THREE BASIC

CONTROLS OF A
CAMERA
1. FOCUSING CONTROL

Focusing – is defined as the

setting of proper distance in
order to form a clear or sharp
image/s.
Focusing is the main factor that
will determine the sharpness
of the images on a
photograph
FACTORS THAT WILL DETERMINE
THE SHARPNESS OF IMAGES ON A
PHOTOGRAPH

a. Camera movement / shake.

b. Motion of the subject when
the photograph is actually
taken.
c. Improper adjustment of
Focusing Control.
DEPTH OF FOCUS OR FOCAL RANGE
- It refers to the distance that a
camera can rack back and forth while
preserving satisfactory image detail in
focal plane for a given aperture.

when a lens is focused on any given

subject, there is one lens-to-film
distance where the image is sharpest,
as the lens is moved close to the film
or farther away from the film, the
sharpness decreases.
There is a small range of
movement on either side of
the position of the best focus
in which the degree of
unsharpness is acceptable,
and the total range is called
DEPTH OF FOCUS.
METHODS OF FOCUSING
A lens maybe focused by any of
the following:

A. SCALE-BED OR FOCUSING SCALE

- This a focusing method whereby
the distance of the subject from the
camera lens is measured through
the used of distance scale or pre-
setted distance expressed in feet or
in meters located at the lens barrel.
feet

meter
To focus with this method, one has to
use a measuring device (tape
measure, yardstick, ruler, etc.) and
actually measure the distance from
the lens of the camera to the subject.

Whatever distance was measured, will

be the setting of the marker or pointer
of focus. If actual measurement is not
possible or undertaken, estimation,
calculation, or approximation of this
particular distance can be resorted to.
However, the accuracy of
the focus is dependent
upon the accuracy of
estimation, calculation,
or approximation.
B. RANGEFINDERS METHOD
- It is a mechanism used to
measure the angle of convergence
of light as seen from two
apertures or opening but viewed
at the same time.

THREE METHODS OF RANGEFINDER

1. SPLIT-IMAGE
2. CO-INCIDENT IMAGE
3. GROUNDGLASS
SPLIT-IMAGE TYPE

- A type of rangefinder
wherein the image of a
straight lens in the object
appears to be cut into
halves and separated from
each other when the lens is
not in focus.
When one looks through the
viewfinder of a camera, there
is a circle on the central part
with a line running across the
circle.

To determine focus with this

type, pick a straight line in
the subject and view it on the
circle.
If the straight line is cut and
separated from each other,
the focusing is not correct.

Rotate the lens barrel until

the said straight line is
viewed as straight and the
lens are in focus.
 Split Method of Focusing

Object Out of focus Focus

CO-INCIDENT TYPE
- A method of focusing wherein a
single subject appears as two
images when not in focus.

- To focus with this method,

rotate the lens barrel until the two
images viewed will coincide with
each other and the subject is in
focus.
CO-INCIDENT TYPE
3. GROUNDGLASS TYPE
 A method of focusing where
the images are directly
focused at the ground glass
screen behind the taking
lens.
 If the image appears to be
blurred, fuzzy or not sharp, it
is out of focus.
This method is accomplished by
direct observation of the image of
the subject on a glass with finely
grounded surface known as ground
glass.

If the image being focused is

blurred or not clear, the lens is out
of focus. When the image is sharp
or clear, the lens is in focus.
GROUND GLASS METHOD
APERTURE
CONTROL
2. APERTURE CONTROL

 Aperture (Lens Opening) the hole

through which light enters a camera.
 It refers to the physical size/diameter
of the lens opening.
 The size of the lens opening is
measured by ƒ-number.
ƒ-number – A series of numbers used to
described the size of the lens opening.

ƒ-1.4 ƒ-2.8 ƒ-4 ƒ-5.6

ƒ-8 ƒ-11 ƒ-16 ƒ-22

- The higher or bigger the ƒ-number /

ƒ=stop, the smaller the lens opening or
aperture – meaning, less amount of light
enters through the camera lens.
- The smaller the ƒ-number, the bigger the
lens opening – meaning, more light
passes through the camera lens.

