74
votes
Why is there "single" in the term DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)?
A picture is worth a thousand words, here. This is a Twin Lens Reflex camera:
The two lenses are linked together so they focus as a set (either the whole front panel moves, or the lenses are linked ...
- 143k
65
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Is there any significant benefit to having an SLR mechanism in a
digital camera? Particularly in terms of a benefit that's large enough
to make up for the liability of adding a mechanical part ...
- 51.3k
56
votes
Accepted
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
And with a digital camera, you don't need a hinged mirror as you can show the user exactly what light will be captured by just routing the sensor output to an LCD display.
This is the reason for the ...
- 31.7k
54
votes
Accepted
Why is there "single" in the term DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)?
Single lens means that there is only one lens attached to the camera at once. This is to distinguish it from a twin-lens reflex camera, which has two lenses - one used for the viewfinder and one used ...
- 21.8k
30
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Don't forget a major drawback that EVF's require power to compose, and are much harder on batteries if you spend a lot of time with the screen on.
Also, as previously mentioned, because of delays, it ...
- 459
18
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Another disadvantage of using the sensor to generate a near real time preview in lieu of an optical viewfinder is the requirement to keep the sensor energized continuously. In addition to the ...
- 175k
17
votes
Accepted
How do SLR lenses connect to the body?
if I use the auto-focus, does it adjust the lens focus, or is there a secondary lens in the body that gets adjusted?
No, there's no secondary lens. The lens attached to the camera contains a motor ...
- 31.7k
14
votes
Would a Nikon FG 20 film SLR camera take pictures without batteries?
The Nikon FG-20 has an electronic shutter, which will not work properly if no battery is inserted.
You can, with limited capabilities, still use the camera without a battery. Light metereing will of ...
- 2,997
12
votes
Can you identify this M42-mount lens?
Just based on visual comparison, this lens appears to be a Helios 44M-4 58mm f/2-16. From the images you linked to, it appears that part of the lens is missing. In the 2nd image, around the lens ...
- 32.3k
11
votes
Accepted
These SLR developed photos are bad. Is it mine or the photolab's fault?
As @Sandor Dosa comented. It is a light leak.
It is difficult to know where the leak happened.
Prior for you to use the film (a faulty film from start)
Your fault during mounting the film.
Your ...
- 23.8k
11
votes
What does the ISO setting for mechanical 35mm film cameras actually do?
Usually, it does not affect or limit the aperture or shutter speed at all. Rather, it tells the exposure meter where the center is. In some ways, it's exactly like exposure compensation dials.
If the ...
- 143k
10
votes
Accepted
Aperture priority on Canon EOS 55 shows underexposured
The scale on the bottom right of the LCD display is the exposure compensation scale. That's where the camera shows the current exposure compensation setting. Except in Manual mode, when the exposure ...
- 11.7k
10
votes
Would a Nikon FG 20 film SLR camera take pictures without batteries?
It depends on the specific camera. The Pentax K1000, for example, only requires the battery for metering, but everything else is mechanical. On your camera, shutter timing is electronic and requires a ...
- 143k
9
votes
Why is there "single" in the term DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)?
The more important letter in DSLR is the R, which stands for reflex. What differentiates reflex cameras from others is that the image is made to appear on a screen that's positioned in a way that's ...
- 5,532
8
votes
How do SLR lenses connect to the body?
As Caleb pointed out, all focus and aperture-related functions (as well as optical zoom when relevant) happen inside the lens, not in the body (in terms of lens components moving at least, not talking ...
- 317
8
votes
Accepted
What are the differences between a bridge camera and a DSLR?
To understand the difference between a bridge camera and a DSLR, it is really necessary to understand the origin of the term "bridge camera". While a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) is a particular ...
- 34.8k
8
votes
These SLR developed photos are bad. Is it mine or the photolab's fault?
There's a number of ways this can happen, but my best guess is that the camera door popped open at some point and then was closed, probably during film rewind, or depending on the position and frame ...
- 909
7
votes
Why must my Pentax ME Super be set to 125x when changing film?
Page 8 of the manual explains why:
NOTE: You can also advance the film to the first exposure with the exposure mode dial set to "AUTO" or "M" (Manual), but for convenience [sic] sake we recommend ...
- 5,532
6
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Perhaps it's that I wear specs and can only see the end of my nose, but isn't one of the most obvious advantages of an optical view finder that you can actually see the image in daylight?
I'm a D80 ...
- 1,012
6
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Also there is problem, that the LCD on the back of camera does not have the resolution of main chip. So it shows you inaccurate image in much lower resolution, than would be then taken. Also the range ...
- 169
6
votes
How to clean the mirror on an SLR without damaging it?
Just don't.
The coating on the surface of your camera's mirror is the most fragile piece of your entire camera that is accessible without taking the camera apart, probably followed closely by the ...
- 175k
6
votes
What makes a good film camera?
It depends what features are important to you.
As you say, you can think of a camera body as a pretty simple thing. It is just a light-tight box to hold the film (or sensor). If you go shopping for ...
- 11.7k
6
votes
What does the ISO setting for mechanical 35mm film cameras actually do?
The function of an ISO setting completely depends on the camera:
Fully manual, no meter camera (Early rangefinders/TLR's): May have had a dial or slot for you to store part of the film box as a ...
- 20.5k
5
votes
Which camera should I buy? DLSR or SLR
All DSLRs are also SLRs. SLR is an acronym for Single Lens Reflex. The "D" in DSLR is for Digital. SLRs have been around for over half a century. First as film cameras and then more recently also as ...
- 175k
5
votes
Why is there "single" in the term DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)?
To me, the problem is with the word "lens"--I think it would be much clearer if it said "optical path" as it entails more than just light-bending elements. A single lens camera is one where you are ...
- 1,120
5
votes
Accepted
Why must my Pentax ME Super be set to 125x when changing film?
Short answer: it doesn't matter at all.
Actual answer. In the loading process, you'll need to unroll the film until you reach 1 at the counter. Usually with manual cameras, you shoot several empty (...
- 811
5
votes
Accepted
Which lenses are used in SLR and TLR?
Your question as written isn’t clear, so I’ll provide a little history on how the SLR evolved. Maybe this will answer your question or provide you with some information so you can reword your question....
- 12.2k
4
votes
Accepted
What to look out for when buying your first vintage camera
As Michael Clark writes, the general answer is "it depends". As you intend to use the camera, rather than collect it, here's a few more pointers that might be helpful.
First of all, here are some ...
- 926
4
votes
Why is my film SLR taking white photos?
Most likely the battery is near death or has died. These cameras require a good battery to operate the exposure meter and focusing mechanism. As to the “white” pictures; old film is unpredictable as ...
- 38.7k
4
votes
Why is my film SLR taking white photos?
Most likely the battery was no good, which caused the automatic mechanisms in the camera to not work correctly. You said this camera hasn't been use for 3-4 years, and you apparently don't know how ...
- 17.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible