Types of Camera and lens:

There are several ways to categorize cameras (and paper, and film…). The main divisions are by film
format and body types.

Miniature:

The most commonly available miniature cameras use the APS, or Advanced Photo System. This is a
cartridge film in a 16 x 24mm format. The idea behind APS is that the film is encoded with exposure
data, which is used by dedicated film processors to yield (hopefully) better negatives and prints. APS is
mostly used for point-and shoot. Also in this category is the Minox, a true spy camera. with an 8 x 11mm
image. Minox use is a true specialty, and a near cult thing.

Small:
This is 35mm (or 135), which gives a 24 x 36mm negative. 126 format also fits into this category, which is
the Kodak Instamatic. These cameras are usually modular, easy to handle and use.

Medium:
Medium format ranges from 6 x 4 cm to 6 x 8 cm. Medium combines the ease of use of the 35mm with a
larger negative size. Mostly used by professionals, the medium format is also generally modular,
allowing lens, back, viewfinder, and other cool stuff to be switched out as the need arises and budget
allows. The most famous of medium format is the Hasselblad.

Large:
Large format runs generally from 4 x 5 inches up to 16 x 20”. The large format is the bulkiest and hardest
type to use, but offers incredible image control, with the ability to move both the film plane and the lens
plane independently

BODY TYPE:
Each of these may be found using more than a single format, as mentioned in the descriptions. As well, I
am describing more specific types than usual.

Point and Shoot:

Usually found in 35mm format, although also using the 110 cartridge, point and shoots are designed to
be extremely simple to use. With better technology at lower costs, these cameras are now often quite
sophisticated. The point and shoot is typified by ease of use. Load the film, point it and press the shutter
release. Most have minimal viewfinders, fixed exposure and fixed focus. The current most basic of this
type is the single-use cameras, which are the same idea as the original consumer camera, the Kodak
Brownie.

Rangefinder:
The rangefinder is distinguished by its viewfinder. The rangefinder uses a superimposed image in the
viewfinder which moves with the focus on the lens. When the superimposed image of the subject is
aligned with the regular image of the subject in the viewfinder, you have focus. Rangefinders are valued
because they are usually quieter and have less inherent vibration than cameras with other focusing
systems. They are available in a variety of formats. The most notable rangefinder is the Leica.
Twin-Lens Reflex:
Less available now than in their heyday, the twin-lens reflex uses two identical lenses, one mounted
above the other. The upper lens is used for focusing and the lower forms the image on the film. The
twin-lens reflex is bulkier than its single-lens-reflex counterpart, usually had a fixed lens (you couldn’t
change lenses), and reversed the image in the viewfinder. However, they generally have a much larger
and brighter viewfinder, and use medium-format film, so are capable of very good image quality.

Single Lens Reflex:

The single-lens reflex is distinguished by a mirror and prism system which allows viewing directly
through the lens. When the shutter is released, the mirror flips up, out of the light path, and returns
when the shutter closes. The SLR’s most common format is 35mm, but they are also made for larger
(medium) format. The huge popularity of the SLR is due to its viewing system, which allows changing
lens at will. Viewing directly through the taking lens gives a greater control of the image. This idea of
interchangeable lenses led to the idea of a modular, system-based camera, where one could not only
change lens, but also viewing screens, backs, add winders and strobes—in effect easily customize at will.
Both the 35mm and medium format SLR are the most widely used professional cameras.

View Camera:
The view camera views directly from the lens. The image is focused onto a ground-glass plate. The glass
is then replaced by a film holder to capture an image. The view camera offers extreme image control.
While other cameras are designed with the film plane and lens plane parallel, the view camera allows
independent movement of both. The film plane (back) and the lens plane of the view camera can be
raised, lowered, tilted front-to-back, and swung side-to-side. This allows for the aforementioned image
control. View cameras usually use 4 × 5 or larger sheet film.
A drawback to the view camera is its bulk, which most often means using a tripod, They are slow to
operate, which can be looked at as an advantage or a disadvantage. A version of the view camera, the
field camera, is more compact, but sacrifices some of the movement ability.

