What is the real definition of SLR?
Carried on from http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=103787
To understand something, always understand the history.
There was once when some cameras need 2 lenses, one for viewing, the other one for capturing the image. This type of camera has a non-movable mirror inside. It is called a Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera.
Then came this person called Technology. He managed to use only one lens, the same lens to view & capture the image, by moving the mirror. This allows you to capture what you see through the lens (TTL). Thus, came the name "Single Lens Reflex (SLR)", because it uses only one lens, and has a mirror.
However, Technology was not satisfied, he decided to invent digital cameras. He created many different types, some with optical viewfinders, some with electronic viewfinders. Some allows you to change lens, some do not.
So now what is an SLR? Technology messed it up, didn't he?
Basically, an SLR should have only a single lens. Normal P&S cameras use an additional lens for the viewfinder, remember that... It also needs a mirror, else it's not called reflex already. It can only be called a TTL camera. The mirror need not be movable.
So is the Minolta 7Hi an SLR?
No. It has a single lens. However, it does not have a mirror. Thus it can only be called a TTL camera. not a SLR. However, some people like to call it an "SLR-like" camera. Ahhh... It's LIKE an SLR, but not one.
Carried on from http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=103787
To understand something, always understand the history.
There was once when some cameras need 2 lenses, one for viewing, the other one for capturing the image. This type of camera has a non-movable mirror inside. It is called a Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera.
Then came this person called Technology. He managed to use only one lens, the same lens to view & capture the image, by moving the mirror. This allows you to capture what you see through the lens (TTL). Thus, came the name "Single Lens Reflex (SLR)", because it uses only one lens, and has a mirror.
However, Technology was not satisfied, he decided to invent digital cameras. He created many different types, some with optical viewfinders, some with electronic viewfinders. Some allows you to change lens, some do not.
So now what is an SLR? Technology messed it up, didn't he?
Basically, an SLR should have only a single lens. Normal P&S cameras use an additional lens for the viewfinder, remember that... It also needs a mirror, else it's not called reflex already. It can only be called a TTL camera. The mirror need not be movable.
So is the Minolta 7Hi an SLR?
No. It has a single lens. However, it does not have a mirror. Thus it can only be called a TTL camera. not a SLR. However, some people like to call it an "SLR-like" camera. Ahhh... It's LIKE an SLR, but not one.