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
74
votes
Accepted
Who, or what, is an "Uncle Bob"?
Uncle Bob is not actually your Uncle Bob.
Uncle Bob is the derogatory term used by professional and semi professional photographers to describe a 'man with a camera' and occasionly someone with 'all ...
- 4,864
63
votes
How do I achieve the technique which creates the illusion of busy locations being empty?
I actually just shot a photo just like this. This was shot around mid afternoon in downtown Portland and I assure you, there actually was traffic moving along the bridge.
The set up included ...
- 20.5k
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 ...
- 22.1k
44
votes
Accepted
How do I achieve the technique which creates the illusion of busy locations being empty?
One straightforward way to achieve this effect is to take multiple shots of the same scene and combine them using median blending. This technique is commonly used for noise reduction, and does it ...
- 4,693
42
votes
Accepted
What does the word "Contemporary" mean in a lens description?
This is a Sigma name for one of their lens lines. It is not a general purpose term and really only has the marketing meaning Sigma ascribes to it. From the Sigma website, that definition is:
...
- 143k
42
votes
Accepted
What is GAS and how can I avoid it?
"GAS" is a joking acronym for "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" — basically, a hobby that is adjacent to photography. See also "Lens Acquisition Syndrome" and similar. It means buying new equipment for its ...
- 143k
35
votes
Accepted
What's a nifty-fifty?
What's a nifty-fifty?
It's a budget level 50mm prime lens. Pretty much all of the various camera makers offer one. There are several reasons that make them so nifty.
Price - They're some of the most ...
- 176k
31
votes
Who, or what, is an "Uncle Bob"?
In the context of a shoot, Uncle Bob is usually a very affluent gent (or has enough money to spend on some prosumer or pro gear) whose photography knowledge is usually at amateur levels, whose company ...
- 20.5k
26
votes
How do I achieve the technique which creates the illusion of busy locations being empty?
To elaborate on my earlier comment:
One option (besides the photoshop one mentioned in comment by @Max) is using heavy ND filtration.
This picture is a busy landmark in Prague, shot with a +10 ND ...
- 5,990
20
votes
Accepted
What is a resolution unit?
This is in the Exif standard for metadata, on page 26:
ResolutionUnit
The unit for measuring
XResolution
and
YResolution.
The same unit is used for both
XResolution
and
...
- 143k
19
votes
Accepted
What/who is a 'guy with camera' or 'GWC?
In the UK at least 'A Guy with Camera' or GWC, is a stereotype of the 'dark side' of photography. A GWC is someone who not necessarily owns a camera for the sake of but usually attends group shoots ...
- 4,864
18
votes
How do I achieve the technique which creates the illusion of busy locations being empty?
I guess the correct technique is long exposure + ND filter. The ND filter is used to allow for longer exposure time. Wherever long exposure is used, a tripod of some suitable substitute is a must.
...
- 2,192
18
votes
Accepted
What is considered High ISO?
Being a man of science, I did some scholar-googling and came across some articles.
Too long, didn't read:
None of the scientific articles I found give a clear definition of "high ISO". However, they ...
- 6,478
18
votes
Accepted
What are the benefits of the classic f-number scheme?
What is the purpose ... for the existing convention?
Math. It's because in many equations regarding simple optics, the ratio \$N = f/D\$ (where \$N\$ is the f-number, and $D$ is the lens (or more ...
- 33.2k
17
votes
What does the "P" and "C" in "PC sync terminal" stand for?
It stands for "Prontor-Compur connection":
"Prontor" has its origins in the Italian word "pronto", meaning ready (and was a leaf shutter made by Alfred Gauthier). "Compur" is derived from the word "...
16
votes
Accepted
What does "AUTO-ZOOM" mean on my Zuiko lens?
Your lens dates back to a time when some lenses were still completely manual, and the aperture had to be manually closed for stop down metering.
Your zoom lens has a more modern feature that allowed ...
- 12.3k
14
votes
What does "frequency" mean in an image?
I will try to explain with the simplest math terms possible. If you want to skip the math, jump to part II, if you want to get the short answer skip to Part III
Part I
Frequency of a signal means the ...
- 282
14
votes
If, brightness → dynamic range... white balance → what?
The phenomenon you describe is called color constancy, and it is enabled partially by the human vision system's chromatic adaptation and partially by something I will describe using the scientific ...
- 143k
14
votes
Accepted
Why is the Tamron 90mm 2.8 marketed as Macro and not as a "portrait" lens?
Macro and portrait lenses are generally designed to do two different things that require different design characteristics.
Macro lenses are designed to focus at very close distances and they typically ...
- 176k
12
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between perspective distortion and barrel or pincushion distortion?
Perspective is determined by the position of the camera relative to the scene. When a camera position produces a perspective that makes an object or scene look different than we might expect it to ...
- 176k
12
votes
What is it called when aperture and exposure are previewed on the LCD screen before the shot is taken?
Different camera manufacturers call this different things.
Canon calls this "Exposure Simulation", or Exp.SIM.
Fujifilm splits filters and film simulation from ...
- 143k
12
votes
What is this rainbow-effect when photographing through curved (cylindrical) glass called?
When glass has stress, which can be induced and/or reduced through thermal or mechanical processes, it is visually revealed through the use of light in conjunction with a specifically oriented ...
- 39.5k
11
votes
What's the correct term when a photo is over saturated?
Another relevant term is Clipping, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(photography)
Images exhibiting Clipping will often show areas of solid white, but ...
- 919
11
votes
Who, or what, is an "Uncle Bob"?
One of the defining characteristics of Uncle Bob is the effect he has: he is somebody with a camera, who must be managed in some way, or whose repeated actions have a cumulative negative effect on ...
- 33.2k
10
votes
What is the name for the cap that fits over a camera when no lens is attached
You want a "body cap".
Specifically the Nikon BF-1A or BF-1B, or a generic equivalent.
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/cap-cover/bf-1b-body-cap.html
- 33.5k
10
votes
Accepted
What are STF lenses?
STF stands for "Smooth Transition Focus", and is a Sony-specific* term indicating that the lens includes an apodization filter to create smooth bokeh (out-of-focus blur) — and smooth bokeh is ...
- 143k
10
votes
What is a sheet of multiple photos called?
It sounds to me that what you are describing is what we call a contact sheet or a proof sheet. It's called that because in the film days, it was made by physically placing the negatives on the print ...
- 143k
10
votes
How do I achieve the technique which creates the illusion of busy locations being empty?
One obvious way to do this is coming to the scene very early in the morning.
If you come at 5:00 in the morning in Summer, chances are, it's already sunny but not a single person in sight. So you won'...
- 201
10
votes
How do I achieve the technique which creates the illusion of busy locations being empty?
The first photo of a human was taken using a long exposure. The street was bustling but only the man getting his shoes shined remained still throughout the exposure to appear on film. This was an ...
- 101
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