ImageForth

I’m going to try and do my best to answer common questions that I am asked related to photography.  In three separate posts I’ll try and explain:

• Aperture/F-Stop
• Shutter speed
• ISO/ASA 

Here’s my explanation of aperture:

Aperture or F-Stop is to the camera as your iris is to your eye.  The lens controls the amount of light it allows into the camera by opening and closing the fan type blades much like your iris opens and closes due to the amount of light present.

Aperture is represented by numbers on your lens.  Here are common F-Stops:

1.0   1.2   1.8   2.0   2.8   4.0   5.6   8   11   16   22   32   48   64

Here are some facts related to F-Stops:

• The lower the F-Stop the more light is allowed in through the lens.  The higher the number the less light is allowed in through the lens. 

• Lower F-Stops have shorter depth of field.  Higher F-Stops have greater depth of field. 

• Most generally, when you are purchasing a lens, the lower the F-Stop the lens has the more it costs. 

• Most zoom lenses have variable F-Stops.  As the lens extends the F-Stop increases.  You can pay more for “constant” F-Stop zooms.

So…why do I need to know this information?  Here are a couple of reasons:

• If you are ever going to use your DSLR camera to it’s fullest, you will need to take it off the “Auto” setting and adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. 

• Controlling the aperture also controls the depth of field.  This can be very helpful if you are trying to take a portrait or landscape photo.  For most portraits you’ll want a low F-Stop.  For most landscape photos you’ll want to use a higher F-Stop. 

• Many times your camera will not capture the shot you are seeing.  To get that perfect photo, you’ll have to control the settings.  Knowing how to adjust the F-Stop, shutter speed, and ISO are the ways to get that perfect photo.

I hope this helps.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment on this post.  I’ll try my best to help you get off the “Auto” setting!

June 19th, 2007 | Category: Photography | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL