What part of the camera collects light and determines the area that can be viewed?

The lens of a camera plays a crucial role in collecting light and determining the area that can be viewed. It is responsible for focusing incoming light onto the sensor, which then captures the image. The lens design, including its focal length and aperture size, affects how much light enters the camera and influences the field of view. A properly selected lens can enhance image clarity and ensure that the desired area is captured effectively.

In contrast, the sensor is responsible for converting the focused light into an electronic signal, but it does not determine the area viewed—it merely records what the lens presents. The shutter controls the duration of light exposure onto the sensor but does not impact the field of view. The viewfinder is a tool for composing images and may allow the user to see what the camera sees, but it does not collect light or define the viewable area in the same way that the lens does.