Photography Unit: Aperture Notes

What is Aperture?

• Aperture: An adjustable opening in the lens controlling light reaching the sensor when the shutter is open.
• Function: Controls the amount of light falling on the sensor.

Series of 'f' Stops

• f1: 50mm lens = 50mm aperture opening; very large, rare, and expensive.
• f1.4
• f2
• f2.8
• f4
• f5.6
• f8
• f11
• f16
• f22: 50mm lens = 2.27mm aperture opening; very small and slow.

Key Points on 'f' Stops

• Smaller numbers = bigger apertures = more light
• Larger 'f' stops = smaller apertures = less light

Common Issues with Kit Lenses

• Kit lenses tend to be slow.
• Work well in good light but may require tripods indoors for sharp images.
• Flash might be required indoors.

Aperture's Relationship with Exposure

• Linked with shutter speed and ISO to control overall exposure.

Depth of Field (DoF)

• Definition: The range in an image, from foreground to background, that appears sharp.
• Shallow DoF: Isolates subjects from backgrounds.
• Deep DoF: Provides extensive clarity to vistas.

Important DoF Considerations

• Larger apertures (smaller 'f' numbers) create shallow depth of field.
• Smaller apertures (larger 'f' numbers) create deep depth of field.