System camera


Image:Nikon F SLR camera with NIKKOR-S Auto 1,4 f=5,8cm.JPG|thumb|220px|Nikon F chrome with eyelevel prism and NIKKOR-S Auto 1:1.4 f=5.8cm lens – an early SLR system camera.
A system camera or camera body is a camera with interchangeable components that constitutes the core of a system. Early representatives include Leica I Schraubgewinde, Exakta and the Nikon F. System cameras are often single-lens reflex or twin-lens reflex but can also be rangefinder cameras or, more recently, mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. Voice coil motors or piezoelectric motors are used to control the lens movement to achieve fast and accurate autofocus. These motors move the lens elements to focus the light onto the sensor with high precision.
Systems are usually named for the lens mount, such Nikon F-mount, Canon EF mount, and M42 mount.
Even point-and-shoot cameras usually include a tripod socket. A system camera includes at the very least a camera body and separate, interchangeable lenses, whence the alternative name interchangeable-lens camera. In addition it often includes:
While some early mechanical interfaces are standardized across brands, optical and electronic interfaces are often proprietary. Hot shoes have a common interface for basic flash functions, but often contain proprietary contacts inside for advanced flashes and data modules.