Glossary of Photographic Terms
Approximately 40 pages3D Color Matrix Meter
Basically, a Nikon pioneered technology first started featured on its flagship model, the F5, will expect more models to include this to fully utilize this. 3D Color Matrix Meter * evaluates not only each scene's brightness and contrast but, using a special Red Green Blue (RGB) sensor, it also evaluates the scene's colors. Then its powerful micro-computer and database together guide it to unequaled exposure control.ABC
First featured in Contax (am I wrong?). Also sometimes refer as AEB (Auto Exposure Control). Auto Bracketing control: Metering feature that automatically produces three or four different exposures with one press of the shuttle release. Usually one with the recommended exposure by the camera reading, others at user specified intervals above or below the recommended setting.ABC
Auto Backlighting Control, metering feature that automatically recognises a subject in back lighting condition and increase the exposure to compensate.Aberration
Failing in the ability of a lens to produce a true image. There are many forms of aberration and the lens designer can often correct some only by allowing others to remain. Generally, the more expensive the lens, the less its aberrations (More attention to optical quality). While no single lens is called a 'perfect lens'.Adjustable Camera
Commonly called the manual camera. A camera with manually adjustable settings for distance, lens openings, and shutter speeds. eg Nikon FM series, Carl Zeiss S2, Pentax K1000, Yashica FX-3 super etc.Adjustable-Focus Lens
A lens that has adjustable distance settings.Advanced Photo System
A new standard in consumer photography developed by Kodak and four other System Developing Companies - Canon, Fuji, Minolta and Nikon - based on a new film format and innovative film, camera and photofinishing technologies. Generally, APS cameras are more compact in size, weight and enbodied most of the latest and most advance technologies available. There are options in various sizes of print out and it will even provide a thumbnail prints (Contact sheet) for you to select or preview prior to actual printing. There have a different series of lenses and some of the 35mm format AF lenses can even be shared (With limitation or effective focal length will increased). You can say, it is a different system camera all together. So much for the brighter side, but there are drawbacks as well and it is not that economical as I originally thought it supposed to be.AE (Automatic Exposure)
AE-L (Automatic Exposure Lock)
Auto exposure Lock. Metering feature that used to hold the exposure setting when used in the automatic mode. Used most commonly in situation where off centering of the subject in composition and wish to retain the exposure setting of the subject OR where the level of exposure reading both the subject of interest and the background exposure reading is different eg. back lighting. Used to hold an automatically controlled shutter speed and/or aperture. Recommended when the photographer wants to control an exposure based on a scene's particular brightness area with Center Weighted or Spot Metering.Agitation
Keeping the developer, stop bath, or fixer in a gentle, uniform motion while processing film or paper. Agitation helps to speed and achieve even development and prevent spotting or staining.All-Mode Exposure Bracketing
All-Mode Exposure Bracketing performs automatic exposure bracketing with varied shutter speeds and/or apertures in all exposure modes.Ambient Light
The available natural light completely surrounding a subject. Light already existing in an indoor or outdoor setting that is not caused by any illumination supplied by the photographer i.e. not by artificial light source.Angle Of View
The area of a scene that a lens covers or sees. Angle of view is determined by the focal length of the lens. A wide-angle lens (short-focal-length) includes more of the scene-a wider angle of view-than a normal (normal-focal-length) or telephoto (long-focal-length) lens. Currently, the widest view available is 220 degree (achieved by Nikon's Nikkor 6mm F2.8 fisheye lens - 220 degree; while the narrowest is Nikon, 2000mm F11 Reflex Nikkor, only slightly over 1 degree of view. It can also be explained as the extent of the view taken in by a lens. For any particular film size, it varies with the focal length of the lens. Usually expressed on the diagonal of the image area.A-PEN
Annealed polyethylene naphthalate-a polyester material used as the base on Advanced Photo System film; thinner, stronger and flatter than the acetate base traditionally used in consumer photographic roll films.APO
Apochromatic. Having the ability to bring all colours of the visible spectrum to a common plane of focus, within close tolerances, usually refer to a lens with such superior colour correction. Also refer to "ED", "LD", "SD", "UD".Aperture
Lens opening. The hole or opening formed by the metal leaf diaphragm inside the lens or the opening in a camera lens through which light passes to expose the film. The size of aperture is either fixed or adjustable. Aperture size is usually calibrated in f- numbers-the larger the number, the smaller the lens opening. Aperture affects depth of field, the smaller the aperture, the greater is the zone of sharpness, the bigger the aperture, the zone of sharpness is reduced. The hole or opening formed by the metal leaf diaphragm inside the lens; controls amount of light and depth of field, prevents vignetting and reduces lens aberrations; the size of the aperture is indicated by its f-number, i.e., the ratio of the diameter of the opening to the focal length of the lens; a large aperture is indicated by a small numerical f-number.Aperture Priority
An exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that lets you set the aperture while the camera sets the shutter speed for proper exposure. If you change the aperture, or the light level changes, the shutter speed changes automatically. Apart from the sport or action arena, aperture priority is the most common & effective automatic preference in photography. It can also explained as automatic exposure system in which the lens aperture is set by the photographer, and the camera sets the shutter speed. Can be used in the stop-down mode with any lens that does not interfere with the metering system.Aperture ring
A ring, located on the outside of the lens usually behind the focusing ring, which is linked mechanically to the diaphragm to control the size of the aperture; it is engraved with a set of numbers called f-numbers or f- stops.Artificial light
Light from a man-made source, usually restricted to studio photo lamp and domestic lighting. When used to describe film (also known as Type A or Type B) invariably means these types of lighting.Aspherical lens
A lens whose curved surface does not conform to the shape of a sphere; lenses are usually ground or molded with spherical surfaces; because a spherical surface lens has difficulty in correcting distortion in ultra-wideangle lenses or coma in large-aperture lenses brought about by spherical aberration, an aspherical lens is used.ASA
American Standards Association. Group that determining numerical ratings of speed for US made photosensitive products. eg films. In 1982, its role and its influence was narrow down by the establishment of the ISO (International Standards Organisation).Aspect Ratio
The ratio of width to height in photographic prints - 2:3 in 35 mm pictures to produce photographs most commonly measuring 3.5 x 5 inches or 4 x 6 inches; Advanced Photo System cameras deliver three aspect ratios as selected by the user.ATA
ATA- This means the camera supports the electrical interface standard, defined by the PC Card Association (formerly PCMCIA), known as ATA (AT Attachment). This is the mobile computing equivalent of the IDE standard for desktop computers. Most computers have ATA support built-in. ATA is supported by most operating systems like Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows '95, Windows CE, IBM OS/2, Apple System 7, etc. ATA is supported by most computer manufacturers including IBM, Compaq, Packard Bell, Dell, Gateway 2000, etc.Auto-exposure
The camera has a built-in light meter and computer that measures available light and sets exposure for you. A feature on moderately-priced to expensive cameras. Most serious amateurs and professionals want to be able to occasionally turn off (or "override") the auto-exposure feature for those situations where they want to manually set a special exposure. Similarly, many auto-exposure cameras allow you to select "aperture-priority" or "shutter-priority" for exposure (see "exposure" to learn why). In fact many older auto-exposure cameras (from the 1970's) only featured either "aperture-priority" of "shutter-priority."Auto Exposure Bracketing:
Auto Exposure Bracketing performs automatic exposure bracketing with varied shutter speed and/or aperture.Autofocus (AF)
System by which the camera lens (most popular) or the camera body (only available in Contax AX) automatically focuses the image of a selected part of the picture subject. The autofocus camera revolution first popularised with the launch of Minolta's Maxxium. Currently, most current SLRs are autofocus based.Most cameras estimate the distance to the subject by measuring the strength of infrared light coming to the lens. Other cameras (usually the more expensive ones) have built-in micro-processors that can measure the blur in the image, and focus the lens until blur or light scattering is minimized. A few cameras (again, the more expensive ones) use ultrasonic sound to determine range. Most serious amateurs and professionals want to be able to occasionally turn off (or "override" the auto-focus feature for those situations where they wish to focus on a different part of the photo.AF-I & AF-S lenses
Nikon's new series of AF lenses, involves the intergration of coreless motors into their super telephoto lenses. This gives these lenses quick, ultra quiet autofocus operations. While the AF-S lenses housing a silent wave motor for even quicker and quiet operations than the AF-I lenses, which was being in the stage of being replaced by the newer series.Auto-load
A camera that has an (alleged) simple way to load film. There are many different approaches depending on the camera. Generally, you drop the film canister into the camera, pull out an extra inch of film to a certain mark, and close the camera. Gears and a motor in the camera then grab the film and advance it to the spool. Avoids the old hassles of getting the end of the film attached to the take-up spool. Found on nearly all auto-wind cameras. A handy feature that speeds up changing film.Auto-wind
Where a camera has a built in motor that advances the film to the next frame automatically when you take a picture (as well as cocking the shutter for you, something most of us take for granted). A nice convenience, but not mandatory. The alternative is "manual wind", where you have to flip a lever or turn a wheel to advance the film yourself; not a hard task at all.Automatic Camera
A camera with a built-in exposure meter that automatically adjusts the lens opening, shutter speed, or both (program) for proper exposure.Automatic flash
Electronic flash guns which sense the light reflected from the subject, and cut off their output when they have received sufficient light for correct exposure. Most units must be used on or close to the camera for direct lighting only. And the camera lens must be set to a specific aperture (or a small range of apertures) determined by the speed of the film in use.Automatic iris
Lens diaphragm which is controlled by a mechanism in the camera body coupled to the shutter release. The diaphragm closes to any preset value before the shutter opens and returns to the fully open position when the shutter closes.AV
The Aperture value, usually refer to aperture settings.B (Bulb) Setting
A shutter-speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for time exposures. When set on B, the shutter will stay open as long as the shutter release button remains depressed. Another similar option is the "T" setting, where it never drains the battery power on automatic camera body.Background
The part of the scene the appears behind the principal subject of the picture. The sharpness of the background can be influenced by apertures and shuttle set. In the flash mode, bulb setting usually is set for absorbing more ambience light (background information), so the end result of the exposure won't be pitch dark.Backlighting
Light coming from behind the subject, toward the camera lens, so that the subject stands out vividly against the background. Sometimes produces a silhouette effect. Always use something (a hand, a lens shade to avoid the light falls onto the lens - to avoid lens flares). When the subject of your photo is in front of (and therefor darker) that the image behind the subject. Such as a person with a sunset behind them. Or a dark bird on a sunny beach or framed against a bright sky. Or a skier on a snowy slope. The lighting situation makes it difficult to set the exposure properly. If you set your exposure for the brightest part of the picture, you'll end up have the brightest part treated as neutral, making the darker parts of the photo near black. That's OK for a silhouette, but not if you want to see the darker image as well. And the brightest part of the photo, may not appear as bright enough in the photo; white snow or a white beach can come out gray. In back-lit situations, one typically needs to compensate by over-exposing the picture by 1 or 2 stops (open the aperture 1-2 stops, or use a shutter speed that's 1 to 2 times slower.) Some automatic cameras have a special setting for back-lit situations. Or you can use a "fill flash."Back-Printing
Information printed on the back of a picture by the photofinisher. The system standard requires the printing of frame number, film cassette number and processing date automatically on the back of each Advanced Photo System print; may also include more detailed information, such as customized titles and time and date of picture-taking.Barrel Distortion
Straight lines are bowed in at the edges of the picture frame re sembling the sides of a barrel; pres ent in small amounts in some wideangle or wideangle-zoom lenses, bu~ uncorrected in fisheye lenses.Balance
Placement of colors, light and dark masses, or large and small objects in a picture to create harmony and equilibrium. Description applied to colour films to indicate their ability to produce acceptable colour response in various types of lighting. The films normally available are balanced for daylight (550~6000K photo lamps (3400K) or studio lamps (3200K).Balanced Fill-Flash
A type of TTL auto flash operation which uses the camera's exposure meter to control ambient light exposure settings, integrated with flash exposure control. That is, flash output level is automatically compensated to balance with ambient light, resulting in a better exposure for both subject and background.Balanced fill-flash operation
A flash photography technique that balances flash illumination with the scene's ambient light. This automatic operation utilizes the some camera's Automatic Balanced Fill Flash System with TTL Multi Sensor and a compatible dedicated TTL Speedlight.Bellows
The folding (accordion) portion in some cameras that connects the lens to the camera body (like the Mamiya RZ). Also a camera accessory that, when inserted between lens and camera body, extends the lens-to-film distance for close focusing or macro phtography. Some retains the automatic functions where some have to stopdown the lens for manual exposure reading.Between-The-Lens Shutter
