Camera Technology and Sensors
How cameras turn light into images: sensors, dynamic range and noise, lenses and optical quality, autofocus, shutters and stabilization, metering, raw processing and computational photography, and how to choose, test and maintain a camera system.
PHOT-201 Year 2 3 credits 12 lessons · 5 h 38 min
Offered by HSM University · Photography
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Compare current camera system types, including DSLR, mirrorless, compact, medium format and smartphone, and explain their architectures
- Explain how image sensors convert light to data, including photosites, quantum efficiency, full-well capacity and readout
- Apply knowledge of dynamic range, ISO, noise and ISO invariance to exposure decisions in practice
- Explain color filter arrays, demosaicing, low-pass filters, moiré and multi-shot high-resolution modes
- Evaluate lens optical quality using aberrations, MTF, diffraction and practical tests
- Compare lens types, mounts, adapters and sensor formats, and apply crop factors and equivalence
- Explain phase-detection, contrast and subject-recognition autofocus and choose focusing modes and techniques
- Explain mechanical and electronic shutters, flash sync, stabilization systems and burst capture modes
- Use viewfinders, metering systems, histograms, auto ISO and bracketing with an understanding of their limits
- Explain the image processing pipeline, raw and compressed file formats, color spaces and computational photography
- Select storage, power, connectivity and durability features and apply content credentials for image provenance
- Choose, test, cost and maintain a camera system for a photographic specialty, presented as a justified proposal
Course content
12 lessons · 5 h 38 min total · final exam
- 1 Camera systems today 26 min · quiz
- 2 Image sensors and pixels 28 min · quiz
- 3 Dynamic range, ISO and noise in practice 31 min · quiz
- 4 Color capture, demosaicing and high-resolution modes 27 min · quiz
- 5 Lenses and optical quality 28 min · quiz
- 6 Lens types, mounts and equivalence 29 min · quiz
- 7 Autofocus systems and focusing techniques 29 min · quiz
- 8 Shutters, stabilization and capture modes 30 min · quiz
- 9 Viewfinders, metering and exposure technology 28 min · quiz
- 10 Raw files, image processing and computational photography 27 min · quiz
- 11 Storage, power, durability, connectivity and provenance 28 min · quiz
- 12 Choosing, testing and maintaining a system 27 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
How cameras turn light into images: sensors, dynamic range and noise, lenses and optical quality, autofocus, shutters and stabilization, metering, raw processing and computational photography, and how to choose, test and maintain a camera system.
Part of the Film & Photography stream, typically taken in year 2.