See how it works! Aperture!

Having a hard time visualizing what aperture means? Watch the little video below to see an aperture in action.

Aperture Revealed - 120 fps - HD from Camera Technica on Vimeo.

Remember, the smaller the number (1.8, 2.8, 4.0 and so on) the larger the opening. A large opening lets in a lot of light and has a shallow depth of field. Meaning, a small part of your image is in focus and the background is very blurry. A large opening is great for portraits and still life shots due to the blurred background. It is also ideal for low-light situations because it lets more light in.

The larger the number (7.1, 8.0, 10.0 and so on) the smaller the opening. The smaller the opening the less light is let in and more of the frame is in focus/sharp). The small opening is great for landscapes or photojournalistic images because everything is in focus. However, it is not great for low-light situations because it does not let a lot of light in.

A deeper explanation is here:

Part 7: Aperture from --jL on Vimeo.

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If you are curious how different apertures work with focal length and different lenses, watch this video:

Apertures from Trammell Hudson on Vimeo.