| a camera in which the image appears on a ground-glass viewer (focusing screen) after being reflected by a mirror or after passing through a prism or semitransparent glass; in one type (single-lens reflex camera), light passes through the same lens to both the ground glass and the film, while in another type (twin-lens reflex camera), light passes through one lens (viewing lens) to the ground glass and through a second lens (taking lens) to the film, the lenses being mechanically coupled for focusing. |
| reflex camera n. A camera fitted with a mirror that reflects the image of an object or a scene onto a viewing screen so that focus, lighting, and composition may be evaluated. |