A shutter whose blades operate between two elements of the lens. Most medium format cameras like the Hasselblad have one family of lens with shuttle and another without. Most lenses in this family have a smaller maximum aperture than the other family.Blowup
An enlargement; a print that is made larger than the negative or slide.Bounce Lighting
Flash or tungsten light bounced off a reflector (such as the ceiling or walls) or attachment that fits on the flash (like the LumiQuest's Pocket Bouncer) to give the effect of natural or available light.Bracketing
Taking a series of photographs of the same subject at different exposures to insure the "correct" exposure; useful when shooting in situations where a normal metering reading is difficult to obtain. Taking additional pictures of the subject through a range of exposures-both lighter and darker-when unsure of the correct exposure.Some top cameras have provision for automatic bracketing, while manually you can bracket by the use of, say, adjust apertures or shuttle speeds setting or both, manually influent the ASA setting or even adjust the flash output power etc..Broad Lighting
Conventional portraiture often positions the model in a pose such that their bodies are not facing the camera directly, but are turned to one side or the other. If the main light is positioned such that the illuminated portion of the face is framed in the image rather than the shadowed portion as in Short Lighting.Bulb Setting
Most cameras have a slowest exposure setting of 1 seconds, some modern electronic cameras can stay open for 30 seconds. Sometimes that is not long enough for time laps photography. The B setting on the dial stands for bulb. In bulb mode the camera stays open as long as the shutter release is held down. This is useful when taking photos at night sFcenes, lightning, comets and other astronomical events, and many other uses. The bulb setting also allows you to darken a room, open the shutter, then set off flashes as necessary to properly expose a frame or show a stroboscopic effect.Burning-In
Basically, a darkroom process that gives additional exposure to part of the image projected on an enlarger easel to make that area of the print darker. This is accomplished after the basic exposure by extending the exposure time to allow additional image-forming light to strike the areas in the print you want to darken while holding back the image-forming light from the rest of the image. Sometimes called printing-in."C"-Format
CRC (Close Range Correction System)
Check Nikon's terms page for more."Classic" format
one of the three selectable Advanced Photo System print formats; identical to the 2:3 aspect ratio used in 35 mm photography and suitable for most general-purpose shots.Cable Release
Longer exposures allow camera shake to be noticed where it would not be at faster shutter speeds. In order to avoid this problem the camera is often placed on a tripod and a cable release is used to trip the shutter. A cable release has a threaded end that is screwed into the shutter release. This is making the assumption that the shutter release button is designed to accept a cable release. If the camera is not designed for a cable release, there is probably a different method, usually a remote control, either wired or IR, that is used for manual release.Camera Angles
Various positions of the camera (high, medium, or low; and left, right, or straight on) with respect to the subject, each giving a different viewpoint, perspective or visual effect.Camera shake
Movement of camera caused by unsteady hold or support, vibration, etc., leading, particularly at slower shutter speeds, to a blurred image on the film. It is a major cause of un-sharp pictures, especially with long focus lenses.Candid Pictures
Unposed pictures of people, often taken without the subject's knowledge. These usually appear more natural and relaxed than posed pictures.Capacitor
Electrical component once more commonly known as a condenser. Stores electrical energy supplied by a power source and can discharge it more rapidly than the source itself. Used in flash equipment, providing reliable bulb firing even from weak batteries, and supplying the surge needed for electronic flash tubes.Cartridge
A lighttight, factory-loaded film container that can be placed in and removed from the camera in daylight. Some nature of film, like the infra red film, MUST not even try to load or unload film in any possible light existence, absolutely must be in total pitch dark condition to avoid fogging on film.Cassette
Light-trapped film container used with 35 mm cameras.Elliptically shaped film cassette designed especially for the Advanced Photo System that serves as the sealed, leaderless container for all System film whether unexposed, exposed or processed.Cast
Abnormal colouring of an image produced by departure from recommended exposure or processing conditions with a transparency film, or when making a colour print. Can also be caused by reflection within the subject as from a hat on to the face.CCD
Electronic sensor used by all autofocus cameras, capable of detecting subject contrast; also an image-receiving device for video camera.Cds
Cadmium Sulfide (Cell). A battery powered, current-modulating. light-sensing cell that was quite popular with lots of cameras exposure metering system and external metering devices. May be this extra will help, photo conductive material used in exposure meters as alternative to selenium-based or silicon blue photocells. Its electrical resistance decreases as the light falling on it increases. Cds meters use current from an external power source, such as a battery.Chromatic aberration
A lens aberration producing an overall blurred image; the inability of a lens to bring all wavelengths of light (especially red and blue) into the same plane of focus; usually present in regular large-aperture telephoto and super-telephoto lenses; does not improve by stopping down the lens; correctable through the use of Iow Dispersion (ED, LD SD) glass.CI
Contrast Index (sounds like composite index for stock market, ha!) Numeric rating indicating the optimum development contrast for negative materials.Clearing Agent
A chemical that neutralises hypo in film or paper, reducing wash time and helping to provide a more stable image.Click stop
Ball bearing and recess or similar construction used to enable shutter speeds, aperture values, etc. to be set by touch.Close-Up
A picture taken with the subject close to the camera-usually less than two or three feet away, but it can be as close as a few inches (1:3 or larger film:image ratio)Close-Up Lens
A lens attachment placed in front of a camera lens to permit taking pictures at a closer distance than the camera lens alone will allow.Coated Lens
A lens covered with a very thin layer of transparent material that reduces the amount of light reflected by the surface of the lens. A coated lens is faster (transmits more light) than an uncoated lens.Color Balance
How a color film reproduces the colors of a scene. Color films are made to be exposed by light of a certain color quality such as daylight or tungsten. Color balance also refers to the reproduction of colors in color prints, which can be altered during the printing process.Colour negative
Film designed to produce colour image with both tones and colours reversed for subsequent printing to a positive image, usually on paper.Colour reversal
Film designed to produce a normal colour positive image on the film exposed in the camera for subsequent viewing by transmitted light or projection on to a screen.Colour temperature
Description of the colour of a light-source by comparing it with the colour of light emitted by a (theoretical) perfect radiator at a particular temperature expressed in kelvins (K). Thus "photographic daylight" has a colour temperature of about 5500K. Photographic tungsten lights have colour temperatures of either 3400K or 3200K depending on their construction.CompactFlash
Most digital cameras with PC Card interfaces use a storage technology called CompactFlash. Standard supported by the CompactFlash Association. CompactFlash is ATA compatible and will fit into any Type II or Type III slot when used with a passive adapter (see also SmartMedia)Compensating Development
Under some circumstances there may be a need to shoot film at an Exposure Index other than the ASA rating on the film. This technique is known as push or pull processing. Push processing involves shooting the film at faster than recommended and then increasing development time. In pull processing the film is shot at a slower setting and development time is decreased. Color Print films are not advisable to alter EI ratings but it can be done. Slide film and black and white can be pushed and pulled with fairly good results.Component
Part of a compound lens consisting of one element (single lens) or more than one element cemented or otherwise joined together. A lens may therefore be described as 4-element, 3-component when two of the elements are cemented together.Composition
The pleasing arrangement of the elements within a scene-the main subject, the foreground and background, and supporting subjects.Computerized flash or automatic flash
Electronic flash guns which sense the light reflected from the subject, and cut off their output when they have received sufficient light for correct exposure. Most units must be used on or close to the camera for direct lighting only. And the camera lens must be set to a specific aperture (or a small range of apertures) determined by the speed of the film in use.Condenser
Generally a simple lens used to collect light and concentrate it on a particular area, as in enlarger or projector. Frequently in the form of two planoconvex lenses in a metal housing. A condenser, normally of the fresnel type, is used to ensure even illumination of the viewing screens on SLR cameras.Condenser Enlarger
An enlarger with a sharp, undiffused light that produces high contrast and high definition in a print. Scratches and blemishes in the negative are emphasised.Contact Print
A print made by exposing photographic paper while it is held tightly against the negative. Images in the print will be the same size as those in the negative. Also known as proofs.Contrast
The range of difference in the light to dark areas of a negative, print, or slide (also called density); the brightness range of a subject or the scene lighting. It may be also explained as tonal difference. More often used to compare original and reproduction. A negative may be said to be contrasty if it shows fewer, more widely spaced tones than in the original. Or another way to explain, a difference in visual brilliance between one part of the image and another; without contrast, there would be no such thing as a visible image; a line in a photograph is visible only because it is either darker or lighter in tone than the background; every distinguishable part of the image is the result of a contrast in tonal values.Contact Printer
A device used for contact-printing that consists of a lighttight box with an internal light source and a printing frame to position the negative against the photographic paper in front of the light.Continuous Servo AF Focus
Autofocus term used by Nikon, the AF sensor detection continues as long as shutter release button is lightly pressed and the reflex mirror is in the viewing position. Useful when the camera-to-subject distance is likely to change.Contrast Grade
Numbers (usually 1-5) and names (soft, medium, hard, extra-hard, and ultra hard) of the contrast grades of photographic papers, to enable you to get good prints from negatives of different contrasts. Use a low-numbered or soft contrast paper with a high contrast negative to get a print that most closely resembles the original scene. Use a high-numbered or an extra-hard paper with a low-contrast negative to get a normal contrast paper.Contrasty
Higher-than-normal contrast including very bright and dark areas. The range of density in a negative or print is higher than it was in the original scene.Coma
A lens aberration restricted to offaxis image points; the inability of a lens to render point sources of light near the edges of the frame as circular; the points of light appear as comet-shaped blurs (hence the name coma) with the tails flaring toward the center of the image; this aberration is very difficult to eliminate in wideangle lenses with large maximum apertures; improves by stopping down the lens.Continuous Servo (Nikon's term)
AF Focus detection continues as long as shutter release button is lightly pressed and the reflex mirror is in the viewing position. Useful when the camera-to subject distance is likely to change.CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The electronic component that controls an electronic product's functions. Essentially, all automatic cameras have at least a CPU to control various functions of the cameras. Some top models have three to five CPU to handle individual task functions - some handle the exposure, one handle the autofocus and so on. The latest on some top models utilising 8 or 16 bits chips now. Newer autofocus lenses have built-in CPUs to relay information relating to focal length, distance info, lens type to the camera body for exposure to AF processing.Cropping
Printing only part of the image that is in the negative or slide, usually for a more pleasing composition, in medium format, esp the 6 x 6, some form of cropping is necessary for publishing on A4 magazine format. May also refer to the framing of the scene in the viewfinder.C 41
Kodak's standard chemical process for developing color negative film, an industrial reference standard.D-type AF Nikkor lenses (Only apply to Nikon):
AF Nikkor lenses that send Distance Information to some of Nikon's top cameras, Used for 3D Color Matrix Metering or 3D Multi Sensor Balanced Fill Flash (with Nikon SB 27/SB 26/SB 25 Speedlight). Some third party lens manufacturers are catching up to supply with compatible functions lenses too.DC (Defocus Image control)
A new type of lens family introduced by Nikon, designated as DC lens. Mainly for portrait photography. The lens enables to control background and foreground blur precisely, resulting in strikingly attractive portraits.Darkroom
A light tight area used for processing films and for printing and processing papers; also for loading and unloading film holders and some cameras. For image purist, the cycle of photograph is not complete if the darkroom process is not handled personally.Data Disk
A circular, rotating disk at the end of Advanced Photo System film cassettes that functions as a circular bar code, communicating the film speed, type and exposure length through a sequence of reflective bars to an optical sensor in the camera.Daylight Balance
Most film available on the market today is Daylight Balanced. Unless the film specifically states that it is balanced for other lighting conditions, it will probably be designed for daylight. This film will produce natural colors when exposed under natural (outdoors) conditions or under normal flash. When shot under tungsten lighting (incandescent light bulbs) there will be a reddish yellow tint to the photo and when shot under fluorescent lighting there will be a green hue.Dedicated Flash
A fully automatic flash that works only with specific cameras. Dedicated flash units automatically set the proper flash sync speed and lens aperture, and electronic sensors within the camera automatically control exposure by regulating the amount of light from the flash. A simple glance can differentiate by identifying the multiple contacts on the hot shoe (the place where the flash is mounted).Definition
The clarity of detail in a photograph.Delayed action.
