01 Shutter Cocking Lever: used to cock (or charge) the shutter so it is ready to take a photo.

02 Film Catch: rarely seen, this is held down to start winding the film, and released to stop at the next frame.

03 Film Winding Knob: found on earlier cameras, it advances the film one frame with one complete turn in the direction of the arrow. If the camera has no separate cocking lever, winding the knob also cocks the shutter. (In this case, the knob should only be wound just before taking a picture, as leaving it wound can weaken the shutter spring.)

04 Film Advance Lever: also called the Rapid Film Advance, this advances the film and the frame counter by one frame with every full movement. In most cases it also cocks the shutter, preventing double exposures. Depending on the camera, this requires a single long stroke or multiple short strokes. The winding distance of each varies, for example, 170° or 220°. While the first 20° often has no effect on the film (free play), the length of the winding stroke will affect how easy it is to advance the film. The film must be advanced fully to the next frame for the shutter to release. Once the last frame of film is exposed, the lever will no longer operate.

05 Shutter Release Button: this is pressed to take a picture, releasing the shutter from its cocked position so it opens to make an exposure and then closes again.

06 Shutter Release Socket: a threaded hole in the center of the shutter release button, into which a standard cable release can be screwed for remote operation of the shutter.

07 Exposure Counter: indicates the number of pictures taken on a roll of film, from 1 to 36. The number increases automatically each time the film is advanced.

08 Distance Scale: a set of numbers found on the focusing ring of a lens that indicate how far away the subject in focus is from the film plane of the camera (in meters and feet).

09 Depth-of-Field Scale: a fixed ring or marking next to the distance scale of the lens, which indicates depth of field.

10 Self-Timer Lever / V: see 071

11 Accessory / Hot Shoe: see 099

12 Focal Plane Mark: see 047

13 Mirror Lock-Up Control: featured on some SLRs; when turned, the mirror of an SLR is locked in an “up” position to allow the mounting of lenses which extend into the mirror box, or to eliminate image blur caused by mirror slap.

14 Film Rewind Crank: a wheel found most commonly on the top, but in some cases the base, of the camera that, when turned in the direction of the arrow (with the rewind button depressed), rewinds the film back into the film cartridge. This crank often also functions as a back cover release (if there is no separate back cover lock); when it is pulled up, the back cover automatically pops open.

15 Back Cover Release / Lock: found on the back of the camera, on the opposite edge to the hinges. It holds the back cover closed, and opens it when released.

16 Viewfinder Window: see 130

17 Rangefinder Window: see 130

18 Frame Illumination Window: see 130

19 Shutter Speed Ring: found on the lens barrel (of fixed-lens cameras), it can be rotated to select shutter speed. The markings on the ring are fractions of a second (for example, 250 is 1/250th of a second). The speed opposite the index mark is the selected speed.

20 Shutter Speed Dial: found on the top of interchangeable-lens camera bodies (as the shutter is part of the body, not the lens), it can be rotated to select shutter speed. The markings on the ring are fractions of a second (for example, 250 is 1/250th of a second). The dial may also be found on the front of the camera body. The number opposite the index mark on the camera body is the selected speed.

21 Fast & Slow Shutter Speed Dials: see 070

22 Diaphragm / Aperture Ring: found on the lens barrel, this can be rotated to select the size of the aperture. The markings on the ring are f/stops. The f/stop opposite the static index mark on the lens is the selected aperture.

23 Photocell Window (or photoresistor): a sensor that reacts to light. In a camera it is used to measure light (light meter).

24 Flash Setting Selector / Lever: see 096

25 Flash Unit Socket: see 099

26 Film Take-Up Spool: a metal or plastic cylinder found on the back of the camera body, directly below the film advance lever. As the film is advanced the exposed frames are wound tightly around the spool, and in turn unexposed film is pulled along the film guide to sit behind the shutter. The spool usually has a slot to feed the film leader into when loading the film.

27 Sprocket: a cylinder next to, and mechanically connected to, the film take-up spool. It has gear teeth at the top and bottom with which the perforations along the top and bottom edges of the film engage, to advance it and keep it aligned correctly.

28 Rewind Spindle: a forked prong inside the back of the camera, connected to the film rewind crank. It engages with the film cartridge when placed in the cartridge chamber, allowing the film to be rewound with the rewind crank.

29 Film / Cartridge Chamber: the area inside the back of the camera where the film cartridge sits, usually at the far left.

30 Film Guide: two smooth rails inside the back of a camera that run along the film plane parallel to the film edges. They meet with the film pressure plate when the camera back is closed, ensuring smooth transport of the film and keeping it aligned and flat as the film is exposed.

31 Focal-Plane Shutter: see 067

32 Film Pressure Plate: a smooth, spring-loaded panel in the back cover of the camera that presses the film tightly against the film guide when the camera back is closed. It supports the film on the film plane and keeps it flat and steady as it is exposed.

33 Viewfinder Eyepiece: see 130

34 Rangefinder Eyepiece: see 130

35 Viewfinder Magnification Selector: featured on some interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras to optimize the view in the viewfinder according to the focal length of the lens being used, most commonly 35mm, 50mm, 100mm or 135mm lenses.

36 Film Load Window: a feature on some cameras which confirms the film is loaded correctly and provides a constant check on film alignment and advancement while using the camera. (As a rule, the film is loaded correctly if the rewind crank rotates when advancing the film.)

37 Film Speed Set Lever: found on a fixed-lens rangefinder that has a built-in light meter. It is usually a notched lever on the underside of the lens barrel which slides when pressed in, allowing you to match the speed number of the meter with the speed of the film.

38 Film Speed Dial: on a changeable lens camera with a built-in light meter this is normally part of the shutter speed dial, and is adjusted by lifting and rotating the shutter speed dial until the figure which corresponds to the speed of the film is visible in the film speed window. The dial may also be its own independent wheel on the front of the camera body.

39 Film Rewind Button: usually found on the base of the camera body, when depressed it allows the film to be rewound into the cartridge. There may instead be a Reversing Lever on the top or base of the camera labeled R for rewinding the film and A for advancing the film. (When set to R, the automatic coupling of the film advance and shutter mechanism is disengaged.)

40 Focusing Ring: a ring on the lens body that is rotated to adjust the focus of the camera.

41 Tripod Socket: a threaded hole (3/8” or 1/4”) on the base of a camera into which accessories—typically a tripod—can be screwed.

42 Lens Release Button / Lever: found in the vicinity of the lens on the front of a changeable lens, bayonet-mount camera body. This is a small button that, when pushed downward, releases the lens so the lens can be rotated and lifted out. Mounts of early cameras were threaded, and lenses screwed in and out of the flange of the camera body.

43 Film Type Indicator: some cameras feature an indicator which can be set to remind you of the speed or type of film loaded in the camera. It will commonly feature symbols for black-and-white film, color film balanced for daylight, and color film balanced for artificial light.

44 Base Plate: a removable plate on the base of loading cameras, this is removed in order to load and remove the film cartridge. It is opened by turning the locking swivel from Closed to Open (labeled AUF and ZU on German cameras).

45 Depth-of-Field Preview / Diaphragm Stop-Down Button: featured on some SLRs; for the brightest TTL viewfinder preview possible, lens apertures should be wide open during viewing, focusing, and exposure setting. When pressed, the depth-of-field preview button closes the diaphragm to the preset aperture in order to preview the depth of field directly in the viewfinder. (When previewing the depth of field the image in the viewfinder will get progressively darker the further the lens is stopped down.)