Glossary

accessory flash Any flash unit that is separate from the camera itself, but that can be attached (via direct connection or wirelessly) to the camera.

ambient light The light, natural or artificial, that already exists in the scene. Often referred to as existing or available light.

angle of view The scope, described in degrees, horizontally and vertically of what a lens sees. Wide-angle lenses, for example, have a broad angle of view.

aperture The opening, usually but not always circular, in the lens that controls how much light passes through the lens to the sensor. Lens aperture size is controlled by the f-stop setting and the smaller the number (f/2.0, for example), the larger the opening; the larger the number (f/16), the smaller the opening. The aperture and the shutter speed are the two controls that regulate the light entering the camera.