Mechanism delaying the opening of the shutter for some seconds after the release has been operated. Also known as self-timer.Densitometer
An instrument used for measuring the optical density of an area in a negative or print.Density
The blackness of an area in a negative or print that determines the amount of light that will pass through it or reflect from it. Sometimes referred to as contrast.Depth of Field
The zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the subject on which the lens is focused; extends approx. one-third in front of and two thirds behind the in-focus subject; dependent on three factors: aperture, focal length, and focused distance; the wider the aperture, the longer the focal length, and the closer the focused distance, the less the depth of field, and vice versa; in comparison to a normal lens, wideangle lenses have inherently more depth of field at each f-number and telephoto lenses have less. Since this element is very important, another simpler way to explain is the amount of distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear in acceptably sharp focus in a photograph. Depth of field depends on the lens opening, the focal length of the lens, and the distance from the lens to the subject or can explain as in simpler term as the zone of sharpest focus in front of, behind, and around the subject on which the lens is focused; can be previewed in the camera - very handy for critical work. Relating article in this site: Depth of field.Depth Of Field Preview
Some cameras contain a button or lever that, when depressed, will "stop down" a lens to the aperture set to allow the user to see the depth of field that will be seen in the photo at that aperture setting. Most focusing is done with the lens open, or at the lowest aperture setting possible. Focusing is done easier at this stage. Many of the automatic SLR cameras today do not have the DOF preview feature while many of the older manual cameras do have it.Depth of Focus
The distance range over which the film could be shifted at the film plane inside the camera and still have the subject appear in sharp focus; often misused to mean depth of field. Also see "depth of field" section.Developer
A solution used to make visible the image produced by allowing light to fall on the light-sensitive material. The basic constituent is a developing agent which reduces the light-struck silver halide to metallic silver. Colour developers include chemicals which produce coloured dyes coincidentally with reduction of the silver halides.Developing Tank
A light tight container used for processing film, a darkroom's essential accessory.Diaphragm
An adjustable device inside the lens which is similar to the iris in the human eye; comprised of six or seven overlapping metal blades; continuously adjustable from "wide open" to "stopped down"; controls the amount of light allowed to pass through the lens and expose the film when a picture is taken; a]so controls the amount of depth of field the photograph will have; in lenses designed for single-lens reflex cameras, there are basically two types of diaphragms: Lens opening. A perforated plate or adjustable opening mounted behind or between the elements of a lens used to control the amount of light that reaches the film. Openings are usually calibrated in f-numbers. The more blades used will have a more natural and rounded spots.There are two types of diaphragms:
Automatic: The most popular type; controlled by a single aperture ring; during viewing and focusing, the diaphragm remains wide open, allowing the maximum amount of light to go to the viewfinder for a bright and easy-to-focus image; at the instant of exposure, it stops down automatically to a particular aperture and then reopens to full aperture immediately afterward.Manual Preset: Used in some specific lenses like, PC-Nikkor lenses for Nikon for instance; controlled by two separate rings; the preset ring is first set to the desired aperture, then the aperture ring is rotated to stop down the diaphragm manually for metering or prior to taking pictures.
Diffuse Lighting
Lighting that is low or moderate in contrast, such as on an overcast day.Diffusing
Softening detail in a print with a diffusion disk or other material that scatters light.Diffusion-Condenser Enlarger
An enlarger that combines diffuse light with a condenser system, producing more contrast and sharper detail than a diffusion enlarger but less contrast and blemish emphasis than a condenser enlarger.Diffusion Enlarger
An enlarger that scatters light before it strikes the negative, distributing light evenly on the negative. Detail is not as sharp as with a condenser enlarger; negative blemishes are minimised.DIN
Deutche Industrie Norm (Film speed rating defined by the Deutscher Normenausschuss (German standards organisation).). Numeric rating used to describe emulsion speed for German Made photosensitive materials. Just as the same as ASA and ISO numbers.Dispersion
The property of materials which have a refractive index that varies according to the wavelength of light, i.e., bend the rays of some colors more than others; a prism placed in the path of a ray of white light bends the blue and violet rays more than the orange and red, so that it spreads out or "disperses" the colors as a continuous spectrum.Distortion
A lens aberration which does not affect the sharpness of the image, but alters the shape of objects; the inability of a lens to render straight lines perfectly straight; does not improve by stopping down the lens; there are two types of distortion:Barrel: Straight lines are bowed in at the edges of the picture frame re sembling the sides of a barrel; pres ent in small amounts in some wideangle or wideangle-zoom lenses, bu~ uncorrected in fisheye lenses.Pincushion: The opposite of barrel distortion; straight lines are bowed in toward the middle to resemble the sides of a pincushion; present in smal amounts in some telephoto and telephoto-zoom lenses.
Dodging
Holding back the image-forming light from a part of the image projected on an enlarger easel during part of the basic exposure time to make that area of the print lighter.Double Exposure
Two pictures taken on one frame of film, or two images printed on one piece of photographic paper. Some cameras can have double exposure level depressed with multiple exposures one even with a motor drive.Drop-in-Loading (DIL)
Film cassette loading feature in all Advanced Photo System cameras that virtually eliminates film-loading problems by automatically accepting the leaderless cassette and thrusting the film forward to the first unexposed frame without any user intervention.DX
Digital Index. Coding on the film cartridges used to transmit information in relation to film speed, the length of film and the exposure latitude to the camera. Most films - except some technical films are DX coded - means you need not to worry about wrong setting of the ISO setting of film speed anymore, reducing chances of mistakes. Common speed ISO 25 to 6400 - depends on camera models.DX Data Exchange
Electrical coding system employed in 35 mm format film that communicates film speed, type and exposure length to the camera.E6
Kodak's standard chemical process for developing Ektachrome or compatible slide films from other films makers apart from Kodak.Easel
A device to hold photographic paper flat during exposure, usually equipped with an adjustable metal mask for framing.ED
Extra Low dispersion - usually refer to glass type. Glass with ED properties indicating special rare earth glass or special formulated glass that limiting or correcting of light rays passing through the lens elements to achieve all spectrum of colours to falls on the same plane of focus - especially the Red and Blue spectrum and is usually more apply to longer focal length lenses where the problem is more serious. First popularised by Nikon's Nikkor lens line - with a gold lining in the front part of the lens. Pentax, Olympus use the same name as Nikon. Canon's version is called "LD" - with red lining and usually their lenses are white in color. While Minolta uses APO. Independent lens makers, like Tamron, uses LD, Sigma uses APO, Tokina's version is SD APO; all these trade names are basically performing the same functions. Also please refer to "apodchhromatic" . Check Nikon's terms page for more.Effective aperture.
The diameter of the bundle of light rays striking the first lens element that actually pass through the lens at any given diaphragm setting.EIS
Electronic Image Stabiliser. Feature that minimises effect of camera shake. Originally designed for video cameras. Canon has transfer the technology over to its EF lenses, we expect more Canon's EF lenses will adopt this feature.Electronic flash.
Light source based on electrical discharge across two electrodes in a gas-filled tube. Usually designed to provide light approximating to daylight.Element.
Single lens used in association with others to form a compound construction.Emulsion
Micro-thin layers of gelatin on film in which light-sensitive ingredients are suspended; triggered by light to create a chemical reaction resulting in a photographic image. Basically, suspension of light-sensitive silver salts in gelatin.Emulsion Side
The side of the film coated with emulsion. In contact printing and enlarging, the emulsion side of the film-dull side-should face the emulsion side of the photo paper-shiny side.Enhanced Back-Printing
An Advanced Photo System feature available in some system cameras that enables users to encode detailed information at the time of picture-taking, such as the date and time of exposure, camera settings, roll title or other custom information for subsequent printing onto the back of their photographs.Enlargement
A print that is larger than the negative or slide; also see "blowup".Enlarger
A device consisting of a light source, a negative holder, and a lens, and means of adjusting these to project an enlarged image from a negative onto a sheet of photographic paper.EV
Exposure value. Method of quantifying scene brightness. Most of these value apply to metering cells, how high or low eg. a metering that can handles from EV1-EV21 means a metering system that can measure brightness level from just above the light level of a candle light to a brightly sunlight scene on a beach. Camera metering can handle more weakly on a spot meter than, say, a center weighted average metering system. EV is commonly used in black & White photographic process. At ISO 100, the combination of a one-second shutter speed and an aperture of F1.4 is defined as EV1. The camera may be used only within the EV range of the exposure meter. For example, the exposure metering range s from EV0 to EV20 can be used on a camera, means the camera's meter can handle broader range of exposure latitude.Existing Light
Available light. Strictly speaking, existing light covers all natural lighting from moonlight to sunshine. For photographic purposes, existing light is the light that is already on the scene or project and includes room lamps, fluorescent lamps, spotlights, neon signs, candles, daylight through windows, outdoor scenes at twilight or in moonlight, and scenes artificially illuminated after dark.Exposure
The quantity of light allowed to act on a photographic material; a product of the intensity (controlled by the lens opening) and the duration (controlled by the shutter speed or enlarging time) of light striking the film or paper. The act of allowing light to reach the light-sensitive emulsion of the photographic material. Also refers to the amount (duration and intensity) of light which reaches the film.Setting the camera so that a picture "comes out right." A combination of "shutter speed" (how long the lens stays open) and "aperture" setting of the lens (how much light the lens lets in). A simple term that confuses many beginners because one can obtain the same exposure using different combinations of shutter speed and apertures. For example, assume a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second with an aperture setting of f-8 works in that case all of the following will give equivalent exposures:
Shutter speed Aperture1/60.....................f-16
1/125...................f-11
1/250....................f-8
1/500....................f-5.6
1/1000..................f-4
Exposure bracketing :
Shooting the same subject at a range of different exposures. Some camera provides Auto Exposure Bracketing/Flash Exposure Bracketing.Exposure compensation :
Exposure compensation for available light is activated by changing the shutter speed and/or lens aperture. This is done by using AE L AF-L (Auto Exposure/Autofocus Lock) button or exposure compensation button, or by Auto Exposure Bracketing . In flash photography with a dedicated TTL Speedliqht exposure compensation can also be performed by varying the amount of flash output. Camera-originated exposure compensation affects both the foreground subject and the background; variations in flash output amount affect only the foreground.Exposure factor.
