Easy Basic Photography
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The Camera Lens
The camera lens can be called the "eye" of the camera. Digital camera and film camera lenses work the
same way.
Most people think of a camera lens as the piece of glass or plastic on the front of the camera that allows
light to enter the camera. Thats ok. But technically that piece of glass or plastic is called an element of the
lens. There can be several variously curved elements in a lens. They are held together by what is called the
"barrel" of the lens
Digital camera lenses and film camera lenses work the same way.
The basic job of the lens is to gather and focus light. As light rays are entering
the lens through the elements they are "bent" or have their direction changed.
This is called refraction. The bend or direction of the light is determined by the
shape or curvature of each element. The purpose of this redirection of light is to
point it to a specific area in the camera as it exits the elements. In a digital camera
the light is directed to the camera sensor. In a non digital camera it is directed to
the film. It is there on the sensor or film that all the colors and shades of the light
are "captured". It can then be reproduced as the exact image you were viewing
when you pressed the camera's shutter release.
Continue to Types of Lenses
