separate lenses of the same focal length - one for viewing and focusing; the
other for exposing the film.

The lenses are mechanically-coupled so that both are focused at the same time.

Parallax – The difference between what the viewfinder on a point-and-shoot camera sees and what the
lens sees (and thus records on film). At close shooting distances, this difference can cause you to crop
off the top of a subject’s head.

5. VIEWFINDER CAMERA

- Camera with a viewfinder that is separate from the lens used in taking the picture.

A simple point-and-shoot disposable camera is an example of a viewfinder camera, but not all
viewfinder cameras are simple.

6. SINGLE-USE CAMERA

- Camera that is used only once. It is disposed of after the film is removed for processing.

7. INSTANT CAMERA

- An instant camera is a type of camera with selfdeveloping film. The most famous are those made by
the Polaroid Corporation. The invention of modern instant cameras is generally credited to American
scientist Edwin Land, who unveiled the first commercial instant camera, the Land Camera, in 1947, 10
years after founding the Polaroid Corporation.

PARTS OF CAMERA

Body/Light Tight Box

Shutter

Lens

Aperture

Film holder
THE CAMERA

1. This first and main part is called the body (light tight box).

2. The second part is the shutter which might be located in the lens (leaf shutter or between the lens
shutter) or it might be located right in front of the film (focal plane shutter).

3. The lens lets in light. It draws the light into the camera and focuses it on the film plane. The larger the
lens the more light. The lens also effects how large the image appears based on the focal length of the
lens.

4. The aperture is located in the lens and is a set of leaf like piece of metal that can change the size of
the hole that lets in light. We consider the lens to be part of the shutter as we do not actually need a
lens to focus an image if we have a small enough hole to let in the light. 5. Finally, the film holder inside
the camera. This must have some attachment that allows for the film to be moved which can either be a
lever or a motor.

SLR CAMERA

A specially shaped piece of glass which reflects light from the outside onto the back of the camera and
create a reversed, upside down image on the film at the back of the camera.

Moves the lens back and forth which allows the photographer to create a sharp image of the subject

A small opening in the camera usually circular in shape and usually varies in the form of iris diaphragm
that regulates the intensity of light which passes through the lens.

A part of the camera that is twisted to advance the film inside and to check the number of exposure.

It will control the length of time when light is allowed to strike the sensitized material.

A device on a camera that gives a delay between pressing the shutter release and the shutter's firing. It
is most commonly used to let photographers to take a photo of themselves (often with family).

It is where the flash bulb is inserted for indoor photography.

A camera device in which when

A camera device in which when adjusted it will conform with the sensitivity of the film to light.

A part of the camera which when pressed will keep shutter in open position.

An adjustable mechanism that regulates the amount of light reaching the film by varying the length of
time light is allowed to pass through the lens.

A viewing instrument attached to a camera, used to obtain proper composition.

It holds the film firmly inside the camera. It is always located at the opposite side of the lens.

A device indicating the number of exposures

ally shaped piece of glass which reflects light from the outside onto the back of the camera and create a
reversed, upside down image on the film at the back of the camera.

Moves the lens back and forth which allows the photographer to create a sharp image of the subject.

A small opening in the camera usually circular in shape and usually varies in the form of iris diaphragm
that regulates the intensity of light which passes through the lens.

A part of the camera that is twisted to advance the film inside and to check the number of exposure.

It will control the length of time when light is allowed to strike the sensitized material.

A device on a camera that gives a delay between pressing the shutter release and the shutter's firing. It
is most commonly used to let photographers to take a photo of themselves (often with family).

It is where the flash bulb is inserted for indoor photography.

A camera device in which when adjusted it will conform with the sensitivity of the film to light.