A figure by which the exposure indicated for an average subject and/or processing should be multiplied to allow for non-average conditions. Usually applied to filters. Occasionally to lighting. Processing, etc Not normally used with through-the-lens exposure meters.Exposure Index (EI)
When film is shot at something other than its rated speed setting, or ASA, The speed setting at which it is exposed is referred as the Exposure Index. For example, if Kodak Tmax 100 (TMX) Black and White film is exposed at 50, the exposure index for the film would be referred to as EI 50.Exposure Latitude
The range of camera exposures from underexposure to overexposure that will produce acceptable pictures from a specific film.Exposure Lock
There are times when the main subject of a frame is not in the center of the frame where metering is taken from. In order to properly expose the main subject meter on the subject, then hold the exposure lock option, then recompose the image to framing that is more suitable to the photographer. Often the exposure lock on modern cameras is to hold the shutter release button half way down after metering the scene, then recompose.Exposure Meter
An instrument with a light-sensitive cell that measures the light reflected from or falling on a subject, used as an aid for selecting the exposure setting. The same as a light meter.Extension bellows.
Device used to provide the additional separation between lens and film required for close-up photography. Consists of extendible bellows and mounting plates at front and rear to fit the lens and camera body respectively.Extension tubes.
Metal tubes used to obtain the additional separation between lens and film for close-up photography. They are fitted with screw thread or bayonet mounts to suit various lens mounts.f-number
The numbers on the lens aperture ring and the camera's LCD (where applies) that indicate the relative size of the lens aperture opening. The f-number series is a geometric progression based on changes in the size of the lens aperture, as it is opened and closed. As the scale rises. each number is multiplied by a factor of 1.4. The standard numbers for Calibration are 1.0,1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32, etc., and each change results in a doubling or halving of the amount of light transmitted by the lens to the film plane.Basically, calculated from the focal length of the lens divided by the diameter of the bundle of light rays entering the lens and passing through the aperture in the iris diaphragm.f-stop
Useful for determining the maximum flash to-subject distance for flash photography.Fill-flash
A method of flash photography that combines flash illumination and ambient light, but does not attempt to balance these two types of illumination. Also see "balance fill flash".Fill-In Light
Additional light from a lamp, flash, or reflector; used to soften or fill in the shadows or dark picture areas caused by the brighter main light. Called fill-in flash when electronic flash is used. Also see Balanced Fill-Flash.Film
A photographic emulsion coated on a flexible, transparent base that records images or scenes. What capture the image of your picture. Generally there are two types of film; print film and slide film. With print film, your film is a negative (where colors are reversed) that is used to make a print (the print is usually much larger than the negative). If you have a great photo, the negative can be used to make an "enlargement;" so save those negatives. Print film is great if you like an easy way of seeing your photo's. But if you take lots of photo's, the extra cost of having prints made of every photo you take can get very expensive.Slide film is a transparency film. To see your picture, you just hold the slide up to a light source, or more typically, put the slide in a slide projector to magnify the image. Many photographers feel that slides give them a more natural reproduction of the lighting conditions they saw. And while slide film costs a bit more than print film, the developing costs are much lower. With slide film, you can experiment and take a lot of photo's, throw away the ones you don't like and have prints made of the best ones. Slides also take up less storage space than prints do.
There are many "speeds" of film available for different lighting conditions. See "film speed" for more details. This is because, no matter how good the camera and the film, cameras still cannot match the abilities of our own eyes. (See "film speed" for more details.) For example, no film is as capable as our eye is at handling the contrast between bright light and shade. This is because our brain makes adjustments, somehow. To date, we don't have cameras that can adjust the exposure of different parts of the film. While we do have computers that can adjust these images after the fact, nothing is able to make adjustments "on the fly" like our eye.
There are several varieties and brands of print and slide film available, especially in professional films that cost a bit more, but offer crisper images. Kodak and Fuji are the most common and considered by most photographers to be the best. Some are designed for outdoor light, others for indoor spot-light use. Professional films (like Fuji Provia, Fuji Sensia and Kodak's professional series) are only available from photo stores. Generally, the hobbyist doesn't need to use professional film and will do fine with the consumer brands available at most stores.
Film base
Flexible support on which light sensitive emulsion is coated.Film Presence Indicator Flag
Feature on Advanced Photo System cameras that indicates the film cassette has been loaded properly.Film Safe
Describes the fact that film is sealed in the cassette; avoids the danger of exposure to light before shooting and mishandling of negatives after shooting.Film Status Indicators
The four icons on Advanced Photo System film cassettes that show the film status - unexposed, partially exposed, fully exposed or processed.Film Speed
Indicated by a number such as ISO 100 or ISO 400 etc. The sensitivity of a given film to light,. The higher the number, the more sensitive or faster (and more grainer) the film. Note: ISO stands for International Standards Organization.Filter
A colored piece of glass or other transparent material used over the lens to emphasize, eliminate, or change the color or density (ND) of the entire scene or certain areas within a scene. Also see "colour temperature", "UV". Technically, it explained as a piece of material which restricts the transmission of radiation. Generally coloured to absorb light of certain colours. Can be used over light sources or over the camera lens. Camera lens filters are usually glass either dyed or sandwiching a piece of gelatin in a screw-in filter holder.Finder
Also known as viewfinder and projected frame. A viewing device on a camera to show the subject area that will be recorded on the film.Fisheye lens.
Ultra-wide angle lens giving 180 angle of view. Basically produces a circular image on 35 mm, 5-9 mm lenses showing whole image, 15-17 mm lenses giving a rectangular image fitting just inside the circle, thus representing 180 across the diagonal.Fixed-Focus
Describes a non-adjustable camera lens, set for a fixed subject distance.Fixed-Focus Lens
A lens that has been focused in a fixed position by the manufacturer. The user does not have to adjust the focus of this lens, applies on most entry or disposable cameras.Fixing Bath
Darkroom material. A solution that removes any light-sensitive silver-halide crystals not acted upon by light or developer, leaving a black-and-white negative or print unalterable by further action of light. Also referred to as hypo.Fixer
Solution, usually based on sodium thiosulphate, in which films or prints are immersed after development to convert the unexposed silver halides in the emulsion to soluble products that can be washed out. This prevents subsequent deterioration of the image.FL or Florite.
A low dispersion mineral used as a substitute for glass in some highly corrected long focal length lenses. Canon uses most of these properties on its EF-L series long teles. Also refer to "ED".Flash
The artificial light souce in the dark. A brief, intense burst of light from a flashbulb or an electronic flash unit, usually used where the lighting on the scene is inadequate for picture-taking. Most flash will correct the color temperature back to 5000 kelvin - the daylight color. Can play around with filters mounting on the flash head for some specific effects.Flash Bracket
When working with a flash in a situation where the final product is desired to be of better quality than a snapshot and a flash is needed, a flash bracket is a necessity. A flash bracket will allow the flash to be positioned directly above the camera to help to eliminate the harsh shadows that are often seen in simple snap shots.Flashbulb
Light source based on ignition of combustible metal wire in a gas filled transparent envelope. Popular sizes are usually blue-coated to give light approximating to daylight.Flashcube
Self-contained unit comprising four small flashbulbs with own reflectors. Designed to rotate in special camera socket as film is wound on. Can be used in a special adapter on cameras without the socket. But will not rotate automatically.Flash Exposure Bracketing:
Enables a photographer to automatically bracket exposures at varied flash output levels, in TTL auto flash shooting, without changing the shutter speed and/or aperture, this is a one of the top flash feature that can only be found on some higher ranked cameras.Flash synchronization :
Timing of the flash coincides with release of the camera's shutter. There are two types of synchronization: Front-Curtain Sync, which fires the flash at the start of the exposure, and Rear-Curtain Sync, which fires the flash at the end of the exposure. Also see "Rear-Curtain Sync", "Front-Curtain Sync", "X setting".Flash sync speed :
Shutter speed at which the entire f iIm frame is exposed when the flash s fired in flash shooting. Most modern camera's flash sync speed is l /250th, 1/125th or 1/60th of a second; some top camera model like Nikon F5, changeable to 1/300 sec. with the Custom Setting.Flash output level compensation :
A control used to adjust a TTL auto flash operation, enabling an increase or decrease of flash output to lighten or darken the flash effect.Flash shooting distance range :
The distance range over which a flash can effectively provide light. Flash shooting distance range is controlled by the amount of flash output available. Each automatic Speedlight's flash output varies from maximum duration to minimum duration Close-up subjects will require lower (to minimum) output while more distant subjects will require more light up to the maximum output. The flash shooting distance range varies with the aperture, film speed, etc.Al so see Guide Number.Flash Memory Card
A storage medium that uses by digital cameras. It resembles film in conventional photography.Flare
An overall decrease in contrast caused by light being reflected off, instead of transmitted through, a lens surface; controllable through the use of multilayer coating of individual lens elements in a lens; aggravated by unclean lens surfaces on front and rear lens elements or filters.Flat
Too low in contrast. The range in density in a negative or print is too short or in some cases, reflecting the low resolution produced by a low quality lens.Flat Lighting
Lighting that produces very little contrast or modeling on the subject plus a minimum of shadows.Flexible Program :
Flexible Program function temporarily shifts an automatically selected shutter speed/aperture combination while maintaining correct exposure. That is, a desired shutter speed or aperture can be selected in Programmed Auto exposure mode.f-Number
A number that indicates the size of the lens opening on an adjustable camera. The common f-numbers are f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, and f/22. The larger the f-number, the smaller the lens opening. In this series, f/1.4 is the largest lens opening and f/22 is the smallest. Also called f-stops, they work in conjunction with shutter speeds to indicate exposure settings. Also can be explained as numerical expression of the relative aperture of a lens at its different stops; equal to the focal length divided by the effective aperture of the lens opening and written in various forms, such as f/8, f8, 1: 8, etc.; each f-number is 1.4 times larger than the preceding one; each number indicates a halving or doubling of the amount of light allowed to pass through the lens; the next higher numbered f-number sign)fies an aperture which lets in exactly onehalf as much light, and the next lower number, twice as much light, i.e., f/11 lets in half as much light as f/8, while f/5.6 lets in twice as much; all lenses stopped down to the same f-number produce images of equal illumination (apart from differences due to varying reflection losses); therefore, for a given shutter speed, a given fnumber always corresponds to the same exposure.f/stop
A fraction which indicates the actual diameter of the aperture: the "f" represents the lens focal length, the slash means "divided by," and the word "stop" is a particular f-number; for example, with a 50mm f/1.4 lens, the actual diameter of its maximum aperture is 50mm divided by 1.4 or 35.7mm; at f/2, the diameter becomes 50mm/2 or 25mm; at f/2.8, the aperture is 50mm/2.8 or 17.9mm across; as the numerical value of the f/stop increases, the aperture decreases in size.Focal Length
The distance between the film and the optical center of the lens when the lens is focused on infinity. The focal length of the lens on most adjustable cameras is marked in millimetres on the lens mount. The distance from the principal point to the focal point. In 35mm-format cameras, lenses with a focal length of approx. 50mm are called normal or standard lenses. Lenses with a focal length less than approx. 35mm are called wide angle lenses, and lenses with a focal length more than approx. 85mm are called telephoto lenses. Lenses which allow the user to continuously vary the focal length without changing focus are called zoom lenses .Focal-Plane Shutter
An opaque curtain containing a slit that moves directly across in front of the film in a camera and allows image-forming light to strike the film.Focus
Adjustment of the distance setting on a lens to define the subject sharply. Generally, the act of adjusting a lens to produce a sharp image. In a camera, this is effected by moving the lens bodily towards or away from the film or by moving the front part of the lens towards or away from the rear part, thus altering its focal length.Focus-free camera's
Focus-free camera's aren't bad for the basics, taking photo's of vacation, birthday parties, lakes, houses, and people. When we document an event, most of us aren't looking for art, so dark shadows in the corners of the picture, slight over-exposure or under-exposure are tolerated. Focus-free camera's are relatively cheap, so we don't worry too much about losing or damaging them.But focus free camera's can't take quality photo's. The lenses are usually plastic, so it isn't possible to get a good enough image to enlarge.Some focus-free cameras, and most higher priced ones include "automated film advance". In other words, these cameras have built in motors that advance the film for you between shots.Focus Range
The range within which a camera is able to focus on the selected picture subject - 4 feet to infinity - for example.Focus-Priority for autofocus :
Shutter cannot be released until the subject s in focus. For situations when an in-focus subject s important. With the F5 camera body, Focus-Priority s given to Single Servo AF mode while Release-Priority is g iven to Continuous Servo AF. Using Custom Setti ing, however, you can change the priority to Release-Priority Single Servo AF or Focus-Priority Continuous Servo AF.Focus Tracking :
Enables the camera to analyze the speed of the movi ing subject according to the focus data detected, and to obtain correct focus by anticipating the subject's position and driving the lens to that position&emdash;at the exact moment of exposure, basically a Nikon's and Canon's feature. Currently, Nikon lead the pack in this tecnology with the F5, the fastest among all.Fogging
Darkening or discoloring of a negative or print or lightening or discoloring of a slide caused by exposure to nonimage-forming light to which the photographic material is sensitive, too much handling in air during development, over-development, outdated film or paper, or storage of film or paper in a hot, humid place.Format
The actual size of the photograph, either slide or negative, produced by a camera; in 35mm photography, the picture measures 24mm x 36mm and has a diagonal of 43mm, While the new APS (Advance Photo System), several new formats were included, including panorama . While it can also be explained as shape and size of image provided by camera or presented in final print or transparency. Governed in the camera by the opening at the rear of the body over which the film passes or is placed. The standard 35 mm format is 36 x 24 mm; half-frame, 18 x 24 mm; 126 size, 28 x 28 mm; 110, 17 x 13 mm; standard roll film (120 size), 2x 2 in.Forced Development (See Push-processing)
Foreground
The area between the camera and the principal subject.Front-Curtain Sync :
The flash fires an instant after the front curtain of a focal plane shutter has completed its travel across the film plane. This is the way the camera operates with the flash sync mode at Normal Sync. (See "Rear-Curtain Sync".)Fresnel.
