Camera Sleuth » aperture http://www.camerasleuth.com Digital Cameras & Camera Accessory Deals Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:04:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Aperture: why bigger isn’t better http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/06/12/aperture-why-bigger-isnt-better/ http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/06/12/aperture-why-bigger-isnt-better/#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:43:03 +0000 Jenn http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/06/12/aperture-why-bigger-isnt-better/ Aperture is a term that refers to how open your lens is. With aperture, the smaller the number, the larger the opening. The larger the opening, the more light that is let into the lens, subsequently the brighter/better exposed the photograph will be. I’m a beginner in terms of understanding aperture, shutter priority, program mode and full on manual mode, but I know the basics: smaller = more light; larger = less light. Generally you will notice that your shutter speed corresponds with your aperture setting. If you have your aperture set to f/ 2.8, for example, then your shutter will be pretty fast, since there’s plenty of exposure. But if you set your aperture to f/ 6 or even f/ 8, you’ll notice that the shutter speed decreases significantly.

I prefer to shoot in aperture mode, though I’m having some issues when I do so outdoors and without the aid of a flash. A lot of the photos are horribly exposed, overly grainy, or both. I don’t mind experimenting and learning as I go, but it does suck to ruin what could otherwise be some truly fantastic photos.

How much do you know about aperture?

]]> http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/06/12/aperture-why-bigger-isnt-better/feed/ 0 The basics of aperture http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/04/21/the-basics-of-aperture/ http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/04/21/the-basics-of-aperture/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:49:25 +0000 Jenn http://www.camerasleuth.com/2010/04/21/the-basics-of-aperture/ Aperture chart Aperture is a camera term that refers to the hole or opening through which light travels. This light provides the exposure for your photographs, so if you don’t want dark photos or blown out (also referred to as over-exposed) photos, you’ll want to make sure that you fine-tune your exposure settings. The easiest way to do this is to set the appropriate aperture setting for the lighting conditions you’re shooting in.

With aperture, less is more. This means that the smaller the f stop (this is usually imprinted on lenses; a low f stop is around 1.4, while a high one may be 8, 10, 12, or even more), the more light that will be let into the lens, which in turn means brighter photos. So if you’re planning on shooting with your flash off in a dimly lit area, you’ll want to set your f stop to the lowest number possible. On the other hand, if you’re shooting outdoors on a bright, sunny day, consider raising the f stop above 6, as anything less will result in very blown out photos.

The easiest way to get a better grasp on aperture is to experiment! Set up a stationery photo shoot somewhere in your house, and keep the light conditions consistent and the stationery subject of your photo in the same position when you take a photograph. Shoot at low f stops and then work your way up. You’ll notice that not only does the light in the photo decrease, but the focus of background objects will also increase.

Happy shooting!

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