•
The focal length of the lens determines

the angle of view

1
 28mm

43mm 43mm

Telephoto or
Long Lenses
Bring things closer
28mm

43mm

135mm

A fast long lens. Note the large diameter

front element designed for gathering lots of
light.

2
 Wide angle or wide lenses

Enable you to get more into the picture

50mm lens 17mm lens

Features of wide angle lenses Wide angle

•
Gives a wide angle of view

•
A tendency to distort near the edges
•
Increases the apparent relative distance
between objects
•
More
•
susceptible to flair
•
Small and light compared to long
lenses
•
Increased depth of field

3
 Wide angle

Lenses are described as fast or slow

A fast lens is one that allows lots of

light to pass through it. It will be
physically wider in diameter than a
slow lens. Probably bigger, heavier and
certainly more expensive than the slow
lens.

Distortion

However

It may not be as sharp when

used wide open

As the boundaries of
performance are pushed so the
price increases (usually
exponentially)!

The aperture

4
 Aperture
Termed f number
or

Stops

Each stop is
or twice as much light

and is derived from a mathematical formula
describing the amount of light passing
through the lens for a given period of time
The variable diameter diaphragm used to
control the amount of light passing through
the lens and on to the CCD or sensor

How the aperture works

f stop values are represented in the following way
Typical standard values

f 2 f 2.8 f 4 f 5.6 f 8 f 11 f 16 f 22 f32

Each one of these values is half

or twice the amount of light
f 2 being the maximum and f 32
the minimum in this sequence Aperture

The shutter may be configured as a variable width blind

Shutter Speed

Controls the length of time that

the sensor is exposed to light
Travelling across the sensor face at a set speed. The
width of the blind governing the relative amount of
time the sensor is exposed to light. The wider the
blind width the greater the amount of light reaching
the sensor. These are called focal plane shutters.

5
 1/125th. sec

Conversely the blind may be of set width

but the speed with which it travels
across the sensor variable.

1/30th. sec

1/30th. sec

or

1/125th. sec

A simple shutter may consist of a

sprung plate which passes across the More sophisticated
lens shutters have
variable speed
diaphragms which
open and close.
These are called
leaf shutters

A more complex shutter might allow

the speed of the passing plate to be
varied.

Copal Press camera shutter

The relationship between

shutter & aperture

•
Both control the amount of light reaching the sensor

6
 The relationship between
shutter & aperture
•
Both control the amount of light reaching the sensor
•
The aperture effects the depth of field
The relationship between
shutter & aperture
•
Both control the amount of light reaching the sensor
•
The shutter affects movement
•
It can stop movement to keep objects sharp
The relationship between
shutter & aperture
•
Both control the amount of light reaching the sensor
•
The aperture effects the depth of field
•
That is the zone of focus
How much is in focus in front and behind the
object
The relationship between
shutter & aperture
•
Both control the amount of light reaching the sensor
•
The shutter affects movement
The relationship between
shutter & aperture
•
Both control the amount of light reaching the sensor
•
The shutter affects movement
•
It can stop movement to keep objects sharp
•
Or allow movement for effect
7
 Aperture to shutter speed

f4 f 5.6 f8 f 11 f 16

1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 1/15

The exposure is expressed as a

combination of the two.
i.e.f8 at 1/60