Digital Camera Basics

  In this article we will be learning some fundamentals of a digital camera;
the very basic parts and how it functions.
Lets first list the basic parts and then see how each funtions
(see illustration)

Basic parts

1. Lens
2. Shutter
3. Aperture
4. Digital Image Sensor & Processor
5. Flash
6. Memory card 



Photo courtesy - Aperture Digital Photography Fundamentals.

       Look at the illustration; the Lens is often a group of glass elements. The shutter mechanism (not shown here) is placed between the lens and the digital image sensor.


Lets see how each of these important parts functions?
The jobs of the Lens is to direct the light reflected from the subject you are photographing on to the digital image sensor.

The Shutter is a complex mechanical diaphragm that is placed between the lens and the digital image sensor and is similar to iris in the human eye. The shutter sets the duration of time for which   
       the reflected light will fall on the image sensor

The Aperture is the opening in the shutter diaphragm that controls the amount of light reaching the image sensor.


The animation shows how the lens directs the reflected light and then passes through the shutter mechanism. before it falls on the film or digital image sensor.

Digital Image Sensor is a chip that converts light in to electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed by a computer chip  (Image processor) and the final image is created.
This image is then stored onto the memory card.

Flash is needed for taking pictures in low light or during night.

Lets summarize the entire operation in 3 lines!

    You push the button, the camera sets exposure and focus, light reflected from your subject falls on the image sensor through the lens and aperture, which is then converted to electrical signals by the image sensor. And is then processed to create the final image which gets stored on the memory card.

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