143
Chapter 10
Glossary of terms
A (Aperture Priority) Mode
You set the aperture yourself and
the camera automatically varies
the shutter speed so that the
picture is taken with the best
exposure.
AE (Automatic Exposure)
The camera's built-in exposure
meter automatically sets the
exposure. The 3 AE modes
available on this camera are P
mode, in which the camera selects
both the aperture and shutter
speed, A mode, in which the user
selects the aperture and the
camera sets the shutter speed,
and S mode, in which the user
selects the shutter speed and the
camera sets the aperture. In M
mode, the user selects both the
aperture and the shutter speed.
Aperture
The adjustable lens opening which
controls the amount of light that
enters the camera. The larger the
aperture, the shorter the depth of
field and the fuzzier the
background. The smaller the
aperture, the greater the depth of
field and the sharper the
background. Aperture is measured
in f/stops. Larger aperture values
indicate smaller apertures, and
smaller aperture values indicate
larger apertures.
CCD (Charge-coupled Device)
This converts light passing through
the lens into electrical signals. On
this camera, light is picked up and
converted into RGB signals to
build a single image.
Contrast Detection Method
This is used to measure the
distance to the subject. The
camera determines if the image is
focused by the level of contrast in
the subject.
Conventional Photograph
This refers to recording images
using silver halide (the method for
recording images in conventional,
non-digital photography.) This
system is in contrast to still video
and digital photography.
DCF (Design rule for Camera
File system)
A standard for image files by the
Japan Electronics and Information
Technology Industries Association
(JEITA).
Digital ESP (Electro-Selective
Pattern) light metering
This determines the exposure by
metering and calculating the light
levels in the center and other
areas of the image separately.