35mm:

By far the most common format of photography is the 35mm. Originating with film photography, it was
first devised by the company Leitz, in 1913 when they began working on taking the 35mm format used
in cine film cameras at the time, in order to use the same format to take still pictures instead of a
moving image. The research and development was a success and company later produced and sold the
first 35mm film camera, called Lecia 1 in 1925. 

35mm was given the name because this is the length of the horizontal plane of the negative. The 35mm
film negative are still readily available in canisters as a continuous roll of film containing up to 36
exposures inside a single canister. At the time they were first produced they were a breakthrough in
photography because of their compactness, convenience, and affordability. 
Digital 35mm
Instead of film, now digital cameras produce a photograph that is the size of the sensor it uses to record
the image inside. All most all typical compact and DSLR digital cameras today model themselves on using
a similar ratio to take photographs as the 35mm film camera did. So at first glance, your digital
photographs seem to be in the similar size to your old film ones. In fact though a digital picture is only
just slightly higher and longer than the 35mm film, typically with a sensor of 23.9mm in height and a
length of 35.8mm.

Medium Format (6x4.5, & 6x7)

Medium format is categorized as the next larger size up from the 35mm. Again first devised from film, it
was invented before the 35mm at a time when the race was on to devise a format for making a
photographic latent image that could be used again and again to make prints. Previously the best
method to make a negative image was onto plates of glass, coated with a mixture of chemicals that was
reactive to light falling on it. 

However in those early times of photography for both the professional photographer and the budding
amateur these plates were bulky, took up a lot of room in storage, tricky to make prints, and were
fragile too as they were easily broken. 

Kodak was the major leader that came up with a revolutionary method of producing a negative image,
that which could be produced on paper film in 1888. They combined the new paper film, then later
gelatine film with their flagship product the box brownie camera. Another revolution in the history of
photography as for the first time photography became accessible to everyone at an affordable price.

In times past there have been varying sizes of the medium format type but the most popular sizes of
medium format today are 6cm x 7cm and 6cm x 4.5cm on 120 rollfilm. With digital however, the size is
slightly smaller than of its film counterpart with a sensor measuring 48mm x 36mm.

TYPES OF LENS:

Wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lenses allow you to emphasize perspective by getting in close to your subject.
This makes them great for sweeping landscapes where objects in the foreground appear
much larger and the horizon appears much further away. A wide angle lens has a focal length
wider than 40mm (35mm equivalent). Anything wider than 21mm is classed as ultra-
wide. Wide angles are essential for interior photography where space may be tight and also
architecture or expanses of land where the subject is huge and needs the wide-angle to get
everything in frame.
Standard lens A standard lens is so called because it gives
roughly the same magnification as the human eye, which is
actually around 43mm. This lens used to be supplied with all
film cameras when you bought a camera, but once zooms
appeared the standard lens took a back seat. It's often
preferred by purists because it has three key features. First is
speed. A standard lens will have an aparture of f/2 or faster.
Most of the modern standard lenses are either f/1.7 of f/1.4.
There are also a few f/1.2s and f/1s around too. Secondly the
simple construction allows a standard lens to be smaller and
lighter making it east to carry around. Third is the fact a standard gives roughly what the eye
sees so can ensure what you photograph appears more natural and doesn't place emphasis
on what appears to be unnatural perspective.

