Aperture: The opening in a camera lens through which light passes to reach the image sensor; controls the amount of light entering the camera and also affects the depth of field in a photograph.
Autofocus: Autofocus is a camera feature that automatically adjusts the focus of the lens to ensure the subject is sharp and in focus.
Camera Body: The camera body is the main housing that contains the image sensor, processing circuitry, controls, and interface ports; houses the lens mount and is compatible with interchangeable lenses.
Composition: The arrangement of elements within a photograph, including the placement of the subject, framing, and perspective, to create visually appealing images.
Depth of Field: The range of distance in a photograph where objects appear sharp and in focus; influenced by aperture, focal length, and the distance between the camera and the subject.
DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex): A DSLR is a type of digital camera that uses a mirror mechanism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder. When the shutter button is pressed, the mirror flips up, allowing light to reach the image sensor.
Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the camera’s image sensor to create an image. Proper exposure is achieved by balancing aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings.
Filter: A filter is an optical accessory attached to the front of a camera lens to achieve various effects or correct certain characteristics of light. Common types of filters include UV filters, polarizing filters, and neutral density filters.
Focal Length: The distance between the camera’s lens and the image sensor when the subject is in focus; determines the angle of view and magnification of the image.
Flash: A flash is a device used to illuminate a scene when there is insufficient ambient light; provides additional light to help freeze motion, reduce shadows, and improve image quality in low-light conditions.
Image Sensor: The image sensor is the electronic component in a digital camera that captures light and converts it into digital signals. Common types of image sensors include CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor).
ISO: ISO measures the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor to light. A higher ISO setting increases sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low-light conditions, but may introduce more digital noise or grain to the image.
JPEG: JPEG is a compressed file format commonly used for digital photographs. JPEG files are smaller in size but may lose some image quality due to compression.
Lens: A lens is an optical component that focuses light onto the camera’s image sensor; determines the angle of view, focal length, and aperture of the image.
Lens Hood: A lens hood is a device attached to the front of a camera lens to block unwanted light from entering the lens; helps reduce lens flare and improves image contrast and color saturation.
Manual Mode: Manual mode allows photographers to manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings to achieve the desired exposure and creative effects.
Memory Card: A memory card is a storage device used to store digital images captured by the camera. Common types of memory cards include SD (Secure Digital), CF (CompactFlash), and XQD.
Mirrorless Camera: A mirrorless camera is a type of digital camera that does not use a mirror mechanism. Instead, light passes directly through the lens to the image sensor; typically smaller and lighter than DSLRs.
RAW: RAW is an uncompressed file format that contains all the image data captured by the camera’s sensor. RAW files offer more flexibility in post-processing but require additional storage space.
Shutter Speed: The length of time the camera’s shutter remains open to expose the image sensor to light; controls the amount of motion blur in the photo and affects the exposure of the image.
Tripod: A tripod is a three-legged support used to stabilize the camera and prevent camera shake during long exposures or when using slow shutter speeds; essential for achieving sharp images in low-light conditions.
Viewfinder: The viewfinder is an optical or electronic device used to compose and preview the image before capturing it; allows the photographer to see what the camera sees.
White Balance: White balance adjusts the color temperature of the image to ensure accurate color representation under different lighting conditions.