Pattern of a special form of condenser lens consisting of a series of concentric stepped rings, each ring a section of a convex surface which would, if continued, form a much thicker lens. Used on focusing screens to distribute image brightness evenly over the screen.fps
Frames per second. Used to describe how many frames can the motor drive or winder can handle automatically on winding per second consequently. Also apply to areas like video, animations, movie cameras.Free working distance
In close-up photography, the distance between the front of the lens and the subject; increases as the focal length increases; important consideration when photographing shy or dangerous subjects or when using supplementary illumination.FRPS
Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. Most salon photographers dream to have a title on their belt. A reconition that a photographers' standard in photographic field.Frame
One individual picture on a roll of film. Also can apply to a object that can be utilised (tree branch, arch, etc.) to frame a subject in composition.Frontlighting
Light shining on the side of the subject facing the camera.Full aperture metering.
TTL metering systems in which the camera simulates the effect of stopping down the lens when the aperture ring is turned, while leaving the diaphragm at full aperture to give full focusing screen brilliance. The meter must be "programmed" with the actual full aperture, and the diaphragm ring setting.Ghost images
Bright spots of light, often taking the shape of the aperture, which appear in the camera viewfinder or in the final photograph when a lens is pointed at a bright light like the sun; controllable through the use of multilayer coating of the lens elements.
GN (Guide number)
guide number (expressed in either feet or meters) = maximum flash distance * aperturefor example: if a flash's guide number in feet was 40 then its maximum flash distance at
f4 was 10 feet. Likewise, if aperture was f2, then maximum flash distance would be 20 feet.flash-to-subject distance = (guide number / f-stop)
f-stop = (guide number / flash-to-subject distance)
Used to express the power output of the flash unit. It indicates the power of a flash in relation to ISO film speed. Guide numbers are quoted in either meters or feet. Guide numbers are used to calculate the f/stop for correct exposure as follows: Number calculated by multiplying proper flash exposure aperture by the subject distance.
GPD
Gallium Photo Diode. Metering cells for measuring exposure, using gallium arsenide-phosphide, just like SPD or Cds cells.Grain.
Minute metallic silver deposit, forming in quantity the photographic image. The individual grain is never visible, even in an enlargement, but the random nature of their distribution in the emulsion causes over-lapping, or clumping, which can lead to graininess in the final image. Also cross check with below for graininess.Graininess
The sand-like or granular appearance of a negative, print, or slide. Graininess becomes more pronounced with faster film and the degree of enlargement.Grey card (18% Grey Card).
Tone used as representative of mid-tone of average subject. The standard grey card reflects 18 per cent of the light falling on it.Halation.
The production of "halos" round bright spots in an image, by light reflecting from the back of the film-base. General film bases are given a light absorbing coat the anti-halation back to prevent this.Hi 8
Video recording format, also refer a High Band 8mm format."H"-Format
One of the three selectable Advanced Photo System print formats; identical to the 9:16 aspect ratio used in high-definition television (HDTV); suitable for wider shots than usual, such as groups; produces prints of 3.5 x 6 inches or 4 x 7 inchesHigh Contrast
A wide range of density in a print or negative.Highlights
Small, very bright part of image or object. Highlights should generally be pure white, although the term is sometimes used to describe the lightest tones of a picture, which, in that case, may need to contain some detail.Hotlight
Unlike a strobe which provides a quick burst of light, a hotlight is constantly on and does not strobe. Because these lights are always on, metering becomes much easier and a flash meter is not necessary. The disadvantage of hot lights is just as they sound, they produce a lot of heat because of the intensity of the light.Hot Shoe
The fitting on a camera that holds a small portable flash. It has an electrical contact that aligns with the contact on the flash unit's "foot" and fires the flash when you press the shutter release. This direct flash-to-camera contact eliminates the need for a PC cord.Hyperfocal Distance
Distance of the nearest object in a scene that is acceptably sharp when the lens is focused on infinity.IF (Internal Focusing System)
Check Nikon's terms page for more.Image.
Two-dimensional reproduction of a subject formed by a lens. When formed on a surface, i.e. a ground-glass screen, it is a real image; if in space, i.e. when the screen is removed, it is an aerial image. The image seen through a telescope optical viewfinder, etc. cannot be focused on a surface without the aid of another optical system and is a virtual image.Image stabilizers
A very new feature available on a few larger telephoto lenses that minimizes vibration.. The camera lens has a built-in system that allows some internal lenses to float free; difficult to explain, but the results are impressive. a god-send to nature photography, as well as action photography, but a feature only professionals can afford. (The cheaper solution for the rest of us is to use a tripod.) More common on video cameras. Expect to see this technology expand and come down in price. Found on a few telephoto lenses that cost $700 or more.Incident light.
Light falling on a surface as opposed to the light reflected by it.Infared Film
There are three black and white infrared films on the market today. Kodak's High Speed Infrared Film (HIE) has the highest IR sensitivity of the three films but sacrifices Grain size as the grain is very large. Konica Infrared film has a lesser sensitivity to IR wavelengths but has much finer grain than Kodak's. The last B&W IR film is Ilford SFX which is an ASA 200 film. The film is marketed as an extended red film, not a true IR film. The film is sensitive to only a slightly extended IR range.When shooting IR films a red filter such as a #25 is placed on the lens to cut down on the blue wavelengths that IR film is also sensitive to. Infrared films provide different results than conventional black an white films mainly in the representation of foliage. Any plant that has chlorophyll will fluoresce in the IR when in direct sunlight. The intensity of the IR light reflected bye the plants is actually quite high so the leaves of a plant appear white or very near white while the sky appears very dark because the filter does not allow the blue wavelengths to reach the film. Human skin also appears to be much whiter on IR than normal film.
Infinity.
Infinite distance. In practice, a distance so great that any object at that distance will be reproduced sharply if the lens is set at its infinity position, i.e. one focal length from the film.Interspersed Aspect Ratio
A basic requirement of certified photofinishers and certified photofinishing equipment; specifies the three system print formats - C, H and P - that users select during picture-taking must be available at photofinishing.Interchangeable lens.
Lens designed to be readily attached to and detached from a camera.Inverted telephoto lens.
Lens constructed so that the back focus (distance from rear of lens to film) is greater than the focal length of the lens. This construction allows room for mirror movement when short focus lenses are fitted to SLR cameras.Iris.
Strictly, iris diaphragm. Device consisting of thin overlapping metal leaves pivoting outwards to form a circular opening of variable size to control light transmission through a lens.ISO Speed
The international standard for representing film sensitivity. The emulsion speed (sensitivity) of the film as determined by the standards of the International Standards Organization. In these standards, both arithmetic (ASA) and logarithmic (DIN) speed values are expressed in a single ISO term. For example, a film with a speed of ISO 100/21° would have a speed of ASA 100 or 21 DIN. The higher the number, the greater the sensitivity, and vice versa. A film speed of ISO 200 is twice as sensitive as ISO 100, and half that of ISO 400 film.IX Information Exchange
The ability of Advanced Photo System film to communicate with devices, and devices to communicate with film; can be accomplished optically or magnetically using a thin magnetic layer on the film that records digital data.Japan Camera Inspection and Testing Institute. Organisation in Japan to monitor export quality of Japanese made cameras, in 1992, may be because of the global localisation programs, most lower end and some mid-range cameras are made and produced in countries outside Japan and their duty is relieved.A scale use to measure the colour temperature. 5000 K refer to normal daylight.K 14
Kodak's chemical process for developing Kodachrome slides.Large format cameras use the large sheets of film (such as 4-inch by 5-inch or even 8-inch by 10-inch). Like medium format cameras, these pick up great details and take photo's that can be enlarged without getting blurry or grainy. But the camera itself is large and difficult to transport. Usually uses sheet film, so the photographer must change film with every photo, and the film itself is bulky difficult to transport. Very expensive cameras, but unmatched for landscape photography.Latent Image
The invisible image left by the action of light on photographic film or paper. The light changes the photosensitive salts to varying degrees depending on the amount of light striking them. When processed, this latent image will become a visible image either in reversed tones (as in a negative) or in positive tones (as in a color slide).Latitude
There are a few films on the market today who are claiming a very wide latitude of exposure with little loss of quality. What these film companies are bragging about is the ability to have an Exposure Index of anything from 100 to 1000 on the same roll of film depending on the lighting situation for each individual frame. Films such as Gold Max from Kodak are becoming popular among those who want a general purpose film without having to worry about what their lighting changes will be. The sacrifice is slight color differences between reality and the final print and grain size.LCD panel ( Liquid Crystal Display.)
An electronically generated text, numeric & symbols. Before the popularity of the LCD, LED is the most common method. LCD consume only one fifth (1/5) of the power of the LED and thus have a wider application in photographic line. The only problem is, it'll turn dark at very high temperature (will resume to normal when cool down) and it will fades in extended time. (the Nikon F3 first used LCD display in 1980, I heard none is complaining about this after 17 years, did you ?) Used most commonly on cameras that shows such information as remaining exposures, flash status and aspect ratio selected.LD
Low dispersion glass, or UD (ultra low dispersion) or SD (Super Low dispersion), please refer to "ED", basically, refers to optically superior glass - price too! Dispersion sometimes also refer as "colour fringing".Leader (Film Leader).
