Learning how to use f-stops when recording videos can be very
difficult. F-stops are the camcorders aperture settings; this simply
means how wide the shutter opens and how much light is allowed into the
camera. This is the same as on a conventional film or digital camera.
Not all camcorders will have f-stop settings. Depending on your
camera, this might be simplified. It might make it much simpler by
allowing you to widen or close the shutter. It’s important to know how
to change the aperture of the camcorder. This will allow you to record
detailed videos even in low light conditions.
Step 1: Reading the Manual
As every camcorder is different, the first thing that you should do
is read the instruction manual which came with your computer. If you
can’t find this manual, then you will be able to download a new copy
from the Internet. The manual should explain how to adjust the aperture
or f-stop settings of your digital camcorder.
Step 2: Accessing the Settings Menu
Almost all camcorders will need to be adjusted through the settings
menu. Only a few can be changed by using buttons on the body of the
camera itself. This means that it’s quite a time consuming process.
Press the button to access the menu and then choose the settings menu.
This should display a variety of different settings.
Step 3: Adjusting the F-stop
Once you have found the right menu, it’s then time to adjust the
f-stop settings for your camera. If you are shooting in low light
conditions, then you will need to allow more light to enter the lens. In
this case you will need a lower f-number setting. This will mean that
the lens opening is wider and more light is allowed to enter.
If
you’re shooting in bright conditions, then you can restrict the amount
of light which enters the camcorder by increasing the f-stop value. This
may be opposite to what you are used to, which is why you will need to
ensure you’re adjusting the aperture in the right direction.
Step 4: Simple Cameras
Not all camcorders will have the f-stop settings. You might find that
they have exposure or aperture settings. These might be marked as
darker and lighter, which is supposed to make using them much easier.
This means that if you move the slider towards darker, then the aperture
will be smaller and less light will be allowed in. If you move it
towards light, then it simply means that more light will be allowed to
enter.
Step 5: Experimenting
If you are recording videos of fireworks or anything like that, then
you will need to find a way of experimenting. It will generally be
difficult to choose the right f-stop setting right away. Choose the
aperture, try it out, and then try adjusting it again.
You will
also find that most camcorders will have a range of pre-defined aperture
and exposure settings for a variety of different situations. Most will
feature sports, fireworks and many other modes. These can be a very
quick way to adjust your camcorder.
Popular P&S Cameras for High Quality Photos:
