Single-lens reflex camera

Uncommon card · No. 182259

In photography, a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera is a type of still picture camera that uses the same lens for the viewfinder as it does to record the picture. Thus, the photographer sees exactly the same image as the film or sensor receives during exposure. Almost all SLRs use a mirror and prism to reflect incoming light (reflex), diverting the light out of the image capture path and into the viewfinder. When the picture is taken, the mirror moves out of the way, allowing the exposure to be captured. The SLR design is in contrast to older designs such as twin-lens reflex (TLR) and rangefinder cameras, where the main lens is used only to record the photograph, and the photographer sees the preview via a separate mechanism. Because the photographer did not "see the same picture as the camera", unexpected differences could lead to the photograph looking significantly different than expected. SLRs were first introduced in the 1930s, gained popularity in the 1960s, and became widespread...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Start54, CC BY 4.0