Knowing the Different Parts of

the Camera
2023-12-14
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579.79 k
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Finding your way around the controls and functions on your

mirrorless camera is your first step to photography beyond simple
point-and-shoot. Here’s our guide to the essential parts of the
camera and what they do.

In this article:
 Front
 Rear
  Top
 Sides
 Bottom

Front

F1: Shutter button

Press this button to release the shutter.The shutter button press
has two stages: Half-pressing the button activates the AF
(autofocus) and exposure metering functions, while pressing it
down fully releases the shutter.

F2: AF-assist beam and red-eye reduction/self-timer/remote

control lamp
AF-assist beam: Enabled by default, this lamp emits a red beam
to help AF detection in certain situations. It is automatically turned
off in Silent Shooting mode.
Red-eye reduction: If red-eye reduction is enabled on your
camera, half-pressing the shutter button will light up this lamp
when you use the built-in flash.
Self-timer: When you set the self-timer, this lamp will blink for the
timer’s duration until the picture is taken.

F3: Lens mount

This is the section that connects the RF or RF-S lens to the
camera body. To attach the lens, you line up the lens mount index
on the lens with the red mark on the lens mount and turn the lens
clockwise until you hear a click.
Read more about the differences between the RF and EF mount
systems in:
RF Lenses vs EF Lenses: What's the Difference and How to
Decide?
F4: Lens release button
Press this button when you want to detach the lens. The lens lock
pin retracts when the button is pressed, enabling you to turn the
lens freely. Before shooting, lock the lens into place by turning it
until you hear a click.

F5: Lens mount contacts

These are electrical contact points that transmit information
between the lens and camera body. Be very careful not to scratch
or damage them! The RF mount’s high-speed, high-transmission
12-pin system enables more sophisticated communication and
functionality compared to the 8-pin EF (Canon DSLR) lens
transmission system.

F6: Image sensor

The image sensor converts light entering the lens into electrical
signals. These signals (light information) are sent to the image
processor for analysis. Besides image-making and exposure
control, the information is also used for autofocusing under
the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system.

F7: Sensor protection mechanism (selected cameras)

On some advanced camera models, a shutter mechanism closes
over the image sensor when the camera is powered off. This helps
protect the camera from dust when changing lenses.

F8: Built-in flash (selected cameras)

When needed, you can fire the flash to capture a shot in a dimly lit
scene. The flash may be automatically fired in some modes.

Here are some tutorials on how to use your built-in flash to

achieve interesting effects:
Flash Techniques #1: How to Deal with Harsh Shadows Caused by
Backlight
Flash Techniques #6: How to Create Magical Bokeh Circles on a
Rainy Day
Rear

R1: Eyecup
The eyecup prevents external light from entering when your eye is
in contact with the eyepiece. A soft material is used to reduce the
burden on the eye and the forehead.

R2: Viewfinder eyepiece

The viewfinder eyepiece is a small window on the camera that you

look through to compose your photo and establish focus on a
subject. When shooting using a viewfinder, external light is
reduced. This allows you to put full attention on the subject right
before your eyes, which in turn makes it easier to track moving
subjects.

Read more about viewfinders here: Camera Basics #12: The

Viewfinder

R3: Viewfinder sensor

The viewfinder sensor senses when your eye is near the
viewfinder and activates the viewfinder display accordingly. You
can also restrict the display to only the viewfinder or LCD screen
using the menu settings.

R4: Dioptric adjustment knob/slider

Turn or slide this knob/slider to adjust the clarity of the viewfinder

image.
R5: AE lock/FE lock/magnify button

AE lock: Pressing this button locks the exposure settings so they

don’t change even when you recompose and refocus the shot. This
works well together with spot metering mode when shooting in
backlight and high-contrast situations.
FE lock: When you are using a flash, pressing this button locks
the flash output so that it doesn’t change even when you change
the composition.
Magnify: In playback mode, press this button to magnify the
display. This is good for checking details and focus.

R6: AF point selection/index button

Use this button to go into AF point (autofocus) selection mode
during AF shooting. You can move the AF zone/area using the
cross keys.

R7: Access lamp

When this lamp blinks red, the camera is writing to the memory
card. Do not open the card slot or battery compartment cover
when you see this, as it may cause the camera to malfunction.

R8: Info button

Press this button to toggle between different viewfinder/Live

View/playback display screens. You can customise the
viewfinder/Live View displays in the menu settings.

R9: Cross keys

a) Up/ Exposure compensation
b) Right/Self-timer/Drive mode selection button
c) Down/Delete button
d) Left/AF/MF button
e) Quick Control/Set
Cross keys: These are directional buttons that allow you to:
- Move between menu items
- Move a magnified display to a different point during image
playback
- Move the AF point during AF point selection
In shooting mode, the functions of the keys switches to the ones
indicated by the icon on it.
Quick Control/SET button: Pressing this button displays the
Quick Control screen, which allows you to confirm various camera
settings at one glance and adjust them.

R10: Playback button

This is the button for playing back images you have captured.
Pressing the button once displays the last image you captured or
showed.

R11: MENU button

Use this button to display the menu for adjusting the different
camera functions. After selecting a menu item, you can adjust the
camera settings in greater detail.

R12: LCD monitor

The rear LCD monitor lets you preview and review images and
change camera settings. Most EOS R camera models have a Vari-
angle LCD touchscreen monitor, which can be flipped out and
rotated to capture self-portraits, low-angle, and high-angle shots
more easily. The touchscreen allows intuitive camera operation
including touch and drag AF control.

