How to Change the F-Stops on the Nikon D3000

Light passes through the f-stop to the CCD sensor.

Nikon's D3000 digital SLR camera allows you to control shutter speed, f-stop and other settings. F-stop is the size of the pinhole the camera allows light to pass through. With the D3000, you have two options for changing the f-stop. The camera can change the shutter speed automatically while you manually change the f-stop, or you can change both settings manually.

Instructions

Aperture Priority Mode

1. Turn the mode dial to "A" for aperture priority mode.

2. Spin the Command dial until the desired f-stop displays on the camera's viewfinder screen.

3. Frame a picture in the viewfinder and shoot the photograph. The camera will automatically select a shutter speed based on the aperture and the ambient lighting conditions.

Manual F-Stop

1. Turn the mode dial to "M" for manual mode.

2. Hold down the aperture button. It looks like a camera aperture with a plus and minus sign next to it.

3. Spin the Command dial until the desired f-stop appears in the viewfinder, while holding down the aperture button. Release the aperture button.

4. Spin the Command wheel until the desired shutter speed appears in the viewfinder.

References

• HomePhotog: What does Aperture or F-Stop mean?
• Nikon: Nikon D3000
• Nikon: D3000 User's Manual