- The ƒ-number you select will affect the

Depth of Field (DOF).
The aperture is controlled by a
metal diaphragm which can be
expanded or constricted by
moving a turning ring on the lens
mount or barrel.

DIAPHRAGM – A device that

controls the amount of light that
passes through a camera's
aperture to strike the film.
MAIN FUNCTIONS OF DIAPHRAGM:

A. It controls the volume of light.

B. It controls the Depth of Field.

 DIFFERENT LENS APERTURE
DEPTH OF FIELD

 It refers to distance measured from the

nearest to the farthest object in apparent
sharp focus when the lens is set or
focused at particular distance.
 Also known as Zone of Focus.
 The DOF you select normally covers an
area of 1/3 in front of your point of focus
and 2/3 behind.
FACTORS CONTROLLING
THE DEPTH OF FIELD
A. LENS APERTURE

 The smaller the aperture the greater

the Depth of Field.
 The bigger the aperture the smaller /
lesser the DOF.
B. DISTANCE TO THE SUBJECT
 The farther the camera to the
subject distance, the greater /
wider the Depth of Field
 The nearer the camera to the
subject, the smaller / lesser /
shallow the DOF.
C. FOCAL LENGTH
- The shorter the Focal
length of the camera lens,
the greater the Depth of
Field
MEANING OF FOCAL LENGTH
 It is the distance measured from the
optical center of the lens to the film
when the lens is set to focused at
infinity position.
 It is the determining factor of how
wide the area of coverage of a lens as
well as the size of the image that is
produce.
 It refers to the magnification power of
the lens measured in millimeters.
HOW TO OBTAIN A MAXIMUM DEPTH OF
FIELD?
The problem of obtaining the maximum depth
of field is what point to focus. This can be done
by using a HYPERFOCAL DOCUSING
METHOD.
HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE- It refers to the
nearest distance at which a lens is focus with a
given particular diaphragm opening which will
give a maximum depth of field.
- It is a point of focus at which you can use and
obtain maximum depth of field at a particular
given aperture.
 To do this, set your focus at infinity
distance, and check your depth of
field scale to see what is the nearest
point of sharp focus at the aperture
you are choosing. Then refocus again
using the hyper focal distance or
nearest distance
SHUTTER SPEED
CONTROL
3. SHUTTER SPEED CONTROL
 This refers to the time the shutter will
open and close at a given time.
 Shutter speed are usually timed in
fractions of a second.
 The smaller numbers represent longer
exposure time and the bigger numbers
represent shorter exposure time
What is Shutter Speed?

Shutter speed is the length of time the camera shutter is open,

exposing light onto the camera sensor. Essentially, it’s how long
your camera spends taking a photo.

How Shutter Speed is measured

Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second
when they are under a second. For example, 1/4 means a quarter of
a second, while 1/250 means one-two-hundred-and-fiftieth of a
second (or four milliseconds).

Most modern DSLRs and mirrorless cameras can handle shutter

speeds of 1/4000th of a second at the fastest, while some can
handle even quicker speeds of 1/8000th of a second and faster. On
the other hand, the longest available shutter speed on most DSLRs
or mirrorless cameras is typically 30 seconds. You can use a longer
shutter speed by using external remote triggers, if necessary.
 EXAMPLE OF SHUTTER
SPEED
B 1 1/2 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60

1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/3000 1/4000

Letter “B” stands for bulb setting
- Bulb setting is used for the Time Exposure longer
than one (1) second.
- It is a shutter-speed setting that permits the
shutter to stay open for as the shutter button is
pressed down.
- The number “1” stands for a whole second and
others are fractions of a second.
PAINTING WITH LIGHT
- A form of open flash technique. With
this technique, the flash unit is moved
from place to place, fired manually
until all areas of the scene or large
subjects are fully illuminated and the
shutter is then released or is closed.
This technique is used in
photographing a stadium or in night
photography and the subject is a big
building or an open field with little or
no other source of illumination.
Shutter Speed (ISO 100/21°) Lens opening (ƒ)
15 16
Shutter Speed (ISO 100/21°) Lens opening (ƒ)
125 5.6
Shutter Speed (ISO 100/21°) Lens opening (ƒ)
1000 1.8
Shutter speed:1/15
Aperture: f/8