Film Camera Glossary

Learn all about the terminology associated with Digital Cameras, Film Cameras, Binoculars, Voice Recorders and Printers by selecting a category from the list below.

FILM CAMERA GLOSSARY

A — C D — H I — L M — S T — Z

35mm: The type of film used by most point-and-shoot cameras. It comes in a cassette (looks like a metal roll) with the film leader sticking out.

Advanced Photo System (APS): An exciting film and camera technology for point-and-shoot cameras. APS offers a choice of three print formats (such as panorama), improved photofinishing and many storage and reprinting conveniences.

Angle of view: The amount of scene taken in by a particular lens focal length. A short focal length has a wide angle of view, so you can photograph more of the scene than would be able with a long focal length, which has a narrow angle of view.

Auto exposure: The system with which your camera automatically sets the lens aperture and shutter speed to get the proper amount of light to the film.

Auto flash: The flash mode in which the camera automatically decides whether or not flash is needed. The default mode of most point-and-shoot cameras, it turns the flash on in dim light and keeps it off in bright light.

Autofocus: The camera's ability to automatically focus on the subject to be photographed.

Backlight: Light coming from behind the subject. When light from behind is the main source of light, the subject is backlit.

Backlight compensation: The adjustment of exposure to prevent the backlit subject from turning out too dark in the photograph.

Camera shake: A major cause of unclear pictures, this unwanted movement is caused by involuntary hand and body tremors jarring the camera.

Composition: The process of adjusting framing, camera position and/or focal length to make the subject a visually pleasing photograph.

Contrast: The degree of difference between a subject's tones, which is a function of its inherent shades and colors and also the quality of light.

Correct exposure: The specific amount of light that must strike a given film to produce the best possible picture quality.

DX code: The bar code on the side of the 35mm film cassette that automatically tells the camera what film speed (ISO) to set for correct light metering and exposure.

Exposure: The amount of light that strikes the film when you take a picture. It's also a frame of film equal to one picture shot. For example, a 24-exposure roll of film gives you 24 pictures.

Exposure compensation: The ability to manually alter the camera's auto exposure setting for specific effects and subjects.

Fill flash (or flash-on): The flash mode in which the camera fires the flash for every shot. Fill flash can be used to soften shadows in bright outdoor light.

Film cassette: The small, lightproof container that houses the film. With 35mm, the film cassette is discarded after processing the photos. With APS, it's returned to you with the negatives inside.

Film leader: The short, half-width strip of film extending from an unexposed 35mm cassette. When loading the film, you must place the film leader in the take-up spool in order to advance the film.

Film speed: The measure of a film's sensitivity to light, the film speed is indicated with an ISO number, such as ISO 200. The higher the number, the more sensitive the film.

Film winding (film advance): The movement of a roll of film from one frame to the next, often by a built-in motor.

Flash: The point-and-shoot's tiny but highly useful, built-in light source. The flash fires in bursts and often has several different modes.

Flash-off mode: The mode in which the flash won't fire regardless of the level of light. It may cause the camera to set a slow shutter speed.

Flash-ready lamp: A small red or orange light beside the viewfinder that blinks when the flash is charging and glows steadily, signaling the flash is ready to fire.

Focal length: An indication of how wide or narrow a section of the scene is included in a picture (angle of view), and/or how big or small it makes the subject (magnification).

Focal length range: The variety of focal lengths offered by a zoom lens. It's specified by the shortest and longest lengths in millimeters, for example, 38-90mm.

Focus point: The small brackets, lines or circle in the middle of an autofocus point-and-shoot's viewfinder that indicates where the camera is pointing.

Focus-free (fixed focus): For point-and-shoot cameras without autofocus, the lens' focus is preset at a medium distance that gives reasonably sharp results with any subject four feet away and beyond.

Focusing: The in-and-out adjustment of the lens to make the main subject sharp on the film.

Index print: Created by digital scanning, a print-sized sheet of small images of every shot on a roll. Used for storage, indexing and reference. APS film comes back from the developer as an index print.

Infinity lock: Also known as landscape mode, this setting causes the camera to focus as far away as possible, especially useful for accurate focusing when shooting through windows.

LCD (liquid crystal display) panel: This indicates camera status and settings. Available on almost all point-and-shoot models.

Lens: A cylinder of shaped pieces of glass or plastic at the front of a camera, the lens projects a tiny image of the subject onto the film.

Lens aperture: The opening in the lens that lets the light through. The point-and-shoot automatically adjusts the size of this opening, called the f-stop, to control the exposure.

Light meter: The built-in device that the point-and-shoot uses to measure light and determine the correct exposure setting.

Locking the focus: By pressing and holding an autofocus camera's shutter button halfway, you can prevent the camera from refocusing incorrectly on your subject as you determine your final composition.

Mid-roll rewind button: Used for rewinding a roll of film before it's finished.

Mode: A setting that causes the camera to perform a specific function, such as using a certain type of flash.

Print format: The proportions (height to width) or shape of a photographic print. APS cameras offer a choice of three print formats.

Quartz-date: The ability to imprint the date on photographic negatives; the dates appear permanently on the photo side of the prints.

Self-timer mode: The setting that delays the camera taking a picture until a specified interval after you touch the shutter button. Useful when you want to be in the photograph.

Sharpness: The degree to which clear, distinguishable details of the subject are rendered in a photographic negative or print.

Shutter button: The button that you press to take a picture. On autofocus cameras, the shutter button also activates and locks the focus when pressed halfway.

Shutter speed: The length of time the lens window stays open to let light through to the film.

Slow-sync flash: Also known as night, night scene or night portrait mode. This mode combines flash with a longer shutter speed to improve background detail in low-light flash shots.

Soft light: The light that creates delicate tones and pale or minimal shadows around the subject, such as from a cloudy sky or in open shade.

Telephoto focal length: A focal setting (also known as long focal length), usually around 60mm (with APS) or 70mm (with 35mm) and beyond, at which the subject appears larger than normal in the frame.

Thumbnails: Small images of every shot on a roll, appearing on an index print or on a computer screen.

Tungsten light: Artificial light from household bulbs (halogen is a variation).

Viewfinder: The camera window through which you see the rectangular frame used to view and compose your subject.

Wide-angle focal length: The focal length (also known as short focal length) at which the lens takes in a relatively large section of the scene. Most point-and-shoot zoom lenses start out at a wide-angle setting (38mm, 28mm), and most non-zoon cameras have wide-angle lenses (35mm, 32mm).

Wide-area autofocus: An autofocus system (also known as multibeam or multipoint autofocus) in which multiple focus points (such as a group of people) cover a wider-than-usual area in the middle of the viewfinder. This allows the camera to focus subjects that are slightly off-center without the need to lock the focus.

Zoom lens: A lens of adjustable focal length. You can zoom to increase or decrease the lens' magnifying power, making the subject bigger or smaller in the frame.

Zooming in: Setting a longer focal length on your camera so you can make the subject bigger in the picture.

Zooming out: Setting a shorter focal length on your camera so you can make the subject smaller in the picture.

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