Parts of a Camera
Digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR or digital SLR) |
A camera that contains a mirror that allows the user to see what the camera lens sees and moves away each time a photograph is taken to allow the light to travel to the image sensor. It is capable of automatic and manual operations, changes in exposure time, focus, interchangeable lenses, off-camera flash, remote shutter release and tripod mount.
Macro lens |
A lens designed to photograph objects up close with a high level of detail, often used for fingerprints or closeup photography.
Zoom lens |
A lens where the focal length can be adjusted so that the subject can be closer or further away, often used in mid-range and overall photography. This lens can be used in crime scenes to allow for wide-angle photography when human perspective photography cannot be accomplished, due to size constraints of the crime scene.
Removable flash (a.k.a. “Off-camera flash”) |
A detachable device used to produce artificial light, which can be connected to the camera with a long cable or used wirelessly.
Tripod |
A three-legged mount that provides stability and support for a camera.
Shutter |
The part of a camera that can be opened for a duration of time to allow light to reach the camera sensor.
Aperture (or F-stop) |
The opening of a lens’s diaphragm, which lets light pass through a lens.
Diaphragm |
A series of overlapping blades that open and close to change the size of the aperture.
Optical centre |
The geometric centre of the lens where the ray of light passing through the lens is not bent.
Crop factor |
The ratio between the sensor size of a full-frame camera and that of a smaller sensor.
The mode belonging to the camera in which the shutter speed and the aperture can be adjusted by the photographer directly.
The amount of light that reaches the camera sensor and affects how dark or bright the image is produced. It is controlled by the aperture, shutter speed and ISO setting.
A detachable device used to produce artificial light, which can be connected to the camera with a long cable or used wirelessly.
A three-legged mount that provides stability and support for a camera.
A tightly cropped photograph that captures the item of interest with significant detail for the purpose of analysis.
A photograph that captures and establishes the location of a specific item that is between an overall photo and a closeup.
Photographs that were taken to establish the scene and provide context.
A photographic print that accurately represents the height, width, depth, and location of objects relative to each other, as would have been viewed by the photographer.
A series of overlapping blades that open and close to change the size of the aperture.
The opening of a lens’s diaphragm, which lets light pass through a lens.
The sensor size for which the optics in DSLR cameras are designed in order to capture the entire image produced by the cameras optics by the sensor. It also refers to the sensor size that is equivalent to the size of 35mm film (24mm x 36mm).