F stop photography definition how to#

First, let's make sure you understand aperture size. There's another important function of the adjustable aperture, and we'll cover that in a moment. Aperture size and shutter speed are two of the three factors in the “Exposure Triangle”, a formula that can be used to the exposure of an image. The size of the aperture, combined with the length of time the shutter is open, determines the effective amount of light that's allowed to strike the image recording medium. Most lens diaphragms consist of several overlapping “leaves” that rotate to adjust the size of the opening.Ĭoincidentally, the diaphragm also performs the same function as the iris of the human eye – it limits the amount of light that's allowed to pass to the film or sensor in the camera while the shutter is open. That's what you're controlling when you make an aperture adjustment. It's created by a mechanism called a diaphragm that controls the size of the opening, much like the iris of your eye. In modern SLR, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, the aperture is located between the elements of the lens. If you look it up in the Oxford English Dictionary, you'll find the first definition is “An opening, hole, or gap.” We can even learn from that same page that, to a photographer, it means “ A space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera.” Where is it? Like most photographic terminology, the basic definition of this word is simple.

F stop photography definition how to#

When you're done reading this post, you should know exactly what it means, why it's important and how to use it effectively. One of those words is “aperture” and we're about to explore it thoroughly. Some of them can be difficult to grasp, especially when they're associated with other, more technical terms like “f-stop”. A beginning photographer has a lot of new terms to work into his or her vocabulary.