Anatomy & Physiology of a Camera Photography 2016-2017 2nd Quarter 12th Grade Miss Guild

What do you mean by “Anatomy & Physiology?” Anatomy: descriptions of the parts of a whole What are the parts of a camera? Physiology: how the parts make up a whole functional unit How do these parts make the camera work, and what are their purposes?

Basic Film Camera Anatomy

Basic Anatomy of a Film Camera Top cover Covers the pentaprism and internal portion of eyepiece Eyepiece Allows viewing/preview of image in real time Pentaprism Five-sided reflecting prism, bends light twice through right angles to avoid inversion through eyepiece Focusing screen Made of flat, translucent material (often ground glass) that allows user to preview and image through the eyepiece Many different types for different styles of photography (split screen, microprism, plain, etched grid, etc.)

Simplistic Path of Light Through a Film Camera

Basic Anatomy of a Film Camera Mirror Reflects light up through focusing screen and pentaprism to the eyepiece Mirror blocks shutter (in some cameras), moving up to allow light toward shutter when photo is taken Lens mount Interface between camera body and lens Allows for interchangeable lenses Many types Lens Typically a compound lens made of many optical lens elements Acts as a projector, bending light through the aperture towards the mirror/shutter Two most important parameters are aperture and focal length

Diagram of Focal Length, Optical Center, and Focal Point

Diagram of Lens Aperture

Basic Anatomy of a Film Camera Shutter Depending on camera, can be just in front of film (leaf) or covering lens aperture (diaphragm), or in between (central). May be purely electronic (often used in combination with any of the three above in some digital cameras) Shutter speed is how long the shutter remains open to allow light through to film Aperture refers to the size of the shutter opening Film plane Where film is situated behind the shutter, is kept taut and straight by film pressure plate Film pressure plate Positioned behind film away from the shutter, supports film and keeps it steady as it is exposed Back lid Rear lid of camera, allows for film to be changed Camera body Plastic body of camera, encasing all other parts

Simple Leaf Shutter

Diaphragm Shutter with Aperture Diameter

The Three Pillars of Exposure Shutter Speed How long film/digital sensor is exposed to light Aperture Size of the opening for light to pass through Sensitivity (ISO or ASA) Measure of how sensitive the medium (film or digital sensor) is to light

Talking about ISO ISO is a measure of sensitivity, and is an easy setting to manipulate The ISO varies inversely as the light required for the same exposure If you double the ISO, you halve the amount of light required Understanding ISO requires understanding the balancing act between keeping image crispness and getting the required light for an image Photographers tend to try to keep the ISO low (creating low noise/graininess) for high quality images, but this requires a very fast shutter speed Many newer cameras have Auto ISO option that will increase ISO when shutter speed is too low for desired photo quality

The Exposure “Balancing Act”

Please study: Labeled diagram of camera and parts listed Basic path of light through a camera Locate, label, and name parts, draw path of light, etc. Focal length image slides, know what its’ effects are Aperture Guide depth of field! Shutter speed image slides, know what its’ effects are) Three Pillars of Exposure/Exposure Triangle Understand “balancing act” table Be able to describe exposure triangle and relationships between all 3 pillars