Answers to Question Paper NK college dated 12/02/2011

Q.1 a Parallax error is a viewing error which is experienced while using a Direct Viewfinder or a Twin-Lens Reflex type of camera. In both these cameras, the taking lens (the lens which takes the picture) and the viewing lens are situated at a distance from each other. As a result, when we view the picture and compose it as we would like to see it, the taking lens is viewing the picture from its own axis (not from the axis of the viewing lens or the view-finder). Since the axis of the taking lens and the axis of the viewing lens are at a distance from each other, there will be a slight difference in the picture taken and the picture we saw in the view-finder. As long as the shooting distance (distance between the subject and the camera) is reasonably large, this small distance between the taking and the viewing axes does not cause any problem. But when this shooting distance becomes small (for example, when taking a picture from 3 feet or so), this error starts showing up. We find that some parts of the picture what we saw in the view-finder, are not showing in the picture which the taking lens has taken. This is known as parallax error. Q1b We know that a shift of 1 step in either direction on shutter speed scale or aperture scale will make the exposure twice or half as much. Therefore it is possible to choose different combinations of aperture and shutter speed settings which will have the same Exposure Value (EV). If a situation calls for an exposure of 1/ 250 sec. at f 4, it should be possible to shoot at f 8 using a different shutter speed. This will give more depth of field. By changing from f 4 to f 8, we move two steps in the direction of reducing the image brightness. To compensate for this two steps drop in EV, we must increase the exposure by choosing a shutter speed slower by two steps. Two steps slower than 250 is 60. So our new exposure setting will be 1/ 60 second at f 8. We wanted to shoot at f 8 because this will give us more depth of field.

Q.2 a Focal length of a lens is the distance between the lens and a sharply focused image of an object at infinity. Practically, suppose we focus a subject (e.g. a building) on a screen (or wall) by means of a lens. If this building is at a considerably large distance like 50 feet away from us, it will be said to be at infinity. In this case the distance between the lens and the wall will be equal to the focal length of our lens. A lens with a small focal length will form a small sized image and a lens with a long focal length will form a large image.

Q.2 b In a camera, the lens forms the image on film or the digital sensor. So when the object is at infinity, then the lens of the camera will be at a distance equal to the focal length of the lens. But if we want to take a picture of an object which is at a distance less than infinity (say it is at 6 feet away from the camera), we will have to move the lens away from the film in order to bring the image of our 6 feet away object in focus. So we have to move the lens forwards (in direction of the object). If shooting distance (u) decreases, then the image distance (v) has to increase.

Q.3 a 1. Means of accurately aiming and composing the picture. Before shooting the picture, the photographer must be able to see what will be included in the picture and how the picture will be composed. So any camera must have some way or method to show this. 2. An ability to focus precisely. There must be a way to move the lens in order to bring the image in focus. The photographer must be able to either see the image, or set the distance

between the camera and the subject. Or he should know that the camera does this automatically. 3. A shutter to control the moment and length of exposure on the film (or sensor). There must be a way to choose and set the shutter speed. Or he should know that the camera does this automatically. 4. An aperture to control the brightness of the image and the depth of field. There must be a way to choose and set the aperture in terms of f numbers. Or he should know that the camera does this automatically. 5. A method of loading and removing the film without allowing unwanted light to affect it. Or he must know that this camera is a digital camera and therefore does not use a film. 6. An exposure meter to measure the light and to indicate or set the exposure needed for each shot. Or he should know that the camera does not have this facility.

Q.3 b Shutter is a mechanism in a camera designed to control the duration of exposure. Even after the lens has formed and focused the image, the shutter keeps it blocked from reaching the film or the sensor of the camera. Its function is to protect the film from light at all times. When photographer wants to expose the film (wants to take the picture), he selects a suitable shutter speed and presses a button. At the click of this button, the shutter opens for the specified time and closes again. Only during this time, the light, in the form of an image falls on the film and produces a latent image. This latent image is then processed to give the picture that the photographer had exposed. Shutters are of two types: A Leaf Shutter and a Focal Plane Shutter. Leaf shutter is usually situated inside a lens. That is why it is sometimes called a between The Lens shutter too. In this shutter, a number of metallic blades operate from middle outwards and to the middle again. It has limitation of having slowest speed of 1 second and the fastest speed of 1/

500 second. But their advantage is that an electronic flash can synchronize at all speeds. Focal Plane shutter on the other hand is situated very near to the focal plane in a camera. Focal plane is the position where the film or the sensor is placed. This shutter has two blinds made of a rubberized cloth or very thin and flexible metallic sheets. These blinds keep the film window covered. When the release button is pressed, the first blind travels across the window and then the second blind starts its travel to close the window again. The film is now exposed. A winding mechanism moves the exposed area of the film and at the same time brings both the blinds back to their starting position in an overlapping fashion (so that no light reaches the film). The camera is now ready for the next exposure. This shutter has some advantages : It can operate at very slow speeds (like 10 full seconds) and also at very fast speeds (like 1/ 8000 second). Lens of the camera can be interchanged because even if you remove the lens, the film is still protected by the shutter. But this shutter has a dis-advantage too. The flash cannot be synchronized at all shutter speeds. There is a limit and after that if you go to next faster speed setting, you will find that a part of the image is blocked out.