Camera

A camera is a tool that captures and stores pictures and videos. It can do this in two ways: using an electronic image sensor or using special photographic film. Cameras are important in many areas, like art, entertainment, news, and science. The first cameras were made in the 1800s, and they have changed a lot with new technology.

Cameras control how much light reaches the sensor or film. They use a lens to focus the light, and a viewfinder lets the user see what will be photographed. There are many types of cameras for different uses. For example, single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras show exactly what the lens sees. Large-format and medium-format cameras make very detailed pictures. Compact cameras are small and easy to carry. Rangefinder cameras were once common in news reporting, and motion picture cameras are used for movies. Digital cameras use electronic sensors instead of film.

In recent years, smartphone camera technology has changed how people take and share photos, making it easier for everyone to record and share what they see every day.

History

Main article: History of the camera

Cameras have a long history that started in the 1800s. Early inventors like Thomas Wedgwood, Nicéphore Niépce, and Henry Fox Talbot used tools such as the camera obscura to make the first pictures. Over time, cameras got smaller and easier to use. Important changes included the daguerreotype and the first portable Kodak camera in 1888.

In the 1900s, cameras kept improving. New designs made them cheaper and simpler for everyone. After World War II, Japanese companies helped create many new camera ideas. By the late 1900s, digital cameras began to appear, and soon cameras were added to smartphones, changing the way we take pictures every day.

Mechanics

Cameras capture light from the visible light spectrum, and some special cameras can capture other types of light like infrared. All cameras work in a similar way: light enters a box through a converging or convex lens, and an image is recorded on a surface that can sense light.

Most cameras have a viewfinder, which shows what will be recorded. They also let you adjust focus, light, and how long the shutter stays open. The shutter controls how long light can reach the sensor or film inside the camera.

Exposure control

Main article: Exposure (photography)

Aperture

Main article: Aperture

Light enters the camera through an adjustable opening called an aperture. By changing the size of this opening, you control how much light reaches the sensor or film. The size of the aperture is measured in f-stops, such as f/2.8 or f/11. A larger opening lets in more light and makes the background look blurrier, while a smaller opening lets in less light and keeps more of the scene clear.

Shutter

Main article: Shutter (photography)

The shutter controls how long the sensor or film is exposed to light. It can open for very short times, like 1/1000 of a second, to freeze fast action, or for longer times to let in more light. In the past, shutters were mechanical parts, but many modern cameras, especially smartphones, use electronic shutters that control the sensor digitally.

Light meter

Main article: Light meter

Most cameras have a built-in light meter that measures how much light is entering the camera. This helps the camera choose the best settings for exposure. Advanced cameras can measure light in different ways, such as focusing more on the center of the scene or letting the photographer choose a specific spot to measure.

Lens

A camera lens focuses light onto the sensor or film to create an image. Lenses can be wide-angle, showing a large view, or telephoto, zooming in on distant objects. Some lenses can change focal length (zoom lenses), while others have a fixed focal length (prime lenses). Lenses also have features like autofocus, which automatically focuses the camera, and image stabilization, which helps prevent blurry photos in low light.

Viewfinder

Main article: Viewfinder

The viewfinder shows the photographer what will be captured. In older cameras, this is an optical viewfinder that uses mirrors. In modern cameras, especially mirrorless ones, it is an electronic viewfinder that shows a digital preview of the image.

Film and sensor

Image capture happens when light hits either film or a digital sensor. In film cameras, you have to load the film yourself, and each photo moves the film to the next frame. In digital cameras, sensors turn light into electronic data to create images. Digital sensors can be reviewed instantly on a screen and easily edited on a computer.

Camera accessories

Flash

A flash is a bright light that flashes for a very short time during a photo. It is used when there isn’t enough light or to freeze action. Flashes can be attached to the camera and often have features to help decide how long the flash should last.

Other accessories

Accessories help protect the camera, improve image quality, or add special effects. Some common accessories include:

• Lens hood: blocks unwanted light to reduce glare.
• Lens cap: protects the lens when not in use.
• Filter: changes the light or adds color to photos.
• Tripod: keeps the camera still for long exposures or videos.
• Cable release: lets you control the shutter from a distance to avoid shaking the camera.

Primary types

Single-lens reflex (SLR) camera

Main article: Single-lens reflex camera

Further information: Instant return mirror

A single-lens reflex camera (SLR) uses a mirror to show the photographer exactly what will be captured. When the picture is taken, the mirror moves away so the light can reach the film or digital sensor. SLR cameras come in many sizes and are made by companies like Bronica, Graflex, Hasselblad, Seagull, Mamiya, and Pentax.

Large-format camera

Main article: View camera

Large-format cameras use sheet film and are used for very clear pictures. They can change focus and how things look. These cameras often use a ground-glass screen to help focus before taking the picture.

Medium-format camera

See also: Medium format

Medium-format cameras use film that is bigger than 35 mm but smaller than large-format sheets. They usually use 120 or 220 roll film and come in many designs, including classic models like Hasselblad and smaller versions for everyday use.

Compact cameras

Instant camera

Main article: Instant camera

Instant cameras let you take a picture and see it right away. After taking the photo, a part inside the camera moves to develop the picture. Some models could also make copies, and Polaroid made cameras that could take ten pictures in a row.

Subminiature camera

Main article: Subminiature camera

Subminiature cameras were small cameras made in the twentieth century. They used very small film. The Minox was famous for being very tiny and was sometimes used for secret photos. Later, cheaper models used 16 mm film.

Folding camera

Main article: Folding camera

Folding cameras were made to be smaller and easy to carry. They were very compact, with some tiny models called "vest pocket" cameras. The Vest Pocket Kodak was one of the smallest and most popular, sold from 1912 to 1934.

Box camera

Main article: Box camera

Box cameras were simple and cheap cameras with few controls. Early models like the Brownie had a basic viewfinder, while later versions included more features.

Rangefinder camera

Main article: Rangefinder camera

Rangefinder cameras were made to help focus better. They have separate viewfinders that show when the subject is in focus. These cameras often have different lenses and use 35 mm film.

Motion picture cameras

Main article: Movie camera

Further information: Digital movie camera

Movie cameras, also called cine cameras, record many images quickly to make motion when played back. The first movie camera was built around 1888 and used 35mm film. Professional cameras can be very large, while amateur ones are small and easy to carry.

Professional video camera

Main article: Professional video camera

Further information: Video camera

Professional video cameras are high-end devices used to create moving images. They were first made for television and are now used in many places, including music videos and educational materials. These cameras use electronic sensors to capture images.

Camcorders

Main article: Camcorder

A camcorder is a small device that combines a video camera and a video recorder. Most devices that can record video, like camera phones and digital cameras, are sometimes called camcorders, but the term usually means a self-contained video recording device.

Digital camera

Main article: Digital camera

Further information: Digital image, Digital imaging, Digital photography, Digital single-lens reflex camera, and Digital video

A digital camera captures and stores pictures and videos electronically. Most cameras today are digital and are found in many devices, from mobile phones to cars. Digital cameras can show images right after they are taken, store them in memory, and often record videos with sound. They became popular in the 1990s and are now the standard.

Camera phone

Further information: Front-facing camera and Selfie

In 2000, Sharp introduced the first digital camera phone, the J-SH04 J-Phone, in Japan. By the mid-2000s, many cell phones had built-in cameras, and by the early 2010s, almost all smartphones included a camera.