You’ve probably noticed that changing your camera’s aperture setting produces wildly different results in your photos. A portrait taken at f/1.8 looks completely different from one shot at f/8, even with identical lighting. The camera settings that adjust size of aperture control the physical opening in your lens. Understanding how to adjust aperture transforms your ability to control both exposure and creative depth of field. This single setting determines how much light reaches your sensor and which parts of your image stay sharp.
What Aperture Is and How F-Stops Work
Aperture refers to the adjustable opening inside your lens that controls how much light passes through to your camera sensor. Think of it like the pupil in your eye, it expands in darkness and contracts in bright light. The size of this opening is measured in f-stops, which are expressed as numbers like f/1.4, f/2.8, f/5.6, or f/16.
Here’s the part that confuses most beginners: smaller f-stop numbers mean larger aperture openings. An f/1.8 aperture is physically much wider than f/16. This inverse relationship exists because f-stops are actually fractions. When you see f/2.8, you’re looking at a focal length divided by 2.8, so f/2 is literally a bigger fraction than f/16.
The standard f-stop scale follows a specific pattern:
- f/1.4 (very wide, maximum light)
- f/2
- f/2.8
- f/4
- f/5.6
- f/8
- f/11
- f/16
- f/22 (very narrow, minimum light)
Each full stop either doubles or halves the amount of light. Moving from f/4 to f/2.8 doubles your light intake. Moving from f/4 to f/5.6 cuts it in half. Modern cameras also allow third-stop or half-stop adjustments, giving you finer control between these standard values.
How Aperture Affects Light and Depth of Field
Aperture controls two critical aspects of your photography: exposure and depth of field. Understanding both helps you make intentional creative decisions rather than guessing at settings.
For exposure control, wider apertures (smaller f-numbers) let in more light. This matters most in low-light situations like indoor events, evening portraits, or concert photography. A lens that opens to f/1.8 captures four times more light than one stopped down to f/3.5, which can mean the difference between a sharp shot and a blurry mess at 1/60 second shutter speed.
Depth of field describes how much of your image appears sharp from front to back. Wide apertures like f/1.4 or f/2 create shallow depth of field, where your subject stays sharp but the background blurs into smooth bokeh. Narrow apertures like f/11 or f/16 keep everything from foreground to background in focus, which landscape photographers rely on constantly.
According to Cambridge in Colour’s optical research, depth of field is affected by aperture more significantly than any other camera setting, with each full stop change altering the sharp zone by approximately 40% at typical portrait distances.
Professional photographers at Amazing Digital regularly use this relationship to match aperture to subject matter. Portrait work typically uses f/1.8 to f/2.8 for subject isolation. Landscape photography demands f/8 to f/16 for front-to-back sharpness. Product photography often sits at f/5.6 to f/8 as a practical middle ground.
Camera Settings That Adjust Size of Aperture
Your camera offers three shooting modes that let you control aperture directly: Aperture Priority mode, Manual mode, and sometimes Program mode with shift capability. Each gives you different levels of control over the final exposure.
Aperture Priority mode (A or Av on your mode dial) is the most popular choice for controlling aperture. You select the f-stop you want, and your camera automatically adjusts shutter speed to maintain proper exposure. This mode gives you creative control over depth of field while the camera handles the technical exposure calculations. About 60% of professional photographers use Aperture Priority as their default shooting mode, according to DPReview’s 2026 shooting mode survey.
Manual mode (M) gives you complete control over both aperture and shutter speed. You set the f-stop, you set the shutter speed, and you monitor the exposure meter to ensure proper brightness. This mode works best in studio environments with controlled lighting or when you need absolutely consistent exposure across multiple shots.
Program mode (P) automatically sets both aperture and shutter speed, but many cameras let you rