HOW A DSLR WORKS

In order to use the camera properly it’s best that you understand how it works. A lot happens after the photographer presses the button and the image being displayed on the screen. The resources below will give you a better understanding on the inner workings of a DSLR camera.

What is a DSLR Camera?

A DSLR camera is a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. What this means is that there is a mirror in your camera that reflects the light that is coming through the lens and will send it to your viewfinder. This is how you can see what you are shooting. You can find out more about the DSLR camera by visiting the Digital Trends website.

Breaking a DSLR Camera Down

The Science Channel aired a video that broke down exactly what happens when a digital image is taken. Have a look at the video below and remember kids, don’t try this at home. Actually, just don’t try this with the school’s equipment!
You may want to view it in ‘full screen’ mode and be sure to use a pair of headphones should you be watching this at school.

DSLR vs Mirrorless Camera

When purchasing a camera, one of the decisions people have to make is whether they want to have a mirrored or mirrorless camera. Although the definitions are quite easy (one has a mirror inside while the other does not) they do work very differently. Watch the video below to find out more.

Cheat Sheet

The image below shows how the light travels through the camera and how the image is brought into focus. The image is provided by Digital Camera World.

Once you feel you understand the material above, move on to learn about the exposure triangle.