Camera Aperture – The Basics You Need To Know

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26 July 2010

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If you’re just starting out learning photography, then you’ve probably noticed that photographers have a language all their own. Camera aperture is just one of those common photography terms that gets used a lot without much explanation. No need to worry though, as this article will give you a great and clear guide to understanding aperture. Here is a breakdown on what aperture is, how it works, and why you want to use it:

What is Camera Aperture?

In simple terms, camera aperture is the opening in your lens that lets light come into contact with your film (or digital sensors). This opening can be adjusted by using your camera’s F-Stop, or if you have a digital camera by tinkering with some of the manual settings. Some digital cameras even have a fixed aperture mode that lets you pick the aperture and the camera automatically figures out the other settings.

Aperture is measured in “F” numbers and is usually represented on your camera in abbreviations such as F8, F/8 or some variation in between. As the value of the F goes up, the amount of light allowed into the camera goes down. For instance, an F value of 1/4 would be considered wide-open, while 1/22 would be pretty much as closed as possible.

What Does Aperture Do?

Camera aperture has a dramatic impact on the final prints of your photographs. A closed aperture will let in very little light into the camera, which will give you the chance to expose the film (or digital sensor) for a longer period of time. Adjusting the F value is a great way to use slow shutter speeds and long exposures without overexposing your film into oblivion.

Aperture also gives you the opportunity to react quickly to changes in lighting. If you’re shooting in a very bright environment, a high F value (very closed) will provide you with the ability to use slower shutter speeds. On the flip side, when photographing in low light environments, opening up the aperture with a very low F value will give you more flexibility in shooting the image and will often prevent the use of a flash.

When is a Good Time to Change the Aperture?

Although you can change the aperture any time, it’s not something that you have to change. Most SLRs do it automatically to great success, and sometimes it’s easier to not fret over all the tiny details. However, manually adjusting the aperture of a camera allows you to directly influence the depth of field of an image. An open aperture will show very little depth of field (subjects that are near the camera will be very clear while the rest is very blurry), while a closed aperture will make your photographs seem more detailed.

Knowing how to adjust your aperture and when to best use it is a powerful tool to have in your photographer’s toolbox. One way to see how it affects your picture is to take two images – one with a low F stop and one with a high F stop. Aperture is a great way to expand your creativity with the simple change of a setting.