MECHANICAL DEVICE

(CAMERA)

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A camera is a device used to record images
(photographs), either singly or in sequence, with or
without sound recording, such as with video cameras.

A camera that takes pictures singly is sometimes called

a photo camera to distinguish it from a video camera.
The name is derived from camera obscura, Latin for
"dark chamber", an early mechanism for projecting
images in which an entire room functioned much as the
internal workings of a modern photographic camera,
except there was no way at this time to record the image
short of manually tracing it.
Video or Movie Camera vs. Still or Photo camera

Cameras that capture many images in sequence are

known as movie cameras or as ciné cameras in Europe;
those designed for single images are still cameras.
However these categories overlap, as still cameras are
often used to capture moving images in special effects
work and modern digital cameras are often able to trivially
switch between still and motion recording modes. A video
camera is a category of movie camera which captures
images electronically (either using analogue or digital
technology).
CAMERA
The principle of photography are derived from
science and the images on the film or paper made
by the light rays through the camera are
dependent on the same general laws which
produces images upon the retina through the lens
of the eye.
• The essentials of any camera, therefore, are light tight
box, a shutter, and a holder of sensitized material a lens.
All other accessory of any camera merely makes picture
taking easier, faster, and convenient for the operator and
is called accessories.
Light tight box (Body) suggests an enclosure devoid of light. An
enclosure, which would prevent light from exposing the sensitized
material inside the camera. This does not necessarily mean that the
box or enclosure be always light tight at all times because if it does,
then no light can reach the sensitized material during exposure.
The shutter has for its function through its action called shutter
speed, the control of the duration of the exposure of the sensitized
material to light. The higher the numerical value of the shutter speed
the shorter will be the duration of the opening and closing of the
shutter. As an effect only a small amount of light will pass through
the lens.
SHUTTER SPEED - Controls the duration of an exposure -
the faster the Shutter speed, the shorter the exposure time.

Shutter Speeds on the common camera

1000 - 500 - 250 - 125 - 60 - 30 - 15 - 8 - 4 - 2 - 1 - B

Each speed is a fraction of a second - like 1/1000th of a second.

B stands for bulb and holds the shutter open as long as the
shutter release is held down.
The holder of sensitized material located at the opposite
side of the lens has for its function to hold firmly the
sensitized material in its place during exposure to prevent
the formation of a multiple or blurred image of the subject.
The lens, which must be focus at the object at the time
of picture taking, is one of the most important parts of
any camera. The function of the lens is to focus the
light coming from the subject. It operates more or less
the same way as the lens of the eye.
The diaphragm is usually a ring of overlapping metal
leaves, which can be adjusted. The control settings for the
diaphragm are referred to as f – stops and going from one f
– stop to the next reduces the amount of light by one half.
The common setting are f/2 f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16
and f/22.
DIAPHRAGM – The diaphragm changes the size of the
aperture of the lens. Like a shutter with valuable speed, a
diaphragm regulates the amount of light reaching the film.
The diaphragm also affects depth of field – the smaller the
aperture the greater the depth of field.
DEPTH OF FIELD – Depth of field is the range in front of
and behind a sharply focused subject in which details also
look sharp in the final photographic image. It depends on
lens aperture, the focused distance, and the focal length of
the lens.
LENS APERTURE – Adjustable cameras are equipped
with an iris diaphragm, a device located in or near the lens
and consisting of thin overlapping leaves that fold together
to create a hole of continuously variable size. In this way
the aperture or lens opening, can be adjusted to admit
more or less light as required.
FUNCTIONS OF THE DIAPHRAGM OR F/NUMBER

1. By expanding or contracting the diaphragm F/ number

numerically it is possible to regulate the amount of light
passing through the lens reaching the sensitized material.

2. By expanding or decreasing the f/number numerically it

is possible to control the depth of field.

3. By expanding or contracting the diaphragm, it is possible

to control the degree of sharpness due to lens defects.
Other parts of the camera
VIEWING AND FOCUSING
DEVICES – The viewfinder
shows the photographer the
scene being photographed. It
maybe a viewing screen, a
miniature lens system, or a
sample wire frame.
Shutter Release Button
The shutter release button is
the mechanism that “releases”
the shutter and therefore
enables the ability to capture
the image. The length of time
the shutter is left open or “exposed”
is determined by the shutter speed.
Flash
is a device used in photography
producing a flash of artificial light.
A major purpose of a flash is to
illuminate a dark scene. Other
uses are capturing quickly moving
objects or changing the quality of light
FILM ADVANCER –
Necessary so that the
exposed film can be
transferred to the take up
spool while the unexposed
film remain on the opposite
side of the lens for another
exposure.
FILM TAKE-UP SPOOL

FILM REWIND CRANK

FILM REWIND KNOB
 CAMERA TYPES

Frequently it asked, “What is the best camera?” The

answer would be the best camera is the one that takes
the best pictures. Regardless of the type or kind of
camera, a good operator will get results even with a
cheap one.
CAMERA OBSCURA (THE ORIGIN OF CAMERA)

The term means dark chamber. The box contains a mirror

set at 45-degree angle. Mounted in the front end of the box
is a double convex lens like that in a photographic camera.
Light from the object or scene is transmitted through the
lens. The mirror reflects this light upward to ground glass
screen on the top of the box. There the light forms an
image of the object or scene that can be sketched easily.
THE PINHOLE CAMERA
The simplest camera is a pinhole camera, which consists of
a box with a small hole in one of its sides. To produce a
sharp image, the hole must be very small and this restricts
the amount of light entering the camera. Quite a long time
may be necessary to let enough light through to affect the
film and this causes problems because if the subject moves
the picture will be blurred. It is impossible to photograph
anything like a moving car or a galloping horse with a
pinhole camera.
Principle of a pinhole camera. Light rays from an object pass through a small hole to
form an image.
Box Camera
For more than several decades the box camera was the
instrument of choice for the casual amateur photographer.
Inexpensive and simple, it was, nevertheless, capable of
excellent results under many conditions. Box cameras were
normally fitted with a single-element lens, a limited range of
aperture control, and a single-speed leaf shutter.