Part of film attached to camera take-up spool. 35 mm film usually has a leader of the shape originally designed for bottom-loading Leica cameras, although most cameras simply need a short taper.LED
Light Emitting Diode. Light producing transistors used to display dots, numeric and text in the viewfinder, slowly replacing by LCD display.Lens
One or more pieces of optical glass or similar material designed to collect and focus rays of light to form a sharp image on the film, paper, or projection screen.Lens aberration
Optical flaws which are present in small amounts in all photographic lenses; made up of chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, curvature of field, distortion, etc.; a perfect lens would show the image of a point as a point and a straight line as a straight line, but in practice, lenses are never perfect: they reproduce a point as a patch and a straight line as a more or less curved band; most of the trouble is caused by aberrations, inherent in the lens construction; it's the job of the lens designer to control most of the aberrations as much as possible by combining a number of single lenses in such a way that the aberrations of one lens tend to be cancelled out by opposing aberrations in the others.Lens Shade
A collar or hood at the front of a lens that keeps unwanted light from striking the lens and causing image flare. May be attached or detachable, and should be sized to the particular lens to avoid vignetting.Lens-Shutter Camera
A camera with the shutter built into the lens; the viewfinder and picture-taking lens are separate.Lens Speed
The largest lens opening (smallest f-number) at which a lens can be set. A fast lens transmits more light and has a larger opening than a slow lens. Determined by the maximum aperture of the lens in relation to its focal length; the "speed" of a lens is relative: a 400 mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 is considered extremely fast, while a 28mm f/3.5 lens is thought to be relatively slow.Light meter (See Exposure meter)
Lighting ratio.
The ratio of the brightness of light falling on the subject from the main (key) light and other (fill) lights. A ratio of about 3:1 is normal for colour photography, greater ratios may be used for effect in black-and-white work.Limiting aperture.
The actual size of the aperture formed by the iris diaphragm at any setting. Determines, but usually differs from, the eflfective aperture.Long-focus.
Lens of relatively long focal length designed to provide a narrower angle of view than the normal or standard lens, which generally has an angle of view, expressed on the diagonal of the film format, of about 45 degrees The long focus lens thus takes in less of the view in front of it but on an enlarged scale.Lux
A measurement of the light intensity. One Lux in video means light level of a candle light.A lens that provides continuous focusing from infinity to extreme close-ups, often to a reproduction ratio of 1:2 (half life-size) or 1:1 (life-size). Nikon's version for their "macro" is "micro", eg. 105mm F2.8 Micro-Nikkor.Manual Exposure
The photographer sets both the shutter speed and lens aperture manually. This exposure mode makes it possible to create intentionally over- or under-exposed pictures.Micro lens
A lens for close-up photography; designed to focus continuously from infinity down to a reproduction ratio of 1: 2, or with a matched extension ring or teleconverter down to 1: 1; available in normal or telephoto focal lengths to provide a variety of free working distances; with the exception of Nikon, this type of lens is called a "Micro Nikkor" lens. Also see above, Macro or Makro (Usually for German origin lenses).Macro photography
The process of taking photographs of small objects with regular photographic lenses at reproduction ratios of 1X or greater; also referred to as "photomacrography. "Magazine
A lighttight metal container (cartridge) that holds 135 film (cylindrical magazine) or when apply to medium format, magazine back refer to the inter changeable container that holds the films for mounting on the back of the camera for exposures.Magicube.
Special form of flashtube which is fired by mechanical (not electrical) means. Can be used only on cameras fitted with the appropriate socket.Magnification ratio
Ratio that express greatest possible on film magnifying power of the lens. Used commonly on the macro setting of the zoom lenses, macro lens or with bellows.Manual
User selects both shutter speed and aperture, following or ignoring the meter's recommendations to achieve the desired exposure.Manual flash
Flash output is controlled manually in manual flash mode unlike in auto flash mode, where flash output power varies automatically according to the selected aperture. Some Speedlights, example like the Nikon SB 27, SB 26, SB-25. SB-24 and SB 20, provide selectable manual outputs (full, 1/2, l/4, 1/8, l/16 etc.), while others provide full manual output only.Manual iris.
Diaphragm controlled directly by a calibrated ring on the lens barrel.Matrix Metering system
An exposure metering system using a multi-segment sensor and computer. Available in some Nikon SLRs.With the classic techniques of evaluating for 18% reflectance, factors such as brightness and contrast are primarily used to determine exposure. In addition, it is essential to evaluate each scene's esthetic factors such as color to get the best exposure. Check Nikon's own terms.Maximum aperture
The widest aperture which the diaphragm is capable of opening up to; it is engraved on the lens in this manner; 1: 1.4.Medium-format cameras
These cameras use larger film (60 mm by 70 mm), which results in more detail on the film and much better enlargements. One doesn't have to magnify larger film as much to make a magazine quality enlargement. A good compromise (a poor word for such a fine camera) between the transportability and light weight of a 35 mm. and image quality large format cameras. Gives a larger image, but still uses roll film. Generally very expensive cameras.Microprism
Minute glass or plastic structure of multiple prisms set in a viewfinder screen to act as a focusing aid. Breaks up an out-of-focus subject into a shimmer but images a focused subject clearly. Will not work satisfactorily at lens apertures smaller than f5.6.Mid-roll change
Feature available on the some APS camera that enables users to remove a partially exposed film cassette, insert it again later, and start shooting exactly where they left off.Mini-lab
Also 1 hour colour lab. Photofinishing operation that operates on a retail level, serving consumers directly and processing film on-site.Mirror lens (Reflex Lens)
Lens in which some (usually two) of the elements are curved mirrors. This construction produces comparatively lightweight short fat long focus lenses. They cannot be fitted with a normal diaphragm.Mirror Lockup (MLU)
Photographs involving long exposures often require the camera to be as steady as possible to get a reasonable sharp image. The Mirror Lock Up function flips the mirror to the up position and holds it there while the shutter release is depressed. When using long lenses at slow speeds, the shake caused by the quick motion of the mirror can cause noticeable camera shake. Use of MLU can lessen effects of camera shake, but not completely stop them.MTF
Modulation Transfer Function. The way people (who else, the magazines!) uses to measure a lens's ability to hold diminishing details of a subject. Why MTF ? Because, everything is done electronically and eliminating any errors in human judgement or vision and results can be repeatable to counter check earlier tests. Secondly, a precise comprehensive rating is made possible by incorporating huge amount of data into a single reading, lastly it is very fast and permit its use on just out from production lenses.Modelling
Representation by lighting of the three-dimensional nature of an original in a two-dimensional reproduction.Monitor Pre-flash(es)
When performing Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash with TTL Multi Sensor, the Speedlight fires a series of scarcely visible pre-flashes to enable the camera's computer to pre-analyze the scene. The TTL Multi Sensor ins de the camera body reads the amount of reflected light, then the camera's microcomputer determines the area of the TTL sensor to be used for flash output control and adjusts the flash output level. The Monitor Pre-flashes are visible but not recognizable. First adopted by Contax RTS III, now Nikon is using this for its top flagship model, the F5.Monopod
A single pole atop which a head or camera is mounted is a monopod. Monopods are lighter to carry and smaller than most tripods but to not have the same qualities as a tripod because the camera is still hand held. Monopods are best used in low light situations where hand holding would not be steady enough but a tripod is unavailable. Monopods are also useful with long lenses to minimize the magnified effects of camera shake.Motor Drive (power winder)
A mechanism for advancing the film to the next frame and recocking the shutter, activated by an electric motor usually powered by batteries. Popular for action-sequence photography and for recording images by remote control.Multilayer coating
The depositing of multiple coats of anti-reflective materials on a lens surface to reduce ghost images and flare produced by internal reflections and insure faithful color rendition; in the Nikon Integrated Coating system, the number of layers is determined by the type of optical glass and the position of the element in the lens design.Multiple Exposures
Multiple exposures are created by taking two or more pictures of different subjects or successive pictures of the same subject on the same frame of film.Usually applies on filter, filtration that can effectively reduce the amount of light passes to the film. In some filters, half ND filters can be very effective to lower the contrast, esp the sky to achieve more balance effect. Lens like reflex lenses, where its aperture is fixed, ND filter can be the only way to play around with exposures. Certain 617 format is providing with a central ND filter.Negative
The developed film that contains a reversed tone image of the original scene.Negative Holder
A device designed to hold the negative in proper position in an enlarger.Nicd or NICAD
Nikel Cadmium. Used as the backbone of most rechargeable batteries. Though not so lasting as alkaline, but have a better resistance to cold than alkaline. When the batteries power is drained out, it will turn "flat" right away (advisable to have spare batteries). Most high speed motor drive handles best when using Nicd batteries.NiMh
Nickel metal hydride. A new generation Nicd batteries, the Nikon highest speed 8 fps is achieved using this type of batteries.Normal Lens
A lens that makes the image in a photograph appear in perspective similar to that of the original scene (approximately 45°). A normal lens has a shorter focal length and a wider field of view than a telephoto lens, and a longer focal length and narrower field of view than a wide-angle lens. Normal lenses corresponding to that portion of human vision in which we can discern sharp detail; technically defined as a lens whose focal length is approximately equal to the diagonal of the film frame; in 35mm photography, the diagonal measures 43mm, but in practice, lenses with focal lengths from 50mm to 60mm are considered normal.NTSC
National Television Standards Committee. Standards for video broadcasting and recording in the US and Japan. PAL's the standard in Great Britain and the commonwealth countries. SECAM used in many countries in the European communities.NIC (Nikon Intergrated Coating Process): Check Nikon's terms page for more.
A meter which determines exposure by reading light reflected from the film during picture-taking or a way of metering meters light reflects off film plane during exposure. First pioneered by Olympus on its famous OM2n, which is real time metering for normal exposure and flash exposures. Most flash mode for modern cameras are with OTF flash mode now.OTF Test (Optical Transfer Functions)
Evaluates lens performance in terms of resolving power, contrast rendition and abberrations. Most believes the test is the only way to determine how good a lens is in the lab - at least the tester (esp photo magazines) does.Ortho (Orthochromatic)
Denotes film sensitive to blue and green light. Films that can be handled under a red safelight. Used primarily in print shops. Example: KodalithOverexposure
A condition in which too much light reaches the film, producing a dense negative or a very bright/light print or slide.PAL
Phase Alternation Line. System for minimising hue errors in colour transmission used in the EU.Pan Format
"Pan" format - one of the three selectable Advanced Photo System print formats; a 1:3 aspect ratio that produces prints of 3.5 x 10.5 inches or up to 4.5 x 11.5 inches; suitable for panoramic shots and tall or wide subjects.Pan (Panchromatic)
Designation of films that record all colors in tones of about the same relative brightness as the human eye sees in the original scene, sensitive to all visible wave-lengths. Films which must be handled to total darkness until completely processed. Example: Kodak T-Max, Tri-x, Plus-X, Ilford Delta, Agfa APX.Panning
Moving the camera so that the image of a moving object remains in the same relative position in the viewfinder as you take a picture. The eventual effect creates a strong sense of movement.Panorama
A broad view, usually scenic.Parallax
With a lens-shutter camera, parallax is the difference between what the viewfinder sees and what the camera records, especially at close distances. This is caused by the separation between the viewfinder and the picture-taking lens. There is no parallax with single-lens-reflex cameras because when you look through the viewfinder, you are viewing the subject through the picture-taking lens.PC
Personal Computer.PC
(photographic 1): Prontor/Compur. The clip on socket of the flash mode terminal.PC
(photographic 2): Perspective control. Also known as tilt or shift lenses. Lenses that allow for correction of linear distortion resulting from high or low camera angle. Most are with gear or sliding mechanism and most require manual metering.PC Cord
Before the days of hotshoe flash connectors and TTL flashes, the method of connecting the flash to the camera body was by PC cord. This cord if fairly thin and can be easily broken but can fire a flash from a great distance if necessary.Perforations
Regularly and accurately spaced holes punched throughout the length of film for still cameras. Basically the perforation function as a guide for precision registration of film and also provide mechanical movement from frame to frame.Perspective
The rendition of apparent space in a flat photograph, i.e., how far the foreground and background appear to be separated from each other; determined by only one factor: the camera-to-subject distance; if objects appear in their normal size relations, the perspective is considered "normal"; if the foreground objects are much larger than the ones in the background, the perspective is considered "exaggerated"; when there is little difference in size between foreground and background, we say the perspective looks "compressed."Photo File Index Print
A basic system feature that makes ordering reprints and enlargements easy; the small print shows a positive, "thumbnail"-sized version of every picture on an Advanced Photo System film roll; accompanies all prints and negatives returned in the sealed film cassette by the photofinisher; each thumbnail picture is numbered on the index print to match negative frames inside the cassette.Photolamp (3400K).