See this article on using standard lenses here 

Telephoto lens 
Telephoto lenses not only bring a distant subject closer, they
also have the effect of compressing perspective because you
will generally be further from your subject. Lenses from this
range are useful for landscapes or sports and wildlife, where
access is restricted. Telephotos are lenses longer than a
standard 50mm and a short telephoto in the 90-100mm region
is perfect for portrait photography, while 135mm-300mm are
more suitable for pulling in distant detail in a landscape or for
picking out details on buildings. anything above 300mm is
classed as a super telephoto.
Super telephoto lens
These lenses have focal lengths above 300mm and are what the sports
and action photographers use to home in on distant subjects. They're
also ideal for bird and wildlife photography to shoot timid or
dangerous animals from afar. The downside of such a lens is weight
and bulk. A tripod is also often needed to hold the len steady.

Zoom lens 
A zoom lens offers a continuously variable focal length,
normally without the need to refocus. A wide-angle zoom
covers a range of focal lengths that include a wide angle
setting. A standard zoom goes from a slight wide angle to
telephoto and a telezoom covers a range of telephoto focal
lengths. Some zoom lenses are called super zooms because
they cover a larger range of focal lengths from wide angle to
longer telephoto.

▪
Fish-eye lens Extreme wide-angle lens that gives 180° coverage
and is uncorrected for curvilinear distortion so you produce a
circular photograph.

Mirror Lens 
This is technically known as a catadioptric lens and has an
unusual construction of mirrors and lens elements. As well as
glass elements there are mirrors at the front and rear to fold
the light as it enters the lens. This results in a casing that's a
little wider than normal, but half the length and much lighter.
Mirror lenses appear in focal lengths from 300mm to 2000mm.

Macro lens
A lens that is designed to give optimum resolution at close
subject distances. Macro lenses are made in focal lengths from
50mm to 200mm. 90-100mm being the most common choice. 

See this article for more information on close-up

photography 
 Teleconverters 
This accessory fits between the camera body and lens to
increase the magnification of the the lens. They are available in
1.4x, 1.7x, 2x and 3x magnifications and usually come in
different constructions from 3 to 7 elements depending on the
quality you are after. Generally speaking, the more elements
the better the quality. When used an 80-200mm zoom, for
example, becomes a 112-280mm, 136-340mm, 160-400mm
and 240-600mm respectively.

The independence to change lenses based on your needs gives a lot of freedom to a photographer. But
what are these different types of lenses. Various lenses are suited for specific application. Let’s have a
look at some common names and what they do.
▪ Normal/ Standard Lenses – These are lenses provided by the camera manufacturers along with the
camera as a part of the kit. These are generally of the 18 – 55mm focal length for a normal 35mm
camera.
▪ Telephoto lenses – These are the lenses with focal length longer than the standard lens. Also called
as Long focus Lens. These lenses are generally used to take photographs from a distance. Especially
for nature and wildlife photography where you can not go near to the subject but want to fill the
frame with the subject from a distance. Normally, 70 – 300mm lens is recommended for such
purpose though different combination can be used based on your requirement.
▪ Mirror Lenses – This is a special design of a long focus lens in which some of the lens elements are
replaced with the mirrors. These lenses are generally lighter than the normal lens of the same focal
length but they come with fixed aperture.
▪ Wide Angle Lenses – These lenses have lower focal length than the standard lenses which helps in
getting more area of view in the frame from the same distance. Typically used for landscape
photography. These lenses can increase the perspective distortion. So, caution is recommended.
▪ Zoom Lenses – These are the lenses with variable focal lengths. In these lenses the positive and
negative elements of the lens are put together in such a way that by moving them you can get
varied focal lengths. You can also find telephoto lens with zoom lens capabilities. Do not get
confused between the two.
▪ Prime Lenses – As opposed to zoom lenses, prime lenses have fixed focal length. These lenses
generally have lesser moving parts as compared to zoom lenses and thus reduce the problems like
chromatic aberrations. Prime lenses are also referred to as fast lenses. These lenses generally have
larger apertures which allow you to photograph in lower light and create wonderful bokeh effect.
▪ Macro Lenses – These lenses are designed to do close up photography like flowers, insects, etc.
Basically the macro lenses have very high focusing movement than the normal lenses.