CAMERA ACCESSORIES

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the most common 35mm single-lens reflex camera accessories.

The difficulty of choosing camera accessories is knowing what is required and what is optional. There are many accessories photographers use in their day-to-day work, but we will only mention a few to give you an idea of what they are.

Camera accessories may be considered as any photographic equipment (save a camera or lens) that is used with a camera or in picture making. Some of the more common accessories you should be familiar with include the following: l Autowinders/motor drives . Bulk film chamber l Cable release l Camera case l Electronic flash l Film holders l Filters l Lens and body caps l Lens hoods

AUTOWINDERS/MOTOR DRIVES

Autowinders and motor drives automatically wind-on or advance the film after each exposure. A motor drive will fire the shutter and advance the film for a preset number of exposures or work continuously. An autowinder simply advances the film after each exposure is made manually.

BULK FILM CHAMBER

A bulk film chamber is a long-length roll film magazine designed to handle enough film for 250 or more exposures.

CABLE RELEASE

A cable release is a device consisting of stiff wire encased in an outer flexible covering. It is used to trip a camera Shutter without touching the camera itself. One end screws into the camera shutter release; the other end has a thumb-operated plunger.

CAMERA CASE

Several types of bags or cases are available for carrying your camera equipment Some have a foam rubber lining that can be cut into the exact shapes of your equipment to protect and hold them firmly in place. Another type of case is called a gadget bag. It is usually made of leather or plastic and has either rigid or soft sides.

ELECTRONIC FLASH

The electronic flash is a high-voltage light source for illuminating the scene to be photographed. It produces a momentary flash of high-intensity light.

FILM HOLDERS

Film holders are lighttight containers for photographic film. They are used for positioning the film in the camera. Variations are called sheet film holders, film pack holders and roll film holders.

FILTERS

Filters are optical elements, such as glass, gelatin or plastic, dyed in a specific manner to absorb light of certain colors selectively, to emphasize or subdue certain objects and to improve the monochrome or natural reproduction of objects.

LENS AND BODY CAPS

Lens and body caps are protective covers that keep dust and moisture away from lenses and camera openings.

Figure 11-10. - Inverse-square law.

LENS HOODS

Lens hoods, or shades, are used to keep strong sunlight from striking the front of the lens obliquely.