It usually lacks a focusing system (fix-focus) as well as control

of aperture and shutter speeds. This makes it suitable for
daylight photography only. In the 1950s, box cameras with
photographic flash were introduced, allowing indoor photos.
POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA
Have many automatic features that make them easy to use.
Electronic devices inside the cameras automatically adjust the
focus, set the light exposure and the shutter speed and advance
and rewind the film. A built in electronic flash automatically supplies
light when too little light reflects from the subject.
Folding-Roll Film Camera

The Folding-Roll Film Camera Second in

popularity only to the box camera, the folding
camera was manufactured in a variety of
formats. Basically, though, it was a box camera
whose lens was incorporated into a movable
bellows that could slide back and forth on a rail,
allowing the lens to change focus.
REFLEX CAMERA - A camera that has a
mirror directly in the path of light traveling
through the lens that reflects the scene to a
viewing screen.
SINGLE LENS REFLEX CAMERAS (SLR)
A camera with one lens only for both viewing and
picture-taking. The image is reflected onto a
viewing screen by a moveable mirror in the
camera. The mirror flips out of the way just before
the shutter opens, permitting light to strike the film.
TWIN LENS REFLEX - (TLR)
A camera having two separate
lenses of the same focal length -
one for viewing and focusing;
the other for exposing the film.
The lenses are mechanically-
coupled so that both are
focused at the same time.
CONT…..
Have a viewing lens directly above the picture - taking lens.
The image in the viewfinder appears on a flat screen on top
of the camera. Photographers do not hold the viewfinder to
the eye, as they do with a fixed focus, point and shoot, and
single lens reflex camera. They usually hold the camera at
the chest or waist and look down into the viewfinder. The
image appears reversed from left to right.
VIEW CAMERA
A large format camera - a
term that applies to cameras
that produce an individual
image size of 5" X 4" or
larger. It is most often found
in a studio, and is sometimes
even called a "studio
camera," although the view
camera can be transported
and set up in the field.
7. SINGLE-USE CAMERA - Camera that is used only once. It is disposed of after the
film is removed for processing.
INSTANT CAMERA

An instant camera is a type of camera with self-developing

film. The most famous are those made by the Polaroid
Corporation. The invention of modern instant cameras is
generally credited to American scientist Edwin Land, who
unveiled the first commercial instant camera, the Land
Camera, in 1947, 10 years after founding the Polaroid
Corporation.
ELECTRONIC CAMERA
Create pictures that can be viewed on a television screen. The lens in most
electronic cameras focuses light on light sensitive mechanism called
CHARGED COUPLED DEVICE OR CCD. The CCD changes the light into
electronic signals. The electronic pictures can then be stored on small magnetic
discs similar to those used in computers. With additional equipment, electronic
images can also be sent over telephone lines or printed on paper.
FILM CAMERAS

Takes pictures that re-create the motion of a subject when they are
viewed. Professional filmmakers generally use large cameras that
take 35 or 16 mm film. Most amateur’s records on 8 mm film called
super 8. Today, many amateur filmmakers use portable video
cameras called CAMCORDERS.
STEREO CAMERAS
Have two identical picture taking lenses with matched shutter. When a stereo
camera takes a picture, each lens photographs the same subject, but from a
slightly different angle. When shown to a device called a stereoscope or seen
through glasses that polarize light, the two images blend in one picture that
seems to have depth. Stereo cameras are made for taking photographs or for
making films.
CAMERA LENSES
 Camera Classifications:
• Camera are classified as according to:
1. The size of the film they use or format of the picture they
produce
A. Large format cameras
these cameras have bellows
and use sheet films in the size
of 4”x5”, 5”x7” and 8”x10”
B. Medium Format Cameras
Some of these cameras
are folding type with bellows
and some are rigid-body
with film size of 120, and 220
mm. The double lens reflex
camera falls under this category
C. Small Format Cameras
Those with film size 110, 35, 16, and 8 mm
2. The viewing/focusing system
A. Those with focusing mechanism at the
back of the camera.
B. Those with optical view finder
3. Overall design and functions
a. View camera - View cameras are generally larger
and heavier than medium- and small-format cameras
and are most often used for studio, landscape, and
architectural photography.
b. System cameras – its rigid
body design accepts a wide
variety of lenses, and
accessories which can be
attached or integrated to
adapt the scientific, technical
architectural. Astronomical,
underwater and many other
kinds of photography.
c. Digital cameras – this type of camera
digitalized the image which can then be put into
a computer and enhanced through a software
package such as adobe Photoshop.

There are two kinds of digital cameras;

1. those with fixed memory
2. those with removable memory