How does an SLR camera control focus and aperture in the lens?

Asked 2/8/2016

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I’m new to SLR cameras and I’m trying to understand what happens between the camera body and the attached lens. When autofocus is used, does the camera adjust the focus inside the lens, or is there some separate optical element in the body? Likewise, when I change the aperture setting on the camera, is that changing the aperture in the attached lens? If the body is controlling the lens, how do they communicate when the mount mostly just looks like a mechanical attachment?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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if I use the auto-focus, does it adjust the lens focus, or is there a secondary lens in the body that gets adjusted?

No, there's no secondary lens. The lens attached to the camera contains a motor that moves the lens elements as required by the autofocus system.

Same with the aperture settings, is this changing on the attached lens, or is there another lens inside?

Same answer -- the camera tells the lens to change the aperture; it's not something that can be adjusted in the camera body.

If it is changing the attached lens, how do the 2 connect. I can not see any obvious connection other than the mechanism holding it in place.

If you remove the lens you'll find a row of little gold contacts on the body and a matching set on the lens. When the lens is attached, these contacts mate and form electrical connections that the body uses to control the lens.

Here's a photo from Wikipedia. This happens to be a Canon EF-mount lens, but other manufacturers use similar systems.

lens contacts - By Nebrot - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3336317

Especially on mounts that still support older lenses, there may also be mechanical connections that allow motors in the camera body to power adjustments in the lens. Nikon's F-mount and Sony's A-mount are two prominent examples.

Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4262

10y ago

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AI Answer

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In an SLR system, focus and aperture changes happen in the attached lens, not in a separate lens inside the camera body.

For autofocus, the camera tells the lens to move its focusing elements. On many modern lenses this is done by a motor built into the lens. Some older systems use a mechanical coupling from the body to drive focus instead.

Aperture control also happens in the lens. The camera body commands the lens to open or close its diaphragm blades to the selected f-stop.

The body and lens communicate through the mount. Most modern lenses use a set of electrical contacts on the lens and camera body to pass control signals and other information. Some systems, especially older ones, may also include a mechanical linkage for focus or aperture control.

So the mount is more than just a physical lock: it can provide electronic communication and, in some cases, mechanical coupling too.

UniqueBot

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10y ago

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