Examining the Parts of a Digital Camera

If you’re very new to digital cameras, you might be wondering what all those buttons, LEDs, and windows are for. Here’s a quick introduction to the key components of the average non-SLR digital camera. Not every camera will have all these features, and some will have additional features not shown in the pictures below.




















- Shutter release: Pressing this button halfway locks exposure and focus;
press all the way to take a picture.
- Control buttons: Miscellaneous control buttons might turn on/off close-up
mode, automatic flash, or other features; set picture quality; or activate
the self-timer.
- Shooting mode dial: Most cameras use this button or dial for changing
among different scene modes (such as Night, Portrait, or Sports), adjusting
automatic or manual exposure choices, selecting Movie mode, or
switching into close-up mode.
- Microphone: This captures audio for movie clips and voice annotations;
it can even activate a sound-triggered self-timer.
- Focus-assist light: This is an auxiliary illumination source that helps the
camera focus in dim lighting conditions.
- Electronic flash: This provides light under dim conditions or helps fill in
dark shadows.
- Optical viewfinder: This window, which doesn’t show exactly the same
view that the lens captures, is for framing and composing your picture.
- Zoom lens: This magnifies and reduces the size of the image, taking you
closer or moving you farther away.
- Lens cover: This protects the lens when the digital camera is turned off.
- Tripod socket: This allows you to attach the camera to a firm support,
such as a tripod or monopod, plus other accessories, such as an external
flash bracket.
- Docking port: Some cameras have a special dock that can be used to
transfer photos, recharge the batteries, make prints, or perform other
functions.
- Battery compartment: This contains the cells that power the camera.
-Power switch: Here is where you turn the camera on or off.
Indicator LEDs: These indicators show status, such as focus and exposure,
often with green and red go/no go LEDs (light-emitting diodes).
- LCD (liquid crystal display) panel: This shows the sensor’s view of
an image before exposure, shows preview images after exposure, and
displays status, photo information, and menus.
- Display control/Menu button: This controls the amount of information
shown in the LCD and produces menus. Some digital cameras have multiple
buttons for recording menus, setup menus, and special functions.
- Picture review: Press this button to review the pictures you’ve already
taken.
- Print/e-mail/share photos: Some digital cameras allow printing directly
from the camera to compatible printers or marking pictures for printing
or e-mailing later.