Photographic lamp giving more light than a normal lamp of the same wattage, at the expense of filament life. Often referred to by the trade mark Photo Hood. Are used with type A colour films.Picture angle
The angle of coverage of a lens usually measured across the diagonal of the picture frame; varies with focal length: the longer the focal length, the narrower the picture angle; the shorter the focal length, the wider the picture angle.Pincushion Distortion
The opposite of barrel distortion; straight lines are bowed in toward the middle to resemble the sides of a pincushion; present in smal amounts in some telephoto and telephoto-zoom lenses.Photofinisher Service Certification
Program developed by the System Developing Companies to give special recognition to photofinishers and retailers who provide the minimum Advanced Photo System feature set; an identifying logo signals to consumers which photofinishers and retailers provide all of the mandatory benefits of the system.Photomicrography
The process of taking photographs of minute objects using a camera and a microscope; not to be confused with "microphotography," the process of making minute photographs of large objects.Plane
Level surface. Used in photography chiefly in respect to focal plane, an imaginary level surface perpendicular to the lens axis in which the lens is intended to form an image. When the camera is loaded the focal plane is occupied by the film surface.Point and shoot cameras
These are the inexpensive cameras many of us started with. The simplest (and cheapest) are the disposable camera's that film manufacturers produce. The cheapest cameras are focus-free, the lens is set to focus at an intermediate distance that will cover most photographic needs. But if you get too close, you'll often get blurry pictures. Most focus-free cameras cost from $10-$50.Polarizing Screen (Filter)
A filter that transmits light travelling in one plane while absorbing light travelling in other planes. When placed on a camera lens or on light sources, it can eliminate undesirable reflections from a subject such as water, glass, or other objects with shiny surfaces. This filter also darkens blue sky.Polarized light
Light waves vibrating in one plane only as opposed to the multi-directional vibrations of normal rays. Natural effect produced by some reflecting surfaces, such as glass, water, polished wood, etc., but can also be simulated by placing a special screen in front of the light source. The transmission of polarized light is restrained by using a screen at an angle to the plane of polarization.Positive
The opposite of a negative, an image with the same tonal relationships as those in the original scenes-for example, a finished print or a slide.Preset iris
Diaphragm with two setting rings or one ring that can be moved to two positions. One is click-stopped, but does not affect the iris, the other moves freely and alters the aperture. The required aperture is preset on the first ring, and the iris closed down with the second just before exposure.A positive picture, usually on paper, and usually produced from a negative.Printing Frame
A device used for contact printing that holds a negative against the photographic paper. The paper is exposed by light from an external light source.Printing-in (See Burning-in)
Processing
Developing, fixing, and washing exposed photographic film or paper to produce either a negative image or a positive image.Program Exposure
An exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that automatically sets both the aperture and the shutter speed for proper exposure.Programmed Auto
Camera sets both shutter speed and aperture for correct exposure. In the programmed auto exposure mode, the camera automatically selects the optimum combination of shutter speed and aperture. Available programs include Auto Multi-Program, which varies the exposure program lines according to focal length and maximum lens aperture; and Vari-Program, which provides some options such as Sport Program and Close-Up Program, so that a photographer can select the most suitable option for the subject or the desired effect.Program Shift
In programmed auto exposure mode, this function enables the photographer to temporarily change an automatically set shutter speed/aperture combination, while maintaining the correct exposure. Convenient when a specific shutter speed/aperture is required in the programmed auto exposure mode. Also called Flexible Program.Push Processing
Increasing the development time of a film to increase its effective speed (raising the ISO number for initial exposure ) for low-light situations; forced development.Chemical process for making prints from slides.RA4
Process that producing slides from negatives.Rangefinder
Instrument for measuring distances from a given point, usually based on slightly separated views of the scene provided by mirrors or prisms. May be built into non-reflex cameras. Single-lens reflexes may have prismatic rangefinders built into their focusing screens. The Leica and the Contax G2 still keep the flag up in this areas.Rear-Curtain Sync
Flash fires an instant before the second (rear) curtain of the focal plane shutter begins to move. When slow shutter speeds are used, this feature can create a blur effect from the ambient light, i.e., a flowing- light patterns following a moving subject with subject movement frozen at the end of the light flow. (See "Front-Curtain Sync".) Most mid range and top flight auto camera models have this feature.Red-eye
An annoying consequence of flash photography. If the flash hits a person's eyes just right, you will see a red reflection from their eyes which can show up in photo's. Red-eye reduction is a feature found on some cameras that "fools" our eyes into not reflecting. Cameras with red-eye reduction set off a small flash a fraction of a second before the main flash. While not bright enough to make us blink, it does make the iris in our eye contract, making the opening (the black center of your eye) smaller so that there is less reflection coming from the inside of our eye.Refractive index
A technical term used to describe the effect of a lens in causing light rays to bend; important aspect in lens design.Reflector
Any device used to reflect light onto a subject to improve balance of exposure (contrast). Another way is to use fill in flash.Relative aperture.
Numerical expression of effective aperture, also known as f-number. Obtained by dividing focal length by diameter of effective aperture.Release-Priority :
For autofocus, shutter can be released anytime (i.e., even when subject is not in focus). Helps you avoid missed opportunities when you are not concerned with absolute focusing precision, terms apply primarily for Nikon.Reciprocity
Most films are designed to be exposed within a certain range of exposure times-usually between 1/15 second to 1/1000 second. When exposure times fall outside of this range-becoming either significantly longer or shorter-a film's characteristics may change. Loss of effective film speed, contrast changes, and (with color films) color shifts are the three common results. These changes are called reciprocity effect. Generally, as a quick reference, exposure beyond one second needs to compensate for this characteristic of film.Resolution
The ability of a lens to discern small detail; in photography, the image resolution in the final photograph depends on the resolving power of the sensitive emulsion and on that of the lensñthe two are not related, but the effective resolution is a function of both; for reasonably accurate photographic measurements of lens resolution, the sensitive material must therefore have a much greater resolving power than the lens.Reticulation
Cracking or distorting of the emulsion during processing, usually caused by wide temperature or chemical-activity differences between the solutions.Reproduction ratio
Term used in macrophotography to indicate the magnification of a subject; specifically the size of the imag recorded on film divided by the actual size of the subject; for example, if the image on film is the same size as the subject, the reproduction ratio is written as 1:1 or 1XRetouching
Altering a print or negative after development by use of dyes or pencils to alter tones of highlights, shadows, and other details, or to remove blemishes.Retrofocus Design
In a retrofocus design, which is advantageously applied to wideangle lenses, the back focus is designed longer than the lens' focal length to allow clearance for the movement of the reflex-mirror (No Mirror Lock up or seperate viewing accesory attachment is required). It consists of front diverging apd rear converging lens groups, as opposed to the telephoto design, and is therefore also called the inverted telephoto design.Reversal Rings
These rings allow you to use the filter mounts on the front of a lens to attach a lens backwards to a camera body. The method allows for extreme macro photography with out purchasing expensive equipment. The disadvantage is that there is a very limited DOF and loss of between 3 and 4 stops.RGB
The red, green & blue, the black is simulated colour. CMYK is the four primary colours.RTS
Contax's term for Real time system.Safelight
An enclosed darkroom lamp fitted with a filter to screen out light rays to which film and paper are sensitive. Light source consisting of housing, lamp and screen of a colour that will not affect the photographic material in use. Safelight screens are available in various colours and sizes for specific applications.Saturation
An attribute of perceived color, or the percentage of hue in a color. Saturated colors are called vivid, strong, or deep. Desaturated colors are called dull, weak, or washed out.Scale
Focusing method consisting of set of marks to indicate distances at which a lens is focused. May be engraved around the lens barrel, on the focusing control or on the camera body.Screen
In a camera. the surface upon which the lens projects an image for viewfinding and, usually, focusing purposes. In SLR cameras. almost universally a fresnel screen with a fine-ground surface. Often incorporates a microprism or split-image rangefinder.SDC System Developing Companies
Kodak and four other photo industry leaders who jointly developed the Advanced Photo System standards.Selective Focus
Choosing a lens opening that produces a shallow depth of field. Usually this is used to isolate a subject by causing most other elements in the scene to be blurred.Selenium
Light-sensitive substance which, when used in a barrier-layer construction, generates electrical current when exposed to light. Used in exposure meters. Needs no external power supply.Self-timer
Mechanism delaying the opening of the shutter for some seconds after the release has been operated. Also known as delayed action.Semi-automatic iris
Diaphragm mechanism which closes down to the taking aperture when the shutter is released, but must be manually re-opened to full aperture.Sensitivity
Expression of the nature of a photographic emulsion's response to light. Can be concerned with degree of sensitivity as expressed by film speed or response to light of various colours (spectral sensitivity).Sharpness
A term used to describe the ability of a lens to render fine detail clearly; dependent on the contrast and resolution of a lens and varies with the f/stop; in general, a lens is sharpest at the middle apertures. Also technically can be explained as clarity of the photographic image in terms of focus and contrast. Largely subjective but can be measured to some extent by assessing adjacency effects, i.e. the abruptness of the change in density between adjoining areas of different tone value.Short Lighting
Portraits are often done with the model not facing directly towards the camera but turned slightly away. If the lighting is such that the majority of the subjects face is shadowed, this is refered to as short lighting.Shutter
Blades, a curtain, plate, or some other movable cover in a camera that controls the time during which light reaches the film.Shutter speed
How long your camera opens the shutter to let light reach your film. Determines "exposure" when combined with "aperture." Nearly always measured in fractions of a second, such as 1/25 of a second (a slower shutter speed) versus 1/2000 of a second (a faster shutter speed). In comparing shutter speeds, 1/50 will let in only half as much light as 1/25. In lower-light situations (evening, in the woods, or indoors) longer shutter speeds are necessary. Keep in mind that slower shutter speeds may be slower than your subject (a skier, a waterfall, a butterfly's wings, even a person moving) so you may get some blur (sometimes, artistically you may want this blur).Similarly, most of us can only hold a camera slightly still and at slower shutter speeds our movement can cause blur. A general rule to is avoid shutter speeds slower than the "focal length" of your lens. For example, with a standard 50 mm. lens, 1/50 of a second is about the slowest shutter speed you should use. With a 200 mm. telephoto, avoid any shutter speed slower than 1/200 of a second. When you have to use a slower shutter speed, use a tripod, or at least brace your camera hand against a tree or rock. Or use a flash.In discussions, 1/25 is said as "one twenty-fifth of a second" and 1/2000 is said as "one two-thousandth of a second." Photographers often drop the reference to seconds, for example, "I took that photo at one two-thousandth."
