How to Make an Aperture Smaller

Make the aperture opening in a lens smaller with the aperture ring or digital panel settings.

If you have a digital or film camera with manual controls, you have the power to change the exposure by choosing your shutter speed and aperture. You may need to make the aperture smaller because your light meter says you need to reduce the light entering the camera for a proper exposure, or you may find yourself decreasing the aperture to get a wider depth of field in the focus of your image. The task becomes instinctual after you locate where to change the aperture on your specific camera and practice.

Instructions

Older 35mm SLR

1. Locate the aperture ring on your manual SLR, or single-lens reflex, camera. It is likely located where the base of your lens meets the camera body.

2. Take note of the aperture numbers listed on the ring. These vary among cameras and lenses, but you should see a sequence of numbers that resembles 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and 22. These are the aperture f-stops.

3. Find the dot in the center of the aperture ring that lines up with one of these numbers. This dot indicates the aperture that your camera is currently set to.

4. Twist the aperture ring towards a number higher than your current aperture setting. The higher the number, the smaller you make the aperture. For example, changing from f/8 to f/11 makes the aperture smaller so that one less stop of light passes through the lens to the film plane. If your camera is already set to the highest number, you cannot make the aperture smaller.

Newer SLR/Digital

1. Locate the digital display panel that shows your current aperture and shutter speed settings. If these are not listed, you may have to switch to a Manual mode or an Aperture-Priority mode rather than the Program mode to make them visible.

2. Find the dial that allows you to change your aperture settings. The dial is often located near your shutter release button. You may have separate dials for shutter speed and aperture. Alternately, you may have an additional button you must hold down while turning the dial to choose between aperture and shutter speed choices. Consult your camera's manual for details.

3. Turn the dial so that the aperture number increases. This makes the aperture opening smaller, allowing less light to reach the film plane or digital sensor.

Tips & Warnings

• When you make your aperture smaller, you let less light into the camera. If you are using a Manual mode rather than an Aperture-Priority mode, be prepared to increase your shutter speed to compensate for the light lost through aperture.

• If you are using a newer and/or digital camera, the aperture numbers may vary greatly from those listed. You may also have additional numbers listed as half or third-stops of exposure. Regardless, choose a bigger number to make the aperture smaller.

References

• "Photography"; Barbara London, Jim Stone, John Upton; 2008

Resources

• MTU Department of Computer Science: The Aperture Priority Mode
• Digital Photography Tips Central: Aperture and Its Uses to Control the Image Explained