Questions about specific terms used within photography
6
votes
1answer
677 views
What does it mean to shoot in flat colors?
I read somewhere that you should shoot in "flat colors" to make it easy to work in post-production. What does "flat" mean?
6
votes
2answers
788 views
How does a fly-by-wire focusing lens work?
I have learnt that fly-by-wire focusing is an electrical manual focusing system. But how does this focusing method work?
How do you manually focus with fly-by-wire?
What is the scope of this ...
6
votes
3answers
323 views
What do the measurements for colour depth mean?
Colour depth is often referred to as being X bits. What does this mean and how does it effect a photograph? What scale is used, i.e. is it linear, exponential, logarithmic, etc.?
6
votes
4answers
2k views
What are the differences between a bridge camera and a D/SLR?
What are the differences between a bridge camera and a D/SLR?
6
votes
2answers
290 views
What does “workflow” mean?
I keep seeing the term "workflow" in relation to post-processing being used here and on other sites. What does it actually mean though?
To me it sounds like it means you do A, then B, then C every ...
6
votes
2answers
578 views
What is EV, when used as an absoute measurement?
I know there is already a question about EV, but it doens't quite answer my question. I understand EV as a relative measurement, 1 EV being one stop (doubling or halving the amount of light), but what ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What is CLA service?
I've seen the term used in used lens listings, e.g "recently CLA'd".
I have a few questions, but I think they're related enough to only warrant one post:
What does CLA stand for, and what is it?
...
6
votes
2answers
313 views
Do they make a single-leg stabilizer, similar to a tripod but with only one leg?
I'm looking for something that I can attach to my Nikon D5000 that will allow me to hold the camera steady, similar to a tripod, but MUCH lighter and easier to setup. I'm thinking it could also dub ...
6
votes
1answer
143 views
What is Colour Rendering Index (CRI)?
From this answer on white balancing a LED light I understood there's a thing called Colour Rendering Index (CRI). I understand it has something to do with how well lights reproduce the sun's colour ...
6
votes
1answer
377 views
What is the difference between active and passive fill light?
What is the difference between an active and a passive fill light? I have an assignment that states to "use active or passive fill light" in a picture, but I need some clarification to understand what ...
6
votes
1answer
241 views
What does “distortion <XX%” mean in lens specs?
I'm going to buy a lens and I would like to understand what "distortion <XX%" means.
It's a vari-focal 10-60mm lens, and mentions distortion <12-1%. According to my understanding, at 10mm focal ...
5
votes
4answers
449 views
Are 2 megapixels enough for HD resolution pictures?
HD pictures has 1920x1080 = 2073600 pixels = 2025 kilopixel = 1.98 megapixel.
Does this mean that we can take HD pictures with a 2 MP camera? If not, why not?
5
votes
3answers
398 views
What are the different categories of photography?
After reading some questions, I am getting lost with stage photography, curtain photography? etc.. I only know portrait, landscape, street, sports etc..is there a standard lingo somewhere?
5
votes
2answers
4k views
What is USM, and what are its pros and cons?
My Canon lenses have the designation USM on them, which I assume is for the same reason that they say "Ultrasonic". What does this mean, and why or why do I not want it?
5
votes
2answers
464 views
What's the difference between a wide angle lens and a landscape lens?
Question pretty much says it all. Seems like when I look around people are asking "what's the best wide angle lens for landscape?", but on sites like LensHero they categorize wide angle and landscape ...
5
votes
2answers
280 views
How is the term Gaussian blur used?
Is the term Gaussian blur used strictly in post-production, or can it also be used as a term for an out-of-focus area in your image when you-re taking the picture? I'm pretty sure that bokeh is used ...
5
votes
1answer
236 views
Why would a photographer do focus stacking?
Recently, I come across the term called Focus Stacking where you combine different pictures with different focus points.
My question is, why do the focus stacking? Are there any benefits from the ...
5
votes
2answers
224 views
What is an independent flash called?
By "independent flash" I mean a flash which is not attached with the camera by default.
What is the technical name for it?
5
votes
5answers
304 views
What is it called when multiple photos are adjusted for further blending?
I have taken a series of noisy photos without a tripod.
I want one less noisy version, so I need average them down to one photo.
But details of the individual images do not exactly match, so that ...
5
votes
1answer
240 views
How to figure out whether the colours in a photo are warm or cool, and how does that matter?
On 1x some people have said that this picture has warm colours.
I wish to understand what qualifies to be a warm colour, cool colour, and how does that matter?
Warm means bright? and Cool means ...
5
votes
2answers
246 views
What is term for the opposite of “Dragging the Shutter”?
My first helpful experiments with flash started after taking a seminar with Scott Kelby on the subject. I don't recall him mentioning dragging the shutter (but he may have). But, I do recall him ...
5
votes
2answers
201 views
What is the difference between a lambda print (RA-4) and a color inkjet print?
I can't seem to find any good information about the differences between the lambda printing process (on RA-4 paper, also known as a C-prints or chromogenic color prints) and inkjet printing (also ...
5
votes
1answer
217 views
At what point does “out of focus” become Bokeh?
As with the distinction between a big boat and a small ship, at what point can an out of focus background be considered "Bokeh"?
Is it the point where the subject in the background (or foreground ...
5
votes
1answer
744 views
What does “Tone” mean?
I hear "Tone", "Tonal scale/range" in the context of photography. What does it actually mean?
5
votes
1answer
223 views
What is Coating?
I see the word "Coating" in different questions (related to lenses and filters). What is Coating, Multi-Coating, and Nano-Coating?
Update:
For Coating Definition see Matt's answer
For ...
