3. Aperture/Depth of field/f-stops
- Adjustable ring inside the lens that controls the amount of light that can hit
the sensor.
- Larger the aperture – more light can flow in and vice versa.
- Aperture setting is expressed as f-stops.
- A low f-stop means a large opening and large f-stop means small opening.
- Depth of field depends on aperture
- With small aperture (i.e. large f-stops), image will have deep depth of field i.e.
entire image will look crisp.
- With large aperture (i.e. small f-stops), image will have shallow depth of field
i.e. background will be blurred.
F-Stop Appropriate for
f/22 to f/14 (small aperture, deep depth
of field)
Landscape, bright sunlight
f/11 to f/5.6 Portraits, indoors
f/4 and lower (large aperture, shallow
depth of field)
Close-ups, dim-lighting
4. Shutter-speed
- Controls how long sensor is exposed.
- Faster the shutter speed, sensor is exposed for less time and vice versa.
- Aperture and shutter speed work together to determine how much light gets
to sensor.
- Sporting event pictures require fast shutter speed – a big aperture allows fast
shutter speed
- Typical setting:
Shutter Speed - Second Condition
1/500 Bright daylight
1/200 Overcast or shaded light
1/50 Indoor
5. ISO (International Standards Organization)
- Adjusts the sensitivity of sensor to light
- Higher the ISO value greater the light sensitivity
- In low light condition, set high ISO value and vice versa
- Grains in image with high ISO setting – so optimize for lowest possible ISO
value of ISO for an image you want
- Slow the shutter speed in case of low light rather than just increasing the ISO
value
ISO Setting Condition
60 and up Low light situation, requires fast shutter
speed
400 to 600 Indoors and dim light
200 to 400 Shade or with flash
100 to 200 Bright sunlight, requires fast shutter
speed
6. Focal Length
- The area a lens captures depends on focal length and it is measure of
distance between lens and sensor measured in mm.
- A standard lens has focal length of 35mm that provides a view similar to
unaided eye.
- Longer focal length lens is called zoom lens and shorter wide-angle.
7. Landscape/Skyline/Sunset photography typical setting
Parameter Landscape / Skyline Sunset
Lens/Focal length Wide Angle (less than 35mm) Wide Angle (less than 35mm)
Aperture f/8 or higher (big f-stop i.e. small aperture) f/5.6 or higher
Shutter Speed 1/200 sec or faster 1/30 sec or slower
Others Flash off, deep depth of field required (i.e.
large f-stop), Low ISO
Flash off
8. Moving Water/Flower photography typical setting
Parameter Moving Water Flower/Bug
Lens/Focal length Wide Angle (less than 35mm) Wide Angle (less than 35mm)
Aperture f/8 or higher (big f-stop i.e. small aperture) f/4 or less
Shutter Speed 1/5 sec or slower (for hazy water), 1/500 sec
or faster (for freezing water action and detail)
1/200 or faster
Others Flash off, deep depth of field required (i.e.
large f-stop), Low ISO
Avoid shadow, low ISO
9. Sports-action/Indoor action photography typical setting
Parameter Sports-action Indoor action
Lens/Focal length Telephoto – 150mm or longer Telephoto – 150mm or longer
Aperture f/4 or larger f-stops f/5.6 or less
Shutter Speed 1/500 sec or faster 1/200 or faster
Others Flash off, Low ISO Set white balance to fluorescent or
incandescent. Higher ISO
10. Other facts to keep in mind
• Underexposed image will create histogram skewed to left.
• Histogram of too bright photo will be skewed towards right.
• Evenly exposed image will have broad spread of histogram.
