Camera Film D Explained
|
|
Kingston Digital 16 GB Class 10 Flash Memory Card SD10G2/16GB $16.98 The Kingston SD10G2/16GB Ultimate X SDHC Flash Card allows users to easily capture sequential shots that used to be a challenge due to the speed limitations of memory cards…. |
Nikon Camera Tutorials: Active D-Lighting
Digital Exposure Guide – Camera Settings Explained
Do you ever wonder how to use all the exposure controls on a camera? It may look complex, but there are only 3 camera settings to control exposure (excluding flash):
1) Shutter Speed
2) Aperture
3) ISO Speed
Shutter Speed
The shutter on a camera controls how much time light is allowed into the camera. Depending on the camera, the range of shutter speeds can vary from many seconds to 1/8000 of a second (or even higher). If you double the amount of time the shutter is open, twice as much light will enter the camera to expose the image.
There are some things to keep in mind when selecting a shutter speed. At low speeds, you will have to hold the camera steady so that the image is not blurred by the camera moving. For a “normal” lens that produces an image roughly equal to what the eye sees, you will need a shutter speed of approximately 1/30s to 1/60s to ensure a sharp image. Telephoto lenses require even higher speeds to combat the effects of camera motion. For very slow shutter speeds, you may need to use a tripod or flash to ensure a sharp image.
Aperture
The aperture on the camera controls how wide the iris on the lens opens up when the exposure is taken. If you have a wider aperture, more light can pass through it. Just like the shutter speeds on a camera, lenses have a range of apertures that can be used. The aperture is typically referred to in terms of an f-stop number. For example, f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, and f/22 are common f-stops on a lens. The smallest f-stop number is the widest aperture. Each incremental f-stop from smallest number to largest represents a halving of the aperture size. So f/2.8 is half the size of f/2.0 and f/2.8 is half the size of f/4.0.
An important thing to understand about the aperture is that it controls the depth of field. Large apertures result in a shallow depth of field, which means that only a small portion of the frame is in focus. Small apertures result in a large depth of field, which means that much more of the frame is in focus. This is a key concept to understand when determining what aperture to use.
ISO
The ISO setting is analogous to the film speed in older film cameras. Setting the ISO to 100 on a digital camera means the sensor will have the same sensitivity as 100 speed film. ISO 200 is twice as sensitive to light as ISO 100. Every doubling of the ISO speed doubles the light sensitivity. Be aware though that higher ISO speeds will result in more noise in the photograph.
Putting it all together
With all the adjustments possible in shutter speed, aperture, and ISO speed, how do we choose which combination to use? Well, it is a balancing act. If you use a small aperture to get a large depth of field, you will have to sacrifice by lowering the shutter speed and/or raising the ISO setting. If you want a high shutter speed to freeze action, you will have to use a larger aperture (less depth of field) and/or higher ISO setting. Or if you’re shooting in low light, you may need to use a high ISO setting and wide aperture in order to achieve a shutter speed high enough to hand hold.
About the Author
Unleash your creative potential. Learn more about using your digital camera to take stunning pictures – Visit: How to Use a DSLR Camera and Using a DSLR for Beginners.