camera

A camera is a device that records images by projecting light through a lens onto a photosensitive surface. In traditional cameras the surface is photographic film; in modern cameras it is an electronic image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS chip, which converts light into electrical signals that are processed and stored as digital files. The basic light-tight body contains a shutter that controls exposure and a lens that determines focus and field of view.

Photography relies on the exposure triangle: aperture controls the amount of light and depth of field, shutter speed fixes how long light reaches the sensor, and ISO defines the sensor's sensitivity. Lenses vary in focal length, affecting magnification and perspective. Modern cameras typically include autofocus, exposure metering, white balance, and in many cases in-body or lens-based stabilization. Images are stored on removable media as RAW or JPEG files, with RAW preserving more image data for post-processing.

Camera types range from compact point-and-shoot models to interchangeable-lens cameras, including digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) and mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, as well as medium-format systems. Earlier cameras used film and chemically developed images; today most consumer cameras are digital, and many smartphones incorporate advanced camera hardware and computational photography features.

Beyond consumer use, cameras play a central role in journalism, science, industry, and art, documenting events, environments, and subjects. They continue to evolve with sensor advancements, artificial intelligence, and increasingly compact form factors.