| If your requirement is for a film-based camera, relying | | | | followed by APS. For specialist users, there are |
| on a scanner to create digital image files, you are | | | | cameras that accept medium-format film, ranging from |
| spoiled for choice in terms of camera size, features, | | | | 6 x 4.5cm to 6 x 17cm. |
| degrees of automation, and price. | | | | Rangefinder |
| The least expensive, most compact, and easiest | | | | - an optical rangefinder works by measuring the angle |
| cameras to use are rangefinder types. These are | | | | between the subject and certain reference points on |
| distinguished by a small window through which you | | | | the camera itself. This is then mechanically transferred |
| view the subject. Other windows are used by the | | | | to the focus setting. |
| rangefinder mechanism, which is most often based on | | | | APS format |
| a system that transmits infrared light to the subject | | | | The Advanced Photo System (APS) format is the |
| and senses when it returns. Thanks to this, | | | | newest film-based format and is designed to produce |
| autofocusing is a standard feature on nearly all | | | | good-quality results while improving the ease with |
| cameras in this class. Other features include automatic | | | | which film is handled and prints ordered. The basic |
| film wind-on and rewind, flash, autoexposure, and often | | | | APS format is 3 x 1.7 cm but three print proportions - |
| a zoom lens. | | | | from classic 35mm to a "panoramic" - can all be shot |
| With these cameras you simply turn them on, point, | | | | on the same roll. To scan this type of film, you need a |
| and press the shutter button - everything else is taken | | | | scanner fitted with an APS adaptor. |
| care of automatically. | | | | Variable masking |
| The best of these cameras are capable of | | | | APS cameras are able to offer different formats by |
| professional pictures, while most give very good | | | | changing the masks used at the focal plane to vary |
| results under a wide range of conditions. Film-based | | | | the crop of the circular image produced by the lens. |
| rangefinder cameras can easily produce results | | | | The largest format is the HDTV, as it makes the fullest |
| superior to comparably priced digital models. | | | | use of the lens image. The so-called Panoramic format |
| Rangefinder cameras can be found in a wide range of | | | | is, in fact, a narrow crop of the (HDTV format, while |
| formats, the most common being for 35mm film, | | | | the Classic is an even smaller crop. |