Shutter Priority Auto Exposure
An exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that lets you select the desired shutter speed; the camera sets the aperture for proper exposure. If you change the shutter speed, or the light level changes, the camera adjusts the aperture automatically.Sidelighting
Light striking the subject from the side relative to the position of the camera; produces shadows and highlights to create modelling on the subject.Silicon
Light-sensitive substance which generates a minute current when exposed to light.Single Servo AF (Nikon's term)
Once the subject is in focus, focus is locked. Useful for recomposing the picture.Single-Lens-Reflex (SLR) Camera
A type of camera that allows you to see through the camera's lens as you look in the camera's viewfinder. Other camera functions, such as light metering and flash control, also operate through the camera's lens.Slave
There are times when multiple flash units will be used to light a set or scene. It would become a complex array of PC Cords if slaves were not available. Slaves come in 3 flavors, those triggered by visible light, those triggered by infrared light, and radio slaves. All three serve the same purpose: to fire a remote flash unit with out wiring. Light operated slaves are triggered when light of a specific wavelength falls upon a photocell in the front of the slave unit, causing the flash to fire. Radio slaves rely on radio signals between a transmitter and receiver to tell the remote flash unit when to fire. The advantage of the radio slave is that it is not line of site, flash units hidden behind objects can be fired with radio where optical methods would not work.Slow Sync
A flash technique for using the flash at a slow shutter speed. Flash shooting in dim light or at night at a fast shutter speed often results in a flash-illuminated subject against a dark background. Using a slower shutter speed with the flash brings out the background details in the picture. Use of a slow shutter speed with Rear-Curtain Sync is particularly effective for illustrating the movement of a stream of light. Can be of very creative if put to good use.Slide
A photographic transparency (positive) mounted for projection. Represent first generation production of a image. Most agencies and photo editors demands slides than prints. Having a very tight tolerance on exposure latitudes.Soft Focus
Produced by use of a special lens that creates soft outlines. Filters are more popular than lens as it is more economical and flexible.Speed
can refer to several things: usually "shutter speed" or "film speed." Sometimes, lenses with wide apertures are referred to as "faster" lenses, because you can use faster shutter speeds with them due to their greater light-gathering ability. "Faster" lenses are sometimes confused with "speed."SSFDC (for solid-state floppy disk)
A type of alternative source of storage medium employed by Apple's Quick-Take digital camera as opposed to ATA standard Flash Memory card.Soft Lighting
Lighting that is low or moderate in contrast, such as on an overcast day.SPD
Silicon Photo Diode. Battery powered light sensitive cells - the most common light reading cells for cameras, external metering devices.Split-image
Form of rangefinder image, bisected so that the two halves of the image are aligned only when the correct object distance is set on the instrument or. in the case of a coupled rangefinder, when the lens is correctly focused. SLR cameras may have a prismatic split-image system in their viewing screen. Works on the same principle as a microprism, and is restricted to apertures of f5.6 or greater.Spot Metering
Some scenes involve difficult lighting situations where a matrix metering or center weighted metering system of a standard camera would incorrectly meter. Spot metering allows a user to pick a specific point in the scene and meter it only. This allows a user to expose for a specific point in the scene.Stabilizer
Alternative to fixer where permanence is not required. Used in automatic processing machines and can now provide prints that will not deteriorate noticeably over many months if kept away from strong light.Stain
Discoloured areas on film or paper, usually caused by contaminated developing solutions or by insufficient fixing, washing, or agitation.Stop Bath
Darkroom material. An acid rinse, usually a weak solution of acetic acid, used as a second step when developing black-and-white film or paper. It stops development and makes the hypo (fixing bath) last longer.Stopping Down
Changing the lens aperture to a smaller opening; for example, from f/8 to f/11. Some lenses, like PC lens or attachment with a none dedicated bellow on macro photography, stop down exposure metering is required for correct reading.Stop-down metering
TTL metering in which the light is measured at the picture-taking aperture. As the meter just measures the light passing through the lens, there is no need for any lens-camera interconnections.Strobe
Unlike a monolight, a strobe requires a separate battery or power unit to supply the head with power. Strobe heads are smaller and lighter than monolight heads and can be used in the same fashion as monolights.Studio lamps (3200K)
Tungsten or tungsten halogen lamps designed for studio use. Have a longer life than photo lamps, but a lower specific output and colour temperature. Are used with type B films.SQF
Subjective Quality Factor. Essentially a lens rating system.Supplementary Lens
Generally a simple positive (converging) lens used in front of the camera lens to enable it to focus at close range. Th}e effect is to provide a lens of shorter focal length without altering the lens-film separation, thus giving the extra extension required for close focusing.SVHS
Super Video Home system. Clearer than the conventional VHS because it separates chrominance and luminance transmission signals.Synchronization
Concerted action of shutter opening and closing of electrical contacts to fire a flashbulb or electronic flash at the correct moment to make most effficient use of the light output. Roughly speaking, FP or M-synchronisation is constructed to fire flashbulbs just before the shutter is fully open, allowing a build-up time, and X-synchronisation fires electronic flash exactly at the moment the shutter is fully open.T (Time setting)
Setting that holds the camera shuttle open until the shuttle dial is turned or release is press the second time. This setting differs from "B" (Bulb) that it usually is a stand alone setting and never drains the battery power and thus ideal for really long time exposures.Telephoto Lens
A lens that makes a subject appear larger on film than does a normal lens at the same camera-to-subject distance. A telephoto lens has a longer focal length and narrower field of view than a normal lens and have a shallower depth of field than wide angle lenses. But it can do isolation of subject and have a longer reach without going near to the subject. Life can be very difficult in sports and wildlife photography. Telephoto lens whose focal length is longer than the diagonal of the film frame; in 35mm photography, lenses longer than 50-5Bmm; also referred to as a "long" lens.T-Grain technology
Trademark for patented Kodak film emulsion technology used in all Kodak Advanced Photo System films; uniquely shaped grains that align better than conventional silver crystals, absorbing and transmitting light more effectively to produce sharper images.Thin Negative
A negative that is underexposed or underdeveloped (or both). A thin negative appears less dense than a normal negative.Through-the-lens (TTL)
Type of exposure meter built into the camera body and reading through the camera lens. May measure either at full aperture or at picture taking aperture. (refer below for more descriptions).Through-The-Lens Focusing
Viewing a scene to be photographed through the same lens that admits light to the film. Through-the-lens viewing, as in a single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera, while focusing and composing a picture, eliminates parallax.Through-The-Lens Metering
Meter built into the camera determines exposure for the scene by reading light that passes through the lens during picture-taking. Most SLR cameras have built-in meters which measure light after it has passed through the lens, a feature that enables exposure readings to be taken from the actual image about to be recorded on film, whatever the lens angle of view and regardless of whether a filter is used or not.TTL auto flash
The camera's light sensor measures flash illumination, as reflected by the subject on the film and shuts off the flash where measurement indicates a correct exposure. Because the sensor that controls the flash receives light through the lens TTL auto flash can be used for bounce flash photography, fill flash, multiple flash photography, etc. An additional advantage of TTL auto flash is that it enables you to use a wide range of aperture settings, while ensuring correct exposure.Time Exposure or "B" Exposure
A comparatively long exposure made in seconds or minutes.Tint
Shades of white in a finished print, controlled by the color of the paper, varying from white to buff.Titanium/Titan Camera Body
Titanium is one of the world's strongest, yet lightest materials; its specific grauit is approximately half that of brass, yet its hardness is almost the same as that of steel, while its corrosion resistance is greater than that of stainless steel. However, titanium is a uery difficult material to process.TLR
Twin lens reflex camera that have separate viewing and actual exposure lens. Rollei still have one in production.Tone
The degree of lightness or darkness in any given area of a print; also referred to as value. Cold tones (bluish) and warm tones (reddish) refer to the color of the image in both black-and-white and color photographs.Toning
Intensifying or changing the tone of a photographic print after processing. Solutions called toners are used to produce various shades of colors.Transparency
Basically, slide film. A positive photographic image on film, viewed or projected by transmitted light (light shining through film).Transparent magnetic layer
Information storage layer built into Advanced Photo System film that enables enhanced information exchange capabilities, improving print quality by capturing lighting and scene information and other picture-taking data; basis for future information exchange features.Tripod
A three-legged supporting stand used to hold the camera steady. Especially useful when using slow shutter speeds and/or telephoto lenses. Another is the monopod, single leg tripod.T/S
The tilt and shift lens, Canon's version of the PC (perspective control) lens.Tungsten Light
Light from regular room lamps and ceiling fixtures, not fluorescent. Images produced under this light source can be extremely warm, in fact excessive warmth. Need some color balance filtration or flash to neutralise that.Twin Lens Reflex (TLR)
There are a few Medium Format cameras which have two separate lenses on the camera, one above the other. These camers are known as Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) cameras. These cameras use the upper lens for viewing and the lower lens for exposing the film. The light is refracted through a prism and focusing screen to allow the user to observe the image. One problem with TLR camera is known as the parallax effect. When photographing objects close to the camera the object that the viewer sees will not be exactly the same as the image the fill will see.Type A film
Colour film balanced for use with photolamps (3400K).Type B film
Colour film balanced for use with studio lamps (3200K).
UD
Ultra Low dispersion lens, pls refer to ED, LD sections.Ultra-wide angle lens
Extra-wide angle lens, usually those with an angle of view greater than 90°. For 35 mm cameras the description usually applies to lenses of shorter focal length than about 24 mm.Umbrella
Another source of diffusing the light from a flash unit is an umbrella. The use is similar to that of a Softbox except that the diffusion ability is slightly lesser.Underexposure
A condition in which too little light reaches the film, producing a thin negative, a dark slide, or a muddy-looking print.Unipod
Also refer as monopod.A one-legged support used to hold the camera steady. Also see "tripod".UV
The ultra violet ray. This is beyond the visible spectrum i.e. it's invisible electromagnetic radiation of the sunlight. UV lenses is very expensive, only Nikon has a offering in its Nikkor lens line.UV Haze Filter
A filter used to reduce UV haze in photo but often just used to protect lens.Variable-Contrast Paper
Photographic paper that provides different grades of contrast when exposed through special filters.Variable focus lens
Lens of which the focal length can be continuously varied between set limits. The lens must be refocused with each change in focal length.Vari-Program (Nikon technology)
A programmed auto exposure mode that offers various options, such as Sport Program and Close-Up Program, so the photographer can select the option suitable to the subject status and the desired effect.View Camera
Most Large Format cameras are view cameras. Rather than having a prism reflect light from the lens to an eye piece, or be operated like a Rangefinger camera, a view camera projects the image directly from the lens onto a ground glass focusing screen. Once the image is properly focused and composed the film holder is slid into the camera in front of the focusing screen. and the film is then exposed. The lens is then closed, black cover is slid away from in front of the film, the shutter release is tripped and the film is exposed. The black cover is the placed back in front of the film and the film holder is removed. Each negative must be individually loaded in a view camera.Viewfinder
Device or system indicating the field of view encompassed by the camera lens. The term is sometimes used as a description of the type of camera that does not use reflex or "straight-through" viewing systems and therefore has to have a separate viewfinder.Vignetting
Underexposure of image corners produced deliberately by shading or unintentionally by inappropriate equipment, such as unsuitable lens hood or badly designed lens. A common fault of wide-angle lenses, owing to reflection cut-off, etc. of some of the very oblique rays. May be caused in some long-focus lenses by the length of the lens barrel.Wide-Angle Lens
A lens that has a shorter focal length and a wider field of view (includes more subject area) than a normal lens.Also can explained as a lens whose focal length is shorter than the diagonal of the film frame; in 35mm photography, lenses shorter than 50mm; also referred to as a "short" lens.WS
Watt per second. For flash mode, the measurement of electrical energy in the flash.xX (setting)
Also refer as X synch. Real time setting that causes the flash to burst in synchronises or instantaneously as the shuttle open up. For older manual camera, the X synch speed usually refers to the maximum speed that the camera can have its shuttle curtain open long enough to synchronise with the flash.Zoom Lens
A lens in which you adjust the focal length over a wide range of focal lengths. Subsituting lenses of many focal lengths. Zoom lenses whose focal length is continuously variable over a certain range without a change in focus; its focal length is changed by operating a separate zoom or a combination focusing/zoom ring; difficult type of lens to design and manufacture, very useful for the photographer on a budget or one who likes to travel light.