Have you ever stopped to think that a camera is nothing more than a replica of the human eye?Understanding this is pretty simple when you think about how these two systems work, which is basically the same thing. While in the eye, the retina is able to “translate” light into images, in cameras, the sensor does so.
This sensor is very sensitive and should always be protected from dirt and very bright light. It’s like a movie, on old analog machines, that couldn’t be exposed to light. Which protects this camera inside the camera (and previously protected the film). it’s the shutter It works like a curtain that covers the sensor and opens quickly when you take a photo.
- Depending on each camera model.
- It can be found in different positions.
- But its function is always the same: to open up to the light.
- It can also have various formats.
- The most common are circular shutters.
- Which open in the same way as the diaphragm (found in older cameras).
- And more modern shutters.
- With overlapping plates that open vertically.
- Like a blind.
Shooting speed
Shutter speed is the time that the shutter is opened before returning to the starting position. As we will see below, this shutter speed is directly related to the idea of “movement” and the amount of light that the sensor will be able to capture. control the most cameras, especially those with more advanced operation.
The firing speed, or “shutter”, is measured in seconds, or fractions of seconds, expressed this way: 5?For a speed greater than one second, which in this case is 5 seconds, because the number represents the time; and 1/200 for speeds less than one second, in this case the speed is one second divided by 200. The faster, the less light is captured, but the chances of the image being blurred are much lower.
How to measure and choose the correct shutter speed
Despite the idea that 1/200, for example, is a very high speed and that the amount of light that could enter in this case would be very low, this is not true. For example, on a sunny, outdoor day, the ideal speed can range from 1/1500 to 1/3000 or more. In cloudy weather, the speed used should be lower, approximately 1/400.
But how do you know how fast it’s right?This value can vary and is directly associated with shutter opening and ISO (the greater the aperture or ISO, the shorter the exposure time), but there are several ways to find the ideal configuration for each situation.
Photometer
Most cameras that have manual exposure settings have a ‘scale’, which can be viewed in the viewfinder and works through the machine’s internal equipment, the photometer, who perceives ambient light conditions and indicates whether the settings you have made will also take the photo. light or too dark, or if they are correct.
When the pointer is further to the negative side, it means that there is low light and that the photo may become dark, on the contrary, the pointer marking a very high positive value, indicates that there is a lot of light, and the photo can “explode”. Ideally, adjust the speed so that the pointer is in the middle or in the middle region.
Be careful not to tremble!
If the environment is too dark, it will be necessary to reduce the firing speed, thus increasing the exposure time; However, if you don’t have a camera mount, the image may be blurry.
This happens because we unintentionally make small movements while holding the camera, and for speeds of less than 1/30, these movements are noticed in the photos. In such cases, use a tripod or set a higher ISO value to reduce exposure time. be careful not to over-damage the image quality by adjusting the ISO.
Speed priority mode and feeling of movement
As explained in the article on shooting modes, there is a help for those who want to start learning photography and do not know how to adjust speed and aperture at the same time. These are the priority modes, in which a configuration and machine are adjusted. adjusts the other. Use speed priority mode (“S” or “Tv”) when you want to highlight a moving object. This can be done by adjusting a higher speed, making the object appear sharp and still, or by adjusting a small speed so that the image is blurred in some parts, giving an idea of movement.
This happens because when you place a lower shooting speed than the speed at which the object moves, the camera records all moments of the object until the shutter closes Does this give the impression of one?Trail? On the left, allowing you to perceive the movement.
diaphragm
Many people confuse the shutter with the diaphragm, but these are different parts of the camera and also have different functions. While the shutter is responsible for protecting the sensor and opening only briefly to allow light to pass through, the diaphragm controls the amount of light. that goes all the way to the shutter, leaving the step more or less wide, depending on its opening.
This small part of the camera is considered the iris of the cameras and is located inside the lens and has, among other things, one of the most fundamental functions of photography: controlling depth of field.
Opening the diaphragm
The diaphragm can be opened and closed, letting more or less light pass through the shutter and sensor. The higher the aperture, the more light is captured and the firing speed can be faster, reducing the exposure time required.
The aperture of the diaphragm is measured in f numbers, which are written as follows: f / 2. 1, f / 5. 6, f / 22, etc. ?The larger the aperture, the smaller the number. It is important to understand this concept, because in this way, when we talk about a large aperture of the diaphragm, it is possible to know that the number f in question is quite small, it is common to refer to the opening of the diaphragm only as “opening”.
For example, the diaphragm set af/22 is almost closed, while f/1. 2 represents that it is almost completely open. It may be easy to confuse this relationship at first, but don’t worry, over time, you’ll get used to reading these numbers and knowing exactly how open the iris is?Your camera.
Not all cameras can adjust the aperture at all values, as this depends on the type of lens being used. When purchasing a new camera or lens, try to find information about the aperture values, maximum, and minimum. This classifies the lenses, as “light” and “dark”, being that, generally, the lighter the lens, the greater its value.
Opening x depth of field
The aperture of the diaphragm directly interferes with the depth of field, and the more open the lens, the lower the depth and vice versa. But what is depth of field really?
When you see a photo, it can be completely focused, or with some parts focused and some parts not. This is a depth-of-field visual effect, the larger it is, the sharper the areas of the image, and the smaller it is, the lower the AF point.
Does this happen when there are several? In the image and the digital camera you must adjust the focus. If the diaphragm is too wide, the depth of field will decrease and only the closest thing to the camera will be revealed. If the aperture is small, the depth of field will be smaller. will be larger and the whole theme will be developed, regardless of the layers.
Exploring this effect enriches the photo, leaving it with a greater sense of dimensions and distances. When the whole image is sharp, the impression you can give is that it is “flat”, that is, that all the elements that make up the photo are aligned with the same plane.
Programmed modes? Landscape? And
Opening priority mode
As with speed priority mode (but vice versa), when you choose to prioritize aperture, the camera adjusts the exposure time. This mode is very useful to start learning the concepts of photography, such as the relationship between speed and aperture. The machine can be? To? Or “Av. “
Use this feature when you want to control depth of field, to get fully focused photos, or with smaller AF points. Try to see, when shooting, the values that the camera sets for the speed based on the values you set for opening. You’ll see that there’s always an inversely proportional relationship: the greater the aperture, the lower the speed, and vice versa.
Of course, the values also depend on the luminosity of the environments, and vary accordingly, but in the same place with the same lighting conditions, the rule will always be valid: the higher one value, the lower the other.