Difference between setting aperture by lens and camera

Question

it may sound silly.Im a beginners.planning to buy nikon d40.Please explain me the difference

Answer 1

Your camera has 4 "Exposure Modes" : "P" for Program, "M" for Manual, "S" for Shutter Priority and "A" for Aperture Priority.

In "P" your camera will select an aperture and shutter speed to give a correct exposure.

In "M" you can set the aperture and shutter speed any way you want.

In "S" you select a shutter speed and the camera will select a correct aperture.

In "A" you select an aperture and the camera will select a correct shutter speed.

Using "P" turns your DSLR into a glorified "point & shoot" since you have no control over the settings the camera chooses.

If you're shooting night scenes without flash then you'd use "M" so you can select both shutter speed and aperture to achieve the results you want. This requires a tripod to mount your camera on since shutter speeds are usually long - 2 seconds or more.

If you're shooting action - kids running and playing, sports or other fast moving subjects - then you'd choose "S" so you can keep the shutter speed high enough to stop the action.

If you're shooting nature or scenics you'd choose "A" since you'll want to control your aperture to give more or less Depth of Field (DOF)*. You must remember to check the shutter speed the camera selects to make sure it isn't too slow to hand-hold the camera.

A company called "The Magic Lantern" offers an instructional DVD for your camera. You should be able to find it at Circuit City or Amazon. It would, IMO, be very helpful.

Actual classes in photography would be the very best way to learn if any are available.

You might want to visit http://www.fotosharp.com and buy their "Day & Night Exposure Guide" if you plan on doing low-light, non-flash photography.

* DOF is loosely defined as the area in acceptable focus in front of and behind your subject. If you google "depth of field" you'll find numerous examples and discussions. If you go to http://www.expoimaging.net you can read about their ExpoAperture2. This is a circular chart showing the DOF for different focal lengths, apertures and sensor sizes.

Answer 2

There's no difference in the final image; it's just a different way to change the setting depending on which lens + body you use.

With Nikon's digital bodies, you always set the aperture through the camera body. Even if you're using a lens has its own aperture ring, with a digital body you always change the aperture setting with a scroll wheel on the body.

With the D40, you'll probably only be using Nikon AF-S and AF-I lenses - these lenses don't have an aperture ring (and they don't need one).

I use a Nikon D200 with a variety of lenses - some with and some without an aperture ring.

Answer 3

Ah with that first answer I now understand the question; at least I think I do.

The "choice of focus" is a choice for the focus spot. With a bigger aperture (lower F number), the focus point gets more and more isolated and everything else is more and more blurred. This effect generally works better, the bigger the sensor is. That is why you don't really see this effect on point and shoot cameras; small aperture and small chip.

But that is really putting it way too simple. You will see what I mean when you get the cam and a nice bright lens.

Some lenses, especially the older ones, have an aperture ring. With most of these, you have to set the aperture on the lens; if you change it on the camera's dial it won't on the lens. With automatic lenses, which do not have an aperture ring, the number set in-camera will be electronically transmitted to the lens and then set.

Answer 4

Ha ha - actually I had this same question once. I didn't ask it, but I mean this has been curious for me, too. (I'm also a beginner who's planning on buying a Nikon D40.)

I've always liked the different in focus and out of focus shots one could make, but all those digital cameras don't allow you to adjust the focus. :/

I'm sorry I can't help. But I'm just saying it's very interesting. :D