Glossary of Photography Terms

Compact Flash Cards

Compact Flash cards are used to store data in older digital cameras, game consoles and other portable devices. They are available in two types with different thicknesses.

Crop factor is a coefficient, which converts the focal length of the lens to obtain the actual viewing angle. It is the ratio of the diagonal of the reference format to the diagonal of the sensor in the camera.

Face Detection

Digital cameras with face detection technology can detect a human face in the frame and automatically focus on it. The focus is based on the detection contrast whereby the lens tries to focus by moving forwards and backwards, while the sensor monitors the photographed image.

Digital Zoom

In addition to optical zoom, some cameras offer digital zoom. Unlike optical zoom, digital zoom is not based on changes in the focal length and the subsequent aperture of the lens; instead it uses an interpolation method to enlarge the area at the centre of the picture, resulting in artificial expansion of the image and a loss of image quality.

TTL Metering

TTL metering provides the values needed to properly set up your camera or flash by measuring the light in the framed scene. There's no need to worry about using manual mode, as the camera processes and converts all the necessary data.

EF and EF-S Lenses

EF lenses (Electro Focus) automatically focus electronically using a motor that is built into the lens body. They focus very fast and quietly. EF-S lenses (Electro Focus Short Back Focus) is designed for digital SLR cameras with smaller APS-C sensors, and sit closer to the sensor than EF lenses.

Full HD Video

Full HD (High Definition) expresses the highest quality video format, which is designed for playback on big screens.

Depth of Field

Depth of field is the difference between the distance of the nearest and farthest object appearing in the final image, which appears sharp to the human eye.

Digital SLR

A DSLR, or digital SLR, is a digital camera that combines a digital image sensor with the optics and mechanisms of a traditional SLR camera.

HSM Focus

HSM (HyperSonic Motor) is a lens sharpening system characterized by Sigma. This drive uses an ultrasonic micromotor to autofocus on subjects. Read more »

White Balance

White balance is a feature that changes the colour balance in your pictures, making it cooler or warmer depending on the light in which you are shooting. You can choose from many modes depending on the light conditions, including Cloudy, Shade, Fluorescent, or Automatic.

ISO Sensitivity

ISO specification indicates the camera sensor's sensitivity to light. Higher sensitivity is primarily used in low light conditions to avoid unwanted noise and blur.

Guide Number

The guide number represents an exposure constant for a flash unit. Generally, the guide number indicates how powerful the flash is, and hence the size on an area it can illuminate. The higher the guide number, the more powerful the flash.

Scene Modes

Scene modes adjust the camera settings according to the specific requirements of certain conditions. For example, Night Scene Portrait mode sets the flash device, adjusts the exposure, and so on.

Live View

The Live View function enables you to view the image area on the LCD display instead of the viewfinder. The displays are located on the back of the digital SLR body. Some cameras feature a vari-angle LCD display for comfortable shooting.

Macro Mode

Macro mode allows you to shoot subjects at the minimum focusing distance. The result are images that display subjects magnified between a scale of 1:1 to 30:1. Macro mode is especially good for photographing insects and flowers.

Memory Stick Duo Cards

Memory Stick Duo cards are used to store data in camcorders, digital cameras, game consoles, PSPs and other devices. A smaller variant, the Memory Stick Micro, is also available.

Micro SDHC Cards

Micro SDHC cards are used in mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras and other devices. They are modern storage mediums with tiny dimensions. Micro SDHC cards often come with an SD adapter, which can be inserted into older devices that use SD memory cards.

Shooting Video

Digital cameras usually offer a complementary function for shooting video. For the average user who wants to record short videos, the quality of this function is sufficient for more demanding or those who make frequent, it is better to use a camcorder.

Lenses

The lens is an essential part of any digital camera. While shooting subjects, lenses focus light onto a sensor and allow the adjustment of focal length to zoom in or out of the subject.

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