Expert: David Silver - 8/26/2004

Question
Often tiemes when i visit photography sites i run into expressions i do not know what they mean.
Usually the glossary of the site covers a variety of those, but i am a begginer and sometimes i do not know the basics.
For example i visited Hassleblad 's site and run into the ^x^ camera, 645 camera, V system, Y system, H system..all are foreign language to me.
Then noone seems to be able to answer what EOS from Canon and ELPH cameras stand for...sure there are some explanations, but...
Question is what all these ters i just mentioned mean and stand for? Is there a COMPREHENSIVE glossary on the net about photography, so i do not have to bother people with silly questions?
I know i might have mixt them up really bad, but can u HELP?
Francesco M
Republic of Moldova
All the bast and...Thanks!


Answer
Hello Francesco,

I understand your problem, but there is no general reference or comprehensive glossary for many of the terms you do not know.  The reason is that many of these terms only apply to specific manufacturers, not to photography in general.  A "645 camera" is one that makes pictures 6 x 4.5 cm on #120 roll film, and it is a common description used by many companies, but "V system" and "H system" are terms only used by Hasselblad.  The V system refers to Hasselblad's classic 500 series of cameras (their model 500C, 500CM, 503CW, and more), while the H system is their very new line of autofocus "645" cameras.  Then you think that Canon's EOS and ELPH must stand for something, and you are half correct.  EOS stands for Electronic Optical System, but ELPH means nothing except to give an impression that the camera is very small (like a mythical elf).  An excellent book for learning the general terms would be "The Amateur Photographer's Handbook" by Crowell, and there are many others, but they will not give you the terms that individual makers use for their own cameras and systems.  For that you will need catalogs or advertising literature from those makers, or more experience through the internet.  However, I am sorry there is no comprehensive glossary that will tell you all!

Best wishes,

David Silver