Camera

A camera is an instrument used to capture and store images and videos, either digitally via an electronic image sensor, or chemically via a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It has been an important tool in many areas, including art, entertainment, news, and science. The first cameras were invented in the 1800s, and since then, they have changed a lot with new technology.

Cameras work by controlling how much light gets to the sensor or film, using a lens to focus that light, and letting the user see what will be photographed with a viewfinder. There are many kinds of cameras for different purposes. For example, single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras show exactly what the lens sees, while large-format and medium-format cameras create 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 simpler for everyone to record and share what they see every day.

History

Main article: History of the camera

Cameras have an interesting history that began in the 19th century. Early inventors like Thomas Wedgwood, Nicéphore Niépce, and Henry Fox Talbot used tools such as the camera obscura to create the first photographs. Over time, cameras became smaller and easier to use, with important developments like the daguerreotype and the first portable Kodak camera in 1888.

In the 20th century, cameras kept getting better. New designs made them more affordable and easier for everyone to use. After World War II, Japanese companies led many new ideas in camera technology. By the late 1900s, digital cameras started to appear, and soon cameras were built into smartphones, changing how we take pictures every day.

Mechanics

Cameras capture light from the visible light spectrum, with some special cameras capturing other types of light such as 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, and allow adjustments for 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 (smaller f-number) lets in more light and makes the background appear blurrier, while a smaller opening (bigger f-number) lets in less light and keeps more of the scene in focus.

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 that opened and closed, 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 decide the best settings for exposure. Advanced cameras can measure light in different ways, such as focusing more on the center of the scene or allowing the photographer to 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 to show the scene. 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 convert 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

In photography, a single-lens reflex camera (SLR) uses a mirror to redirect light from the lens to the viewfinder before taking a picture. When the shutter is released, the mirror moves out of the way, allowing the light to expose the film or digital sensor. This design helps the photographer see exactly what will be captured. SLR cameras come in many sizes and formats, including sheet film and roll film, 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 high-quality photography, especially in technical, architectural, and industrial fields. These cameras have flexible bellows and can adjust focus and perspective. They often use a ground-glass screen for focusing before replacing it with film for the exposure.

Medium-format camera

See also: Medium format

Medium-format cameras use film that is larger than 35 mm but smaller than large-format sheets. They typically use 120 or 220 roll film and come in various designs, including classic models like Hasselblad and compact amateur versions.

Compact cameras

Instant camera

Main article: Instant camera

Instant cameras let you take a photo and immediately see the developed picture. After taking a photo, a mechanism inside the camera moves the paper, spreading the chemicals that develop the image. Some systems could also create negatives for making copies, and Polaroid made advanced models that could take ten pictures in a row.

Subminiature camera

Main article: Subminiature camera

Subminiature cameras were made in the twentieth century and used very small film, sometimes as small as 8×11mm. The Minox was famous for its tiny size and was often used for secret photography. Later, cheaper models used rewound 16 mm film for general use.

Folding camera

Main article: Folding camera

Folding cameras were developed after films were invented, allowing existing plate camera designs to be made smaller and folded up. These were very compact, with some small models called "vest pocket" cameras. The Vest Pocket Kodak was one of the smallest and most popular, sold between 1912 and 1934.

Box camera

Main article: Box camera

Box cameras were simple, budget-friendly cameras with few controls. Early models like the Brownie had a basic viewfinder and no focusing controls, while later versions included more features like optical viewfinders.

Rangefinder camera

Main article: Rangefinder camera

Rangefinder cameras were developed to improve focusing accuracy. They have separate viewfinders that help the photographer see when the subject is in focus. These cameras often have interchangeable lenses and were made in half- and full-frame 35 mm and roll film formats.

Motion picture cameras

Main article: Movie camera

Further information: Digital movie camera

Movie cameras, also called cine cameras, record a series of images quickly to create the illusion of motion when played back. The first movie camera was built around 1888, and early models 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 electronically. Originally developed for television, they are now used in many areas, including music videos and educational materials. These cameras use electronic sensors to capture images.

Camcorders

Main article: Camcorder

A camcorder is a portable 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 refers to self-contained video recording devices.

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 images and videos electronically. Most cameras today are digital, 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 with consumers 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.