If you own a Canon camera, you might be wondering how to adjust the aperture.
This is not a step that is always easy to know how to do. Because of this, we have put this guide together so you know exactly how to do the job.
This guide will go in depth and help you get as much as possible from your Canon camera. It focuses on how to adjust your camera’s aperture manually. It also discusses the effect that it will have on your photographs.
We will provide general advice based on how most Canon cameras are constructed. However, this might mean that we might not be giving exactly the correct advice for your model of Canon camera. The advice provided here will apply to most Canon DLSRs (Also check out What Is A 75-300mm Lens Good For?).
But if you want to learn how to get more use out of your Canon camera and want to know how you can control the aperture, keep reading!
Steps
The first step to setting up and controlling the aperture on your Canon camera is to simply turn it on. After you have done this, we can move on to the more advanced steps.
Correct Mode
Most Canon cameras will have a mode selector or a mode dial, it is usually a circular piece on the top of the camera which you can twist to select a specific mode.
To have the best control of your aperture and full control over changing it, you will want to select manual mode, usually labeled with an M (see photo on right). Alternatively, you can use the aperture priority mode, usually labeled as Av.
You could also do it in B, Bulb mode. This setting is best for long exposures. We recommend Av or M for most situations outside of astrophotography.
To choose between Av or M, choose Av if you only want to control the aperture. However, if you want control over other settings choose M, as this will put the camera in full manual mode.
We recommend that you use Av as this will simplify taking photos. Always preview the photo on the LCD screen. If the photo is not correctly exposed you can use manual or use the exposure compensation function.
Adjusting The Aperture
Once you are in one of the modes that allow you to control the aperture, you are pretty much ready to go. For most Canon cameras, a dial is right by the shutter button.
If you look at the LCD display, you should see that your aperture value has been highlighted if you are in Av mode. This means that the dial is ready to be used to change the aperture.
However, turning the same dial will actually be the shutter speed if you are in manual mode. This is because in different modes the dials control different settings. so if you try to do it the same way, you will not adjust the aperture but the shutter speed instead.
So, if you are just looking to change the aperture, this is why we recommend using Av. But, if you are still in manual mode, you must hold down the Av button which will usually be near the LCD screen.
If you can not find it, try finding a diagram of the buttons featured on your Canon camera.
Once you hold the Av button down while in manual mode, you can treat the camera like in Av mode. This means you can use the dial by the shutter button to adjust your camera’s aperture.
However you choose to change the aperture, you should be able to notice the difference in what it has changed by looking at the LCD. If you want to know exactly what the aperture changes, keep reading!
What Is Aperture And What Does It Control
Now you know how to control the aperture on your Canon camera, we think it is worth dedicating some time to go over exactly what your aperture controls on your Canon camera.
For a simple definition, the aperture controls the size of the opening in your lens. Changing the aperture results in the opening or closing of this hole to let more or less light in. The size of the hole is changed by using a iris diaphragm formed from overlapping blades.
The main features this will change for the final product are exposure time, depth of field, and sharpness.
The depth of field means how much the scene will be in focus. For example, if you are taking a landscape, you will want to have a small aperture to have as much as possible in focus at the cost of allowing less light to be let in. As a result, the exposure time will be longer.
The aperture setting is called the f-number. A low number results in a wider opening allowing more light to pass to the camera. Conversely, a high number results in a smaller hole.
When taking a photograph with a high f-number (i.e. a small opening) the depth of field will be deeper. This means that more of the scene will be potentially in focus. However, since the hole is smaller less light hits the light detector.
Knowing how the depth of field will affect the final product is important to get the most out of your Canon camera.
The aperture will also greatly affect your exposure which is how much light you are letting in, and this is also related to the shutter speed.
The lens sharpness is also a factor that is worth considering as it is also related to the aperture. Knowing what sharpness works best for the type of pictures you take is important for getting the best results with your photography!
Aperture for Astrophotography
Because the target is a great distance from the camera in astrophotography, there is no need to consider the aperture to produce a sufficient depth of field. What is essential is allowing as much light as possible to pass to the camera.
All lenses have a maximum aperture. Budget zoom lenses may have a maximum aperture of 4 or 5.6, while premium lenses may be as wide as 1.8. The wider the aperture, the better.
You may think you can open the lens to the maximum aperture and start snapping away. Unfortunately, this often does not always produce the best results. The reason is that at maximum aperture most lenses can not correct for certain lens defects. It is best to use a slightly smaller aperture.
The best thing to do is to experiment with you lens to see what aperture provides the best combination of sharpness and brightness. Don’t forget you will need to adjust your ISO.
Summary
Hopefully, this guide has given you all the information you need when it comes to working out how to adjust the aperture on your Canon camera.
Knowing how to do this is important as it greatly affects the final product you will get when using the camera.
If the steps shown in this guide have not worked for your Canon camera, we recommend using a search engine to find instructions for your Canon camera. To do so, use your favorite search engine and enter your camera model followed by ‘manual’. This will provide more specific advice for your specific model of camera!
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