| > | | | | represent ratios meaning that the larger the f |
| Camera aperture and shutter speed are | | | | stop number, the narrower the aperture. So the |
| undoubtedly the 2 most misunderstood | | | | larger the f-stop number on your camera, the |
| photography topics. In this article, get a detailed | | | | larger the depth of field. |
| overview about these two topics so you can fully | | | | The reason the setting is called "priority" is that |
| understand how to use them to take great | | | | when you set the aperture, the camera adjusts |
| photographs. Pre-set modes like "Sports" and | | | | the shutter speed so that the exposure is just |
| "Night Portrait" make it easy for us to just point | | | | right. Another way to look at it is, the aperture |
| and shoot. If you're new to photography, two of | | | | setting will have priority while the shutter speed |
| the most important things to learn are aperture | | | | plays a secondary role. |
| and shutter speed settings as these will give you | | | | All About Shutter Speed |
| a lot of creative control. If you're wondering which | | | | While the aperture controls how much light at one |
| cameras have these settings, some digital | | | | time falls on the image sensor, the shutter speed |
| compacts have them while most of the bridge | | | | controls the length of time the camera allows in |
| (prosumer) cameras do and all SLRs have them. | | | | the light. |
| At first it may seem it a little confusing using | | | | You may have noticed how people in pictures |
| manual camera settings, but the improvement in | | | | taken in the 19th century rarely are smiling. |
| the quality of your pictures will be well worth it. | | | | Shutter speeds were so slow back then that |
| All About Camera Aperture | | | | people had to hold perfectly still for several |
| The aperture works much like an iris in a person's | | | | minutes — not to mention in all those stiff |
| eye. Just like your irises widen or narrow to let in | | | | clothes they wore for picture day. No wonder |
| more or less light through the pupils, the camera's | | | | they looked so stern! |
| lens diaphragm widens or narrows to let in more | | | | The shutter speeds most commonly used today |
| or less light through the lens. The aperture is the | | | | are 1/500th of a second to 1/60th of a second. |
| size of this opening. | | | | The Shutter Priority setting lets you choose |
| Aperture lets the photographer (or the camera's | | | | speeds (within the camera's range) specifically for |
| exposure computer if it's set to automatic) | | | | the effect you want. |
| increase or reduce the amount of light that gets | | | | For shutter speeds slower than 1/60 you will |
| through to the sensor, thus helping determine | | | | probably need a tripod or other camera support |
| how bright or dark the picture will be. | | | | because when the shutter is open that long the |
| The aperture also controls the depth of field of | | | | camera records the tiniest jiggle, causing the |
| the image. | | | | photo to be out of focus or outright blurry. |
| To better understand how this works, make a | | | | If you want to freeze action (like what Sports |
| fist with your hand and hold it in front of your | | | | mode does), set the camera's Shutter Priority to |
| eye. Then gradually open your fist. Notice when | | | | a fast speed. Only with this manual setting, you |
| the opening in your hand is small everything you | | | | can be more selective. For example, a soccer |
| see is in focus? But when your fist is open wide, | | | | game may require up to 1/500 to freeze the |
| the object closest to you is sharper than the | | | | action, while if photographing a pet sitting quietly, |
| background? | | | | a shutter speed of around 1/125 will freeze the |
| A small aperture is great for taking pictures like | | | | small actions, like a slight twitch of the tail. |
| landscapes where you want everything in focus. | | | | When using settings like Shutter Priority and |
| An Aperture Priority setting on your camera | | | | Aperture Priority you get more creative control |
| allows you to set the aperture within the | | | | which often means you can end up with much |
| camera's range of f-stop numbers (or called | | | | better pictures. |
| f-stop for short). These f stop numbers | | | | |