Aperture and f-stop for photography?
I have a nikon d5500, I still to this day don't really understand aperture and fstop. I know what they mean but I don't know how to set up a "perfect" picture by using it manually. Can someone please explain to me lol
Aperture and f stop are the same thing. F stop is the 'units of measurement' if you will of aperture.
The aperture is the adjustable hole in the lens. The wider this is set, the more light is let in. What's often confusing for beginners is that the 'units' seem backwards - the larger the f stop number, the smaller the aperture, and thus less light is let through. So an aperture of f16 would let in much less light than an aperture of f4, say.
So it is one of the factors that controls exposure ( the other two are shutter speed and ISO).
It also partly controls depth of field (how much of your image is in focus, apart from the actual point of focus), along with focal length and camera to subject distance.
A narrow aperture (f16) gives a deep depth of field - everything from the foreground to the background is in focus.
A wide aperture (f2.8) gives a shallow depth of field - the subject is in focus, but the foreground and background are blurred.
To set up a shot in manual mode, I would;
- keep the ISO to the camera's base level (100-200) - this gives best image quality. Only raise this, if your combination of aperture/shutter speed does not allow you to get the shot you want
- if depth of field is your primary goal (ie you're shooting portraits (you want a shallow dof) or landscapes (you want a deep dof), then set your aperture FIRST for the dof you want Then set the shutter speed to give you the exposure you want (look at the camera's lightmeter, which will be visible in manual mode)
- if stopping or blurring motion is your primary goal, then set the shutter speed FIRST. Then set the aperture to give you the exposure you want.
Remember than lenses are limited to the aperture they can be set to. Eg, the 18-55mm kit lens has a variable maximum aperture of f3,5-5.6. This means that the widest aperture you can get with this lens is f3.5 at 18mm and f5.6 at 55mm. Higher cost & prime lenses may have a constant max aperture, eg the 70-200mm f2.8 lens is capable of f2.8 right throughout the zoom range.
Photography is kind of like baking bread, three factors, time and temperature and ISO (film/sensor speed). The shutter is time of course, and the f-stop setting in the lens is the temperature. And the ISO represents how sensititive the film or sensor is to light. You balance the two settings to find the right amount for the given amount of available light and the effect you want in the final image. Slow shutter speeds will give motion blur and high speeds freeze action with a sharper look. With the f- stop setting, a small iris with give more depth of field, wide f-stops will give shallow depth of fielf, good for people photos to soften the background. Have fun.
Your Nikon D5500 sports marvelous automation. We're taking about a menu that covers multiple picture taking opportunities. This software sets f/stop (aperture), shutter speed, and ISO bases on established logic. You will be hard-pressed to best these settings. That being said, no one will question that manually settings by a knowledgeable photographer is a powerful combination. To master you must study and practice and practice some more.
Simple cameras of the past were pre-set as to shutter and aperture. The photographer just aimed and pressed the go button. Memories were thus simply captured but the picture taking opportunity was limited to 10AM thru 4PM outdoors in bright sun. To expand the picture taking opportunity, it is necessary to provide adjustability to aperture and shutter speed. If the aperture is enlarged to allow photography under dimmer light, we must now provide the ability of adjust focus. The key here is, shutter speed, aperture, focus, and the sensitivity of light setting (ISO) are all intertwined. Teaching you about how all these things intermesh is beyond a paragraph or two. You must hit the books and ask specific question on your road to learning these basics.
I have attached an old but valid chart that once was suppled in a film box. The chart remains valid for a 100 ISO setting on you camera. You should use this chart to start your learning and practice. From this foundation you can begin to learn and then ask questions. Best of luck. 