A Camera’s Electronic Circuitry
Like the motherboard in a computer, cameras have
printed circuit boards inside them that send electrical
signals scurrying from one part of the camera to
another, to control and synchronize the many functions
of the camera.Lens:Collects light, passing it through a small opening
to focus on a type of microchip called an image
sensor. (See Chapter 3, “How Lenses Work.”)
Light meter system:More
expensive cameras use a sys-
tem of light meters to measure
light readings from specific
parts of the subject.Mirror:Reflects light
so that the light com-
ing through the lens is
seen in the viewfinder.
In some cameras, the
mirror is replaced by
abeamsplitter,
a combination of
prisms, which are
blocks of glass or
plastic that reflect light
through the viewfinder
and to other parts of
the camera, such as
the image sensor.
(See Chapter 4.)Image sensor:
A microchip sensitive
to light. It replaces
film. (See Chapter 7,
“How Light Becomes
Data.”)CHAPTER 1 THE WORKINGS OF A DIGITAL CAMERA^9