Difference between revisions of "Camera types"

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* '''Film cameras:'''
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== Distinguishing features ==
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** [[point-and-shoot]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/22827039/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/19/22827039_941d3ed32b_t.jpg]
 
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** [[SLR]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/45501196/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/33/45501196_7031279e86_t.jpg]
 
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** [[TLR]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/20742380/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/16/20742380_bffd24b768_t.jpg]
 
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** [[rangefinder]] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/44707155/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/33/44707155_4b06cde358_t.jpg]
 
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** [[viewfinder camera]]
 
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** [[folding]]
 
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** [[subminiature]]
 
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** [[view camera]]
 
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** [[pinhole camera]]
 
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* '''[[Digital camera|Digital Cameras]]'''
 
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There are many types of cameras. Almost all of them can be classified according to the following features:
 
There are many types of cameras. Almost all of them can be classified according to the following features:
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efl* the sensor: nature ([[Digital camera|digital]], [[35mm film]], [[120 film]], [[APS film]], other rollfilm, cut film...) and size (24×36mm, 6×6cm...);
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* the sensor: nature ([[Digital camera|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 [[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 rigidity of the body (rigid, swivelling lens, telescopic tube, folding, monorail...);
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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.
 
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.
  
 +
== Common camera types ==
 +
Below is a table with common camera types and the features that distinguish them.
  
 
{| border="1" style="margin: 0.5em 2em; text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;" align="center"
 
{| border="1" style="margin: 0.5em 2em; text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;" align="center"
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−
|+''Common camera types''
 
 
|-
 
|-
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! name !! colspan="2" | sensor !! rowspan="2" | viewing system !! rowspan="2" | rigidity !! rowspan="2" | focusing system !! rowspan="2" | lens !! rowspan="2" | metering system !! rowspan="2" | example
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| rowspan="2" | || colspan="2" | sensor || rowspan="2" | viewing system || rowspan="2" | rigidity || rowspan="2" | focusing system || rowspan="2" | lens || rowspan="2" | metering system || rowspan="2" | example
 
|-
 
|-
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| variant || nature || size
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| nature || size
 
|-
 
|-
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[point-and-shoot]]
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[point-and-shoot]]
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| any || up to 4.5×6cm || optical finder or LCD screen || rigid or swivelling || autofocus || non interchangeable (fixed or zoom) || colspan="2" | automatic exposure || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/22827039/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/19/22827039_941d3ed32b_t.jpg]
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| any || up to 4.5×6cm || optical finder or LCD screen || rigid or swivelling || autofocus || non interchangeable (fixed or zoom) || automatic exposure || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/22827039/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/19/22827039_941d3ed32b_t.jpg]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[SLR]]
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[SLR]]
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| colspan="2" | any || reflex finder through the taking lens || usually rigid || manual reflex focusing or autofocus || usually interchangeable || colspan="2" | any || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/45501196/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/33/45501196_7031279e86_t.jpg]
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| colspan="2" | any || reflex finder through the taking lens || usually rigid || manual reflex focusing or autofocus || usually interchangeable || any || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/45501196/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/33/45501196_7031279e86_t.jpg]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[TLR]]
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[TLR]]
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| analog || any || reflex finder through a second lens || usually rigid || manual reflex focusing || usually fixed || colspan="2" | manual exposure or no meter at all || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/20742380/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/16/20742380_bffd24b768_t.jpg]
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| analog || any || reflex finder through a second lens || usually rigid || manual reflex focusing || usually fixed || manual exposure or no meter at all || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/20742380/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/16/20742380_bffd24b768_t.jpg]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[rangefinder]]
 
| style="text-align:left" | [[rangefinder]]
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| colspan="2" | any || external optical finder || rigid or folding || manual rangefinder focusing || fixed or interchangeable (usually no zoom lens) || colspan="2" | any || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/44707155/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/33/44707155_4b06cde358_t.jpg]
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| colspan="2" | any || external optical finder || rigid or folding || manual rangefinder focusing || fixed or interchangeable, no zoom || any || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/martintaylor/44707155/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/33/44707155_4b06cde358_t.jpg]
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|-
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| style="text-align:left" | [[viewfinder camera]]
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| analog || any || optical, frame or brilliant finder || rigid or telescopic || no focusing aid || usually fixed || any || like a point-and-shoot, but fully manual
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|-
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| style="text-align:left" | [[folding]]
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| colspan="8" |
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|-
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| style="text-align:left" | [[subminiature]]
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| colspan="8" |
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|-
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| style="text-align:left" | [[view camera]]
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| colspan="8" |
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|-
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| style="text-align:left" | [[pinhole camera]]
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| colspan="8" |
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 08:42, 29 August 2006

Distinguishing features

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.

Common camera types

Below is a table with common camera types and the features that distinguish them.

sensor viewing system rigidity focusing system lens metering system example
nature size
point-and-shoot any up to 4.5×6cm optical finder or LCD screen rigid or swivelling autofocus non interchangeable (fixed or zoom) automatic exposure 22827039_941d3ed32b_t.jpg
SLR any reflex finder through the taking lens usually rigid manual reflex focusing or autofocus usually interchangeable any 45501196_7031279e86_t.jpg
TLR analog any reflex finder through a second lens usually rigid manual reflex focusing usually fixed manual exposure or no meter at all 20742380_bffd24b768_t.jpg
rangefinder any external optical finder rigid or folding manual rangefinder focusing fixed or interchangeable, no zoom any 44707155_4b06cde358_t.jpg
viewfinder camera analog any optical, frame or brilliant finder rigid or telescopic no focusing aid usually fixed any like a point-and-shoot, but fully manual
folding
subminiature
view camera
pinhole camera
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