Dark Side of the Lens

The term 35mm refers to the standard size film used in cameras (and motion pictures). It is generally used to refer to the type of camera you use, for instance “I have a 35mm” means the person has a camera that takes 35mm film.

The digital single lens reflex camera (aka: dSLR, digital SLR) uses the same principles as the traditional 35mm film SLR cameras, namely a series of mirrors that direct the light from the lens onto the sensor (or film). These cameras typically offer far more flexibility than “point and shoot” cameras, although that line has become blurred in recent years. These are generally used by professionals and the serious hobbyist. Until the last few years these cameras have been out of financial reach for the average consumer but recent price drops have made these a very affordable option if you wish to take your photography more seriously. The two main differences between these cameras and “point and shoot” models is that the image is not viewed live on the LCD and can only be viewed after the photo is taken (although there are some hybrid models available now that do use the LCD as a viewfinder). The other major difference is that the lens is separate to the camera body and thus can be changed, giving a far greater range of focal lengths.

See also: Point and shoot, 35mm, Sensor, Lens, LCD, Focal length

The viewing screen on the back of your camera is an LCD. This display type is particularly well suited to small electronic devices, such as cameras, as they are thin and very energy efficient (and thus prolong battery life). The display can be used to view the photos you have taken and also displays the camera menu and settings. On most point and shoot cameras this can be also used as a viewfinder.

See also: Viewfinder

When looking through an eyepiece the position of your eye differs slightly from the position of the lens and therefore the two images do not quite match. This is know as parallax, or parallax error. The closer you are to the subject the greater the error. This is not an issue for dSLR’s or when using the LCD as a viewfinder. This phenomenon will be discussed in an upcoming article.

See also: Viewfinder

The word “prosumer” is a mix of the words “consumer” and “professional”. In terms of photography it tends to refer to the product range of cameras, lenses etc. that have a build quality, or level of technology, that is above the standard level, but not quite the level, or expense, of full professional equipment. The term also refers to the level of user, often a photography enthusiast, who in some cases will have the skill level of a professional but is not working as a photo professional and therefore typically will not afford the full professional level equipment.

The viewfinder is either the small window you look through (aka the eyepiece) when you take your photo or the LCD on the back, though many cameras use both. It is used to frame the shot you are taking. When using the small window form of viewfinder you should be aware of parallax error, though this is not an issue with dSLR’s.

See also: LCD, Parallax