Camera facts for kids
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A camera is a cool device that takes pictures, also known as photographs! It uses special film or electronics to capture an image of something. Think of it as a tool for photography. A special part called a lens helps create the image that the film or electronics "sees."
Some cameras take just one picture at a time. These are often called still cameras. Other cameras can take many pictures very quickly, making them look like they are moving. These are called movie cameras. If a camera can record videos, it's known as a video camera or a camcorder. Did you know that most cameras today are actually found inside your phone? We call these "Camera phones."
All cameras work on a simple idea: they are basically a dark box. Light can't get inside until you want to take a photo. On one side, there's a small hole where light enters through the lens. This hole is called the aperture. On the other side, there's a special material that records the image. This material is either film in an old-fashioned camera or an electronic sensor in a digital camera. Finally, there's a part called the shutter. It acts like a tiny door, stopping light from getting in until you press the button to take a picture.
When you take a photo, the shutter quickly opens and closes. This lets light rush in through the aperture and hit the film or electronic sensor. This quick flash of light creates the picture! Many cameras can change how big the aperture is. A bigger aperture lets in more light, and a smaller one lets in less. You can also change how long the shutter stays open. This also controls how much light gets in. Most modern cameras use smart electronics to set these things automatically. But with some cameras, you can change them yourself to get creative with your photos!
How Do Moving Pictures Work?
A ciné camera or movie camera takes many photos very fast. It captures these images on an image sensor or strips of photographic film. Unlike a still camera that takes one picture, a movie camera takes a whole series of images. Each one of these single images is called a "frame."
Later, these frames are played back very quickly using a movie projector. The speed at which they are played is called the "frame rate" (which means how many frames show per second). When we watch these pictures play fast enough, our visual system (our eyes and brain) blends the separate pictures together. This creates the amazing illusion that we are seeing smooth motion!
The very first movie camera was made around 1888. By 1890, many different types were being built. For a long time, the standard film size for movie cameras was 35mm film. This was used until cameras started switching to digital cinematography.
A professional video camera is a fancy device used to create electronic moving images. These cameras are used for many things. They help make music videos, movies, and videos for companies or educational purposes.
Related Pages
Gallery
Images for kids
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Leica Camera (1950s)
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Hasselblad 500 C/M with Zeiss lens
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Different apertures of a lens
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A handheld digital light meter showing an exposure of 1/200th at an aperture of f/11, at ISO 100. The light sensor is on top, under the white diffusing hemisphere.
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The distance range in which objects appear clear and sharp, called depth of field, can be adjusted by many cameras. This allows for a photographer to control which objects appear in focus, and which do not.
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19th-century studio camera with bellows for focusing
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Twin-lens reflex camera
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Kodak box camera
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Rangefinder camera, Leica c. 1936
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Arri Alexa, a digital movie camera
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Sony HDR-HC1E, a HDV camcorder.
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Disassembled Digital Camera
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Smartphone with built-in camera
See also
In Spanish: Cámara fotográfica para niños
