Film Camera
Photography more than likely has been around a lot longer than you think. Did you know that the first perception of photography dates back to the 5th century BC?! It's true. The first realization of photographic technology was recorded circa 5th century BC by a Chinese philosopher named Mo Ti. He observed that when the light that illuminated an object reflected and was processed through darkness, what could be seen was an inverted identical copy of that object. Of course, photography has come a very long way since then, and today, especially with the development of digital technology, cameras are an everyday part of life. Make no mistake, though ... film cameras haven't gone away. In fact, some of the technology used in film cameras and digital cameras is the same.
History of the film camera
The first cameras consisted of a box or room with a hole on one side where light from without would pass through and strike the surface on the inside. This was then reproduced, turned by 180 degrees, and the color and perspective were preserved. Next, the image would be projected onto paper and traced in order to produce as accurate a representation of the image as possible. By the late 1800s, George Eastman made the first camera for sale to consumers, known as 'Kodak.' This camera was a simple box that used a single-shutter speed and a fixed-focus lens. The camera was preloaded with film, and when photos were taken by the user, they had to be sent back to the manufacturer so that the photos could be processed and the camera could be reloaded with film. The technology of film cameras has evolved since their first uses, making these types of cameras still available today.
How the film camera works
The basic parts and electronic components of a film camera include a camera body, window or aperture, lens, shutter, and the film used within the camera. The camera body, of course, is what houses the parts of the camera. The aperture is covered with a ground-glass lens which focuses the light entering the camera. The size of the aperture is what controls how much light will be able to pass into the camera. A large aperture permits a lot of light, while a small aperture allows in less light. Larger apertures are good for low-light photography, but they can diminish the range of focus. This means the user must be able to focus more precisely. Smaller apertures are good for bright-light photography. They broaden the range of focus, and this gives the user a little more leeway in focusing an image.
Between the aperture and the lens is the shutter. The shutter opens for a brief period of time when the camera's shutter button is depressed. This period of time is known as 'shutter speed.' Slower shutter speed is good for low-light photography, while faster is good for bright-light photography. In addition, slower shutter speeds work well with still-life shots, while faster shutter speeds work best for action shots. What determines how light will be focused is the shape of the lens. Some lenses are made to focus on close objects, while others are designed to focus on objects that are further away. The lens can be moved further away or closer in order to gain more precision when focusing on an image. The shutter opens up allowing light to pass into the camera. The film is the means or medium by which the image is recorded.
While the shutter is open, the camera lens aims light onto the film within the camera. The film responds with a chemical reaction to the light and the image is then recorded. A film camera has a lever on it which advances the film frame by frame until the film roll is exposed. Users must be careful not to expose the film to additional light beyond images being recorded because this can overexpose or obscure the images.
Once the entire roll of film inside the camera has been exposed, it must be rewound up into its cartridge. It can then be removed for processing. The processing or developing of film involves exposing the film to a chemical process that stops the film from reacting to further exposure from light. Naturally, this procedure must be performed in total darkness. The film can again be safely exposed to light, but not until after this chemical development occurs. At this point, the film from the camera is ready to be made into prints.
History of the film camera
The first cameras consisted of a box or room with a hole on one side where light from without would pass through and strike the surface on the inside. This was then reproduced, turned by 180 degrees, and the color and perspective were preserved. Next, the image would be projected onto paper and traced in order to produce as accurate a representation of the image as possible. By the late 1800s, George Eastman made the first camera for sale to consumers, known as 'Kodak.' This camera was a simple box that used a single-shutter speed and a fixed-focus lens. The camera was preloaded with film, and when photos were taken by the user, they had to be sent back to the manufacturer so that the photos could be processed and the camera could be reloaded with film. The technology of film cameras has evolved since their first uses, making these types of cameras still available today.
How the film camera works
The basic parts and electronic components of a film camera include a camera body, window or aperture, lens, shutter, and the film used within the camera. The camera body, of course, is what houses the parts of the camera. The aperture is covered with a ground-glass lens which focuses the light entering the camera. The size of the aperture is what controls how much light will be able to pass into the camera. A large aperture permits a lot of light, while a small aperture allows in less light. Larger apertures are good for low-light photography, but they can diminish the range of focus. This means the user must be able to focus more precisely. Smaller apertures are good for bright-light photography. They broaden the range of focus, and this gives the user a little more leeway in focusing an image.
Between the aperture and the lens is the shutter. The shutter opens for a brief period of time when the camera's shutter button is depressed. This period of time is known as 'shutter speed.' Slower shutter speed is good for low-light photography, while faster is good for bright-light photography. In addition, slower shutter speeds work well with still-life shots, while faster shutter speeds work best for action shots. What determines how light will be focused is the shape of the lens. Some lenses are made to focus on close objects, while others are designed to focus on objects that are further away. The lens can be moved further away or closer in order to gain more precision when focusing on an image. The shutter opens up allowing light to pass into the camera. The film is the means or medium by which the image is recorded.
While the shutter is open, the camera lens aims light onto the film within the camera. The film responds with a chemical reaction to the light and the image is then recorded. A film camera has a lever on it which advances the film frame by frame until the film roll is exposed. Users must be careful not to expose the film to additional light beyond images being recorded because this can overexpose or obscure the images.
Once the entire roll of film inside the camera has been exposed, it must be rewound up into its cartridge. It can then be removed for processing. The processing or developing of film involves exposing the film to a chemical process that stops the film from reacting to further exposure from light. Naturally, this procedure must be performed in total darkness. The film can again be safely exposed to light, but not until after this chemical development occurs. At this point, the film from the camera is ready to be made into prints.