5
votes
1answer
533 views
Choosing a Gitzo Tripod head - deciphering series, model #, etc
I recently purchased a Gitzo Mountaineer tripod, the GT0541. It is a Series 0 (not really sure what that means), 4 section with ground-lock capability. The G-Lock capability has been really nice for ...
4
votes
5answers
668 views
What's the difference between exposure and shutter speed?
Is there a difference between exposure and shutter speed, or are the terms interchangeable? I read that "If you use a quick shutter speed, you can just raise the exposure to compensate." Is this ...
4
votes
1answer
357 views
What is an auto-focus motor?
I recently bought a Canon 550D, and I read it has an auto-focus motor, which not all cameras possess. I'd like to know what it is, and what I can do to keep it running smoothly; AFAIK the manual ...
4
votes
2answers
520 views
What is the difference between a point-and-shoot and a mirrorless?
Both point-and-shoot camera and mirrorless cameras seems to be mostly similar in the way they work.
So, What are the differences between a point and shoot and a mirrorless camera?
Is a mirrorless ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What is Aliasing and Anti-Aliasing?
What is Aliasing and Anti-Aliasing? Is it a bad thing to have in an image? If so how to avoid it?
If you can describe your answer using examples then that would be great.
4
votes
1answer
228 views
Why do people say they like “art” and “photography”, instead of just “art”?
Always puzzle me to hear people list photography (in the context of it being art) and something different than art. Is there a reason for this historically?
4
votes
2answers
3k views
What does the expression “V+F” (or “V&F”) mean on a photography web site?
I was reading comments on my photos posted at 500px.com (for example, at http://500px.com/photo/21988337 and http://500px.com/photo/21997241).
Read a few comments that say V+F or V&F, what are ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the meaning of single focal length?
The Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is described as a single focal length lens: http://www.nikon.co.in/products.php?categoryid=1014.
What does that mean?
What are its disadvantages as compared to ...
4
votes
3answers
513 views
What does “R” mean in Fujifilm's XF Fujinon lens names?
Fujifilm currently makes three lenses for their new X-Pro1 mirrorless camera system:
Fujinon XF18mmF2 R
Fujinon XF35mmF1.4 R
Fujinon XF60mmF2.4 R Macro
"Fujinon" is Fujifilm's lens division. The ...
4
votes
2answers
243 views
What does the term “saturation luminance” mean in the definition of dynamic range?
The concept behind the dynamic range definition given by ISO 15739 is based on the ratio of the maximum luminance that receives a unique coded representation （the "saturation" luminance) to the lowest ...
4
votes
2answers
229 views
What is bracketing?
I have seen this term a lot and I was wondering what, in basic terms, what bracketing/autobracketing is.
Also, why would one want to 'bracket'?
P.S. - there are other questions asking what DoF and ...
4
votes
1answer
555 views
HDR compared to Active D-Lighting
Could someone please explain the difference between the two?
Also are there cases where the one technique is more preferable over the other or a general rule of thumb?
thank you
4
votes
1answer
349 views
Does the liquid effect in these photographs have a specific name?
I aspire to become a fashion and wildlife photographer, and I am starting out in that mission today. Lucky me, and the first photographer whose works I came across is Jaroslav Wieczorkiewicz.
His ...
3
votes
4answers
385 views
What is the technical name of the lens which has a fixed aperture but zooms?
What is the technical name for a lens which has the same maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range?
3
votes
3answers
439 views
Do Professional and Semi professional cameras have “steadyshot” technology?
Do professional and semi professional cameras have good optical image stabilization, sometimes called steady shot?
3
votes
3answers
4k views
What does “the telephoto end” and “the wide angle end” of a zoom lens mean?
In the Canon Rebel T3i Manual, page 59, it's mentioned that "If you have a zoom lens, use the telephoto end to fill the frame with the subject from the waist up." Same note on page 61 and another one ...
3
votes
2answers
332 views
What is this “lines in the sky” effect called?
I see a lot of pictures with those "line" effects in the sky and I'm wondering how this technique is called (so I can google how it's done).
http://500px.com/photo/3464783
3
votes
1answer
183 views
What are Medium Format and Large Format cameras?
What are they and what are they used for? And how are they different from regular SLR or DLSR cameras?
3
votes
2answers
751 views
What does “Flat Field Focus” mean?
Looking at lenses, specifically sigma macro lenses, I noticed that it had a ""Flat Field" front lens element". What does this mean? And how is it different to the norm?
3
votes
2answers
159 views
Nikon Lenses: what is the difference between Micro/Macro vs non-Micro/Macro of the same focal length? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is a macro lens?
What is the difference between a Nikon “Micro” lens and a “Macro” lens?
I know what macro photography is, but what makes a macro (or in Nikon's ...
3
votes
2answers
229 views
What is the difference between a “slave flash” and “master flash”?
My Nissin Di866 II flashgun supports operation in both "slave flash" and "master flash" mode. The former I know needs to be used with a Nikon DSLR's "Flash Commmander" mode.
What's the latter mode? ...
3
votes
3answers
520 views
What is the “visual center” of an image?
I've heard that one of the tricks designers use for a more effective result is placing an object in the visual center.
Where is the visual center in an image, why is it important, and how could it be ...
3
votes
1answer
714 views
What is the EV scale?
I have seen an "EV" (exposure value) scale that's sometimes used to express a camera's exposure settings, or scene brightness. How exactly does this scale work?
3
votes
3answers
214 views
What does it mean that a lens is x millimeters?
Every lens has different focal length in terms of millimeter so if I have a 100mm lens, what does that refer to? Does it mean the length of the lens itself is going to be 4 inches long, or does this ...
2
votes
3answers
593 views
What are the types of aperture blades?
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L USM IS lens has rounded aperture blades. What other types of aperture blades are there, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them? Is the aperture ...
