The Acronym

I was interested in acronyms when I initially encountered them as a kid. RCAF, USAF, RAF...all meant something. Then NORAD, NATO, and on down the line. It became a little fraught when you got into USN things like COMATSUBFOR and worse - but if you worked at it you could decipher things. The real challenge was when the French decided to acronominate every darned industry they have and you had to sit there with the dictionary trying to work out whether you were reading about an electrical firm or a goose liver pate syndicate. It all had Gallic logic. We're in a similar position with cameras now, but only half-way there to a logical system. Time to call in the French and make up a complete list. If they'll bring the fromage, I can supply the vin ordinare. Some of the $ 5.95 cleanskins from my local are about as ordinaire as you could stand...Start with the easy ones. Single lens reflex camera ( film or plate ): SLR Twin lens reflex camera ( film or plate ): TLR Rangefinder camera ( film or plate ): RFDR Direct view camera ( film, plate, or digital ) DV Single lens reflex camera ( digital ): DSLR Rangefinder camera ( digital ): DRFDR Mirrorless camera ( digital ): ML Instant camera ( paper pack ) IC Instant camera ( paper pack plus digital ): ICD Fixed lens digital camera: DFL As there are so few twin-lens digital cameras ( why? ) they need not be classified yet. But there are other specialties that could get a mention: Aerial camera ( digital ): DAC Underwater camera ( digital ): DUWC The prospect for cheese, wine, and arguments expands when we get to the idea of lighting. Flash powder tray: FPT Flash bulb gun: FBG Electronic flash ( non-adjustable ): EF Electronic flash ( manually adjustable): EFA Electronic flash ( automatically adjustable through the lens ): EFTTL And then if you attempt to add on enough letters to tell about high speed synch, Bluetooth, and second-curtain synch, you start to get the sort of category name that looks like a Welsh railway station sign. We'll call it off before then, Boyo... Never laugh at language in the photographic world. The camera designers and manufacturers take it deadly serious and they can sometimes be very headstrong when it comes to naming some function or procedure in their camera system. You will find yourself conforming to their diktat more than once as you try to navigate the menu. You will do even more as the makers of a photo editing program describe what the icons and adjustments are - you are fortunate if your chosen program has pop-up windows that explain what the symbol is, but you nearly always have to suck it and see what the visual flavour is yourself.