Know this: Viewfinder and Live View displays

The electronic viewfinder and Live View displays have the

potential to show a lot of shooting information. Here’s a guide to
the basic information that can be displayed in the rear monitor.
Similar information is displayed in the electronic viewfinder.
V1: Shooting mode

Displays the text or icon corresponding to the shooting mode you

have selected.

V2: Number of shots

The number in the brackets indicates the number of remaining

shots that can be captured. The number varies with the capacity of
the memory card in use as well as the image-recording quality you
have selected.

V3: Maximum burst

This number indicates the maximum number of shots you can take
during continuous shooting before the camera’s buffer fills and it
becomes temporarily unable to take new shots as it writes to the
card.

V4: Available video recording time

This duration depends on your video recording settings as well as
your memory card. When you start recording, it changes to the
time elapsed.

V5: Battery level

This icon displays the remaining battery level. Here, the battery is
about 50% full.

V6: Shutter speed

Indicates the time interval during which the shutter is open.

Find out more about shutter speed in: Camera Basics #2: Shutter
Speed

V7: Aperture value

This value indicates the extent to which the aperture blades inside
the lens are open. A smaller value means the aperture is more
widely open, which allows more light to be captured. The
selectable aperture value range varies according to the lens in
use.

Learn more about aperture in: Camera Basics #1: Aperture

V8: Exposure compensation/exposure meter

In full manual (M) mode, this shows how much the image is over-
or under-exposed according to the camera-metered “correct
exposure”. In Av, Tv, and P modes, or M mode when ISO Auto
enabled, this shows the exposure compensation, which you can
adjust to intentionally over- or under-expose your shots.

V9: ISO speed

The ISO speed setting varies constantly when the Auto setting is
selected. A higher ISO speed makes it easier to capture shots of a
dimly lit scene.

You can find more information about ISO speed in: Camera Basics
#5: ISO Speed
V10: Focal length

Indicates the focal length that you are shooting with.

V11: AF coverage /frame

Indicates the position of the focusing frame during AF (autofocus)

shooting. This is the frame in Flexible Zone AF mode. It may look
different in some other modes.

Know this: Vertical VF display

During vertical shooting, the information on your viewfinder display
rotates accordingly. You can toggle through different information
displays by pressing the INFO button on your camera.

Also see #1 in 5 Ways to Make the Most of the EOS R

Top

T1: Microphone
This is a built-in microphone for capturing the audio sound during
movie recording. The microphone used may be monaural or stereo
depending on the camera model.

T2: Speaker
Audio sound of a recorded movie can be played back through the
speaker. During movie playback, you can adjust the volume by
pressing the up or down cross keys.

T3: Strap mount

Pull the end of the strap through the eyelet, and secure it firmly
while ensuring that the two ends of the strap are well-balanced.

T4: Multi-function shoe

Most Canon cameras released from late 2021 onwards have 21-
pin multi-function shoe, which offers advanced functionality
compared to a conventional hot shoe. You can use it to attach
compatible accessories such as an external flash or audio
equipment.

T5: Mode dial

Turn this dial to select a shooting mode according to the scene
you want to capture.

a: Traditional exposure modes

These give you the flexibility to configure camera settings like
exposure and white balance according to your shooting intent.
b: Automatic modes
In these modes, the camera automatically selects the appropriate
settings for the scene or your chosen effect. You can use it to
unleash your creativity without worrying about technicalities!
T6: Power switch
Use this switch to power on or power off the camera. When the
power of the camera is left on for a prolonged period of time, it
switches automatically to the standby mode to conserve power.

T7: Movie shooting button

Press this button to start video recording. This also lets you record
videos while in a still shooting mode.

T8: Electronic dial

This is a multi-purpose dial that allows you to perform tasks such
as adjusting the value of the shooting settings (usually
aperture/shutter speed/exposure compensation) and jumping
through playback images.

T9: ISO speed setting button

Press this button to adjust the sensitivity of the camera toward

light. ISO speed is an international standard that is determined
based on the sensitivity of negative films.

T10: Zoom ring

Turn the zoom ring to alter the focal length. The selected focal
length can be identified from the numbers and index marks at the
lower end of the lens.

T11: Control/Focus ring

This ring with a knurled texture can be programmed to control an
exposure setting of your choice, such as exposure compensation
or aperture. On some lenses like the RF-S18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS
STM shown here, it becomes a focus ring for manual focusing at
the flip of a switch.

Sides
S1: MIC terminal
This lets you plug in an external microphone for audio recording.

S2: Digital terminal

Recent cameras have a USB-C terminal for data transfer/in-
camera charging.

S3: HDMI micro OUT terminal

For video output to an external recorder, etc.

Bottom
B1: Card slot, Battery compartment
Battery compartment
Load the supplied battery here. Insert the battery with the
orientation of the battery terminal aligned with that inside the
camera.
Card slot
Insert the memory card for recording images into this slot. The
type of card usable varies with the camera model.
B2: Tripod socket

This is a socket placed at bottom of the camera body for attaching

the camera to a tripod. On most Canon DSLR and mirrorless
cameras, this socket fits the 1/4-20 UNC standard screw thread
size, which is used by most conventional tripods.
And there you have it—these are the key parts of a Canon
mirrorless camera and what they do. The next step is to start
shooting: Check out our Tips & Tutorials in the menu above for
some ideas on how to start. To continue reading about key
concepts and theories, you could also check out our Camera
Basics or Lens Basics series.
Happy shooting!