Stephen Bray’s Olympus OM-1 35mm Film SLR, (Circa 1974)
The image seen in the viewfinder comes from light brought to it via the camera lens. This is reflected up to your eye via a system of mirrors and prisms. When you take a photograph a mirror must move out of the way before the picture can be taken. This takes just a fraction of a second, although when longer exposures are used the viewfinder will become blank as you press the shutter release button.
The SLR is an excellent system for film cameras since different types of lens may easily be used on the same camera body.
It is also a good system for digital cameras but it has two major disadvantages.
Firstly, on many SLR digital cameras the LCD cannot be used as a viewfinder in low light conditions, such as your studio. In table-top photography this facility would be very useful. Some digital cameras incorporate this function.
Secondly, the sensor that records your photograph is very sensitive to dust, so removing and replacing the lens can cause problems, which have to be remedied by a trip to the repair shop. Newer SLR digital camera, such as those made by Olympus incorporate an electronic cleaning device that reduces the risk of degradation of image quality due to dust on the sensor.
All SLR cameras make a characteristic ‘click’ as the mirror moves when the picture is taken. Some people can even tell a camera’s make just by listening to the shutter being released.
This noise, even though slight, may draw attention to you when you attempt to take candid pictures of your children and cause them to pose unnaturally.
Film cameras come in many different shapes and sizes. The most useful formats are:
35 mm compacts, SLRs and rangefinder
Medium Format, (120 film) 6 cms. x 4.5 cms, 6 cms x 6 cms, 6 cms x 7 cms, 6 cms x 9 cms
Large Format Cameras ~ Sheet film (various sizes)
All other film sizes are best avoided. Disk cameras, Instamatic cartridge cameras, 110 cameras, subminiature cameras, even APS come and go. The film formats listed above have stood the test of time against all other competitors.
Every camera will do the work it’s designed to achieve, but unless a disposable camera fits your needs you should buy a camera that will remain serviceable.
If thinking of buying a camera always think about both the kind of photograph you take now, and also the kind that you have an inkling for in the future. A rangefinder camera has little use in a studio, and a large format camera is not a good holiday companion.
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