How Digital SLR Cameras Work

Digital SLR Cameras capture images on images sensors (CMOS or CCD sensor) just as seen through the view finder, and use a variety of interchangeable lenses to capture many different scenes.

Mirror/Focusing Screen light entering the lens is reflected on the main mirror in front of the image sensor and, after changing direction upward, forms and image on the focusing screen (frosted glass).

Pentaprism converts the inverted and reverted image on the focusing screen into a correct image for viewing through the viewfinder.

Area AF a part of light entering through the lens passes the main mirror and is reflected on the sub-mirror to reach the CMOS area AF sensor. An image on an AF point(s) selected our of 45 AF points in the viewfinder is formed on this sensor and it transmits a focusing signal to the lens

Light Metering a light-metering sensor located behind the pentaprism measure the amount of light entering through the lens to determining the aperture (lens opening) and shutter speed (duration of exposure).

Shooting fully pressing the shutter button taked shots. Aperture closes down the lens opening to the set value by the diaphragm.

Mirror Swings upwards to create a light path for the light.

Shutter Opens to allow incoming light to reach the image sensor(exposure).

Low-Pass Filter eliminate infrared and other excess light for shooting, retaining only necessary light.

CMOS Sensor Converts exposed light into electric signals, and then transmits them to the Digital Imaging Processor.

Digital Imaging Processor processes large volume of images data at high speed, and transfers such data to the memory card to make the camera ready for the next shooting operation. CF Card a memory card to save image data.