Download Understanding SLR and DSLR Cameras: Components and Differences and more Lecture notes Photography in PDF only on Docsity!
Topic 4 - The SLR
Learning Outcomes This class focuses on SLRs and DSLRs. We will be going through an overview of what happens within an SLR and comparing it to other types of cameras. By the end of this video you will have a better understanding of the inner workings of an SLR and be able to label a diagram of the various parts within a camera.
Let us begin by taking a detailed look at the structure of an SLR.
- Lens elements: This is simply an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a photographic camera body and a lens where light enters the camera.
- Reflex Mirror: This is a diagonal line which acts as a mirror that redirects the light that comes in from the lens up towards the viewfinder which basically bends the light into your eyes so you can see the scene.
- Reflex Mirror: This is a diagonal line which acts as a mirror that redirects the light that comes in from the lens up towards the viewfinder which basically bends the light into your eyes so you can see the scene.
- Shutter: The shutter opens, light is collected and falls on film/ sensor (DSLR).
- Film/ sensor: This affects the characteristics of camera and how photos will look.
- Focusing screen: Light is reflected here and it was more important back in the film days before the advent of autofocus.
- Condenser lens: This helps to funnel the light into the Pentaprism.
- Pentaprism: This optical glass reflects the light around and into your eye piece.
- Eye Piece: This is what you look into to see the scene.
Dust falls on the filters on the sensor rather than falling on the sensor itself. Sensor brushes can be used to clean dust but do not use liquid of any kind on the sensor when cleaning. The ‘Sensor clean’ option on an SLR flicks open the mirror and there is a click that exposes the sensor.
The Mirrors Within
Let us look at the mirrors within the camera:
The mirror in front of the sensor needs to move up and out of the way to expose the sensor. There is also a secondary mirror behind the primary mirror.
The Primary Mirror is responsible for sending light to the pentaprism and into the viewfinder. It is slightly transparent, meaning that light goes through.
The Secondary Mirror reflects light down which allows us to get exposure or to do autofocus.
Below this box of mirrors are sensors that the camera uses to determine metering to properly capture exposure and autofocus.
They will also have a Shutter Button which is used to take the photograph. This is also called the Exposure Button.
Some cameras will have a Hot Shoe which is useful when adding an external flash.
Within the DSLR camera, the process involves the passing of light through the camera lens, hitting the mirror and bouncing through the pentaprism and coming out through the viewfinder.
The single lens refers to the fact that the lenses are interchangeable. This is key when talking about prime lenses, which we will get to in later topics.
The Reflex aspect refers to when we take the photograph. When we take the shot, the mirror opens up, light passes through it and reaches the camera’s sensor.
