Difference between revisions of "Camera types"

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Insert a table with the camera types listed above and the corresponding features. -->
 
Insert a table with the camera types listed above and the corresponding features. -->
 
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=== Rangefinder ===
 
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Rangefinder cameras are those that focus using some sort of coincident-viewing distance-determination mechanism. The most common form, as used in cameras like the [[Leica]] and other classic small 35mm cameras, is to use a prism and mirror arrangement between two viewing windows. Small adjustments in the angles of the prisms will align two superimposed images -- when the images are aligned the distance can be determined accurately by a simple mechanical cam. Such rangefinders have been used in 35mm cameras for many years and also in larger-format cameras such as "folder" medium format cameras, "Texas Leicas" like the [[Mamiya 7]] and even some early polaroid cameras.
 
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Other styles of rangefinder do exist, such as the electronic variety found in the [[Contax G1-G2]] cameras. In general, "rangefinder" focusing is often used to describe any focusing mechanism that doesn't view directly through the taking lens (or an identical copy of that lens, as in Twin Lens Reflex cameras).
 
  
 
=== Single Lens Reflex ===
 
=== Single Lens Reflex ===

Revision as of 08:10, 29 August 2006

There are many types of cameras. Almost all of them can be classified according to the following features:

  • the sensor: nature (digital, 35mm film, 120 film, APS film, other rollfilm, cut film...) and size (24×36mm, 6×6cm...);
  • the viewing system (external finder, electronic finder, LCD screen, single lens reflex, twin lens reflex...);
  • the rigidity of the body (rigid, swivelling lens, telescopic tube, folding, monorail...);
  • the focusing system (autofocus, rangefinder focusing, manual reflex focusing, guess focusing, ground glass back...);
  • the lens attachment (interchangeable lens, non interchangeable zoom lens, fixed lens);
  • the metering system: metering sensor and metering modes (programmed, speed-priority, aperture-priority, manual).

The features that will most determine the aspect of the camera are the viewing system and the rigidity. Once they are known, the general shape of the body is usually quite predictable.

The size of the sensor matters for the size of the camera and for the end result, while its nature has an incidence on the internal construction: a film camera usually needs place for the supply and take up spools, except for the cameras using cut film or plate film.

The focusing system and metering system will mostly influence how you will use the camera, but has few impact on its shape.

Unusual combinations of these features have existed, for example folding TLRs, subminiature SLRs and so on. However not every combination does make sense. For example an subminiature folding autofocus TLR is not theoretically impossible, but unlikely to ever exist.

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