Stops explained

[BehaviourMom]

I'm new to DPS but am excited by all the great information that seems to be here and within the members. I have taken some courses from a local photographer and can do what I would consider basics with ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. My daugther dances competitively as I research lenses etc. for this type of shooting I'm realizing I need to learn more about 'stops'. More specifically, understanding what is meant by stopping up or stopping down. Is this related to the aperture setting? Or something different?

Thanks so much! Any links, books, etc. that would be helpful are appreciated!

I have an older body (Canon Rebel XT) but its working for me Hope I posted in the right area.

[SusanH1970]

This should help you out immensely, it's a great explanation of what you're asking:

Introduction to Aperture in Digital Photography

Then, go through and read the links here. Best beginner's guide around!
Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials

[inkista]

Small vocabulary nitpick: stops are just a measurement of light in an exposure. A stop is a doubling/halving of the light, and can be expressed in exposure compensation, aperture, iso, shutter speed, or flash power output. i.e., all the following things are equivalent in terms of how much more light you'll get:

0 -> +1EV
iso 100-> iso 200
1/100s -> 1/50s
f/5.6 -> f/4
1/16 power -> 1/8 power

This is distinct and different from f-stops, which is the light you get from aperture, and is given in f-numbers.

In terms of lenses, the best explanation of maximum aperture I've run across is this one: What is Maximum Aperture?

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by inkista

Small vocabulary nitpick: stops are just a measurement of light in an exposure. A stop is a doubling/halving of the light, and can be expressed in exposure compensation, aperture, iso, shutter speed, or flash power output. i.e., all the following things are equivalent in terms of how much more light you'll get:

0 -> +1EV
iso 100-> iso 200
1/100s -> 1/50s
f/5.6 -> f/4
1/16 power -> 1/8 power

This is distinct and different from f-stops, which is the light you get from aperture, and is given in f-numbers.

In terms of lenses, the best explanation of maximum aperture I've run across is this one: What is Maximum Aperture?

Once again, Inkista rules.



(Oh, and, this is for your time