Parts of Camera: English Vocabulary List

a removable part of a camera that contains the film or digital sensor and is attached to the rear of the camera body

"Camera back holds film or sensor."

"The camera back is the rear part of the camera body that holds the film or digital sensor."

a standardized mounting point on a camera body that allows for the attachment of external accessories, such as a flash unit or microphone

"Hotshoe mounts flash onto camera."

"The hotshoe on top of a camera has electrical contacts that trigger external flashes when the shutter releases."

a device on a camera that allows the photographer to preview the image or composition before taking the picture

"Viewfinder shows framing."

"The viewfinder is the window through which you look to compose and focus your photograph before shooting."

a type of wide-angle lens that produces a distorted, hemispherical image, with straight lines appearing curved and a wide field of view that can capture up to 180 degrees of the scene

"Fisheye lens creates extreme wide distortion."

"The fisheye lens creates extreme wide angle images with noticeable barrel distortion and circular edges."

a type of camera lens that has a longer focal length than a standard lens

"Telephoto lens magnifies distant subjects."

"A telephoto lens magnifies distant subjects making them appear closer but narrowing the angle of view."

a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard lens

"Wide-angle lens captures broad scenes."

"A wide angle lens captures more of a scene than normal lenses making it ideal for architecture and landscapes."

a type of camera lens that allows the photographer to change the focal length and adjust the magnification of the image

"Zoom lens changes focal length."

"A zoom lens has adjustable focal length allowing the photographer to change magnification without switching lenses."

a camera support device that consists of a single pole or leg, typically made of lightweight materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber

"Monopod is one-legged camera support."

"The monopod is a single leg support that reduces camera shake while allowing more mobility than a tripod."

a camera support device that consists of three legs and a mounting plate or head, commonly made of lightweight materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber

"Tripod is three-legged camera support."

"The tripod provides stable three legged support for long exposures and sharp images in low light conditions."

the width or size of film stock used in filmmaking

"Film gauge is film width."

"Film gauge refers to the width of photographic film with common sizes including eight sixteen and thirty five millimeters."

the transparent material that is coated with light-sensitive emulsion used in traditional film photography

"Film base supports the emulsion layer."

"The film base is the transparent flexible plastic layer that supports the light sensitive emulsion."

a device used to hold a sheet of photographic film flat and in place during exposure in large format cameras

"Film holder loads sheet film."

"A film holder keeps individual sheets of film flat inside a large format camera during exposure."

the measure of a film's sensitivity to light, which determines how quickly it reacts to light and how much light is required to produce a properly exposed image

"Film speed measures light sensitivity."

"Film speed measures the sensitivity of photographic film to light with higher numbers for dim conditions."

the type of film used in still photography or filmmaking, such as 35mm, 16mm, or 8mm

"This film stock is old."

"The director chose a specific film stock to achieve the vintage aesthetic for the period drama."

the visible texture or pattern of small particles on the surface of a photographic film or paper

"Film grain appears as tiny specks."

"Film grain appears as tiny visible silver particles in photographs caused by the chemical development process."

a flat, light-sensitive sheet of glass or plastic coated with a photographic emulsion

"Photographic plate uses glass not film."

"Photographic plates used glass instead of flexible film as a base for the light sensitive emulsion."

a type of photographic film that produces a positive image on a transparent base, which can be viewed directly or projected onto a screen without the need for printing

"Reversal film makes positive slides."

"Reversal film produces positive transparencies directly in the camera without needing a separate negative development step."

a device that measures the amount of light in a scene to assist photographers in setting the correct exposure settings for a camera

"Light meter measures scene brightness."

"The light meter measures scene brightness to recommend aperture and shutter speed settings for correct exposure."

a device that attaches to the front of a camera lens to prevent unwanted light from entering the lens and causing lens flare or other types of image degradation

"Lens hood blocks stray light."

"The lens hood blocks stray light from entering the lens which reduces flare and improves contrast."

a removable cover that fits over the front of a camera lens to protect it from dust, scratches, and other types of damage when the camera is not in use, or during transportation

"Lens cap protects front element."

"The lens cap protects the front element of a lens from dust scratches and fingerprints when not in use."

a device that allows a camera to use lenses designed for a different camera or lens mount, by physically connecting the lens and camera with an intermediate ring or mount

"Lens adapter mounts different lenses."

"The lens adapter allows mounting lenses on camera bodies with different manufacturer bayonet mounts."

a small display screen on a camera or external device that shows the live view of the camera's image

"Camera monitor displays image preview."

"The camera monitor is a built in LCD screen for reviewing images changing settings and composing shots in live view."

a device used to attach a camera or other imaging device to a microscope, allowing the user to capture images or video of microscopic samples

"Microscope adapter connects camera to microscope."

"The microscope adapter attaches a camera to a microscope's eyepiece or trinocular port for photomicrography."

a device that attaches to the front of a camera lens or telescope to prevent moisture from accumulating on the lens, typically during outdoor use in humid or dewy conditions

"Dew shield prevents condensation."

"The dew shield prevents condensation from forming on a telescope's front lens during cold humid nights."

a clear lens filter that is attached to the front of a camera lens to block ultraviolet light and protect the lens from scratches, dust, and other types of damage

"UV filter reduces ultraviolet haze."

"The UV filter blocks ultraviolet light that can cause haze in landscape photographs while protecting the lens."

a device that attaches to the front of a camera lens and provides adjustable shading to control the amount and direction of light entering the lens

"Matte box holds filters and shades."

"The matte box holds filters and prevents lens flare by blocking light from entering at extreme angles."