| Photography Q&A: Types Of Photography Equipment | | | | object, it uses a semiconductor device that records |
| By Travis Partrige | | | | the light electronically. |
| * What are the different types of cameras? | | | | A digital camera is much more convenient if you want |
| There are six types of cameras available today in | | | | to email your photos to a friend, because you can |
| conventional film cameras, and some of these types | | | | produce instant photos without chemically processing |
| are also available in the more sophisticated digital | | | | the film, printing it onto photo paper and then having to |
| cameras. These are: | | | | use a scanner to email it. |
| Single use cameras, commonly called disposable | | | | * What equipment do I need with a conventional |
| cameras | | | | camera? |
| Compact lens-shutter cameras | | | | The equipments you need with a conventional camera |
| Bridge cameras | | | | depends on whether you are a professional |
| Rangefinders | | | | photographer or a recreational photographer. The |
| Twin lens reflex cameras | | | | equipment you need for conventional cameras are: |
| Single lens reflex cameras | | | | - Camera bag |
| * How does a conventional camera work? | | | | - Lens kit |
| A conventional camera has three elements to make it | | | | - Lens bag |
| work. The optical element or lens, the chemical | | | | - Lens cap |
| element or film, and the mechanical element or the | | | | - Flash kit |
| camera body itself. Here are the basic parts of a | | | | - Film canister |
| conventional camera and its functions: | | | | - Spare film |
| - The lens - It is a curved piece of glass or plastic that | | | | You can also buy film-developing equipment if you |
| takes the beams of light bouncing off an object and | | | | prefer to process your photographs yourself. |
| redirects them to the camera operator's eye. | | | | * What equipment do I need with a digital camera? |
| - The film - Its job is to record the image the camera | | | | With digital cameras, the equipment you need is much |
| operator sees by chemically recording the pattern of | | | | the same as with a conventional camera but without |
| light from the image. A film has a collection of tiny | | | | the film and film canister. Here is the basic equipment |
| light-sensitive grains that record the light by chemically | | | | needed with a digital camera: |
| reacting to it. | | | | - Camera bag |
| - The camera body - Basically, exposing light to the | | | | - Lens kit |
| film is not enough to get a picture. The film also needs | | | | - Lens bag |
| to be protected from being exposed too long to light. | | | | - Lens cap |
| A camera is a sealed box with shutter between the | | | | - Flash kit |
| lens and the film; the shutter controls the amount light | | | | - USB connector |
| that comes in through the lens. | | | | If you want to print it on photo paper you do not need |
| Too much light exposed to the film means the picture | | | | chemicals for it. All you need are: |
| will look completely washed out, and not enough light | | | | - Computer |
| exposed to the film will produce photos that are too | | | | - Computer printer |
| dark. A conventional camera also has a part called a | | | | - USB connector |
| diaphragm and a shutter speed the photographer can | | | | - Photo paper |
| control. | | | | * Do I need a tripod? |
| * How does a digital camera work? | | | | Not necessarily. Professional photographers commonly |
| A digital camera works much like a conventional | | | | use a tripod to enable them to focus more accurately |
| camera. It has a series of lenses to focus light to | | | | on the subject. Tripods are used in studios and at |
| create an image of an object or scene. However, | | | | events, like weddings, that require precision |
| instead of using film to record the light emitted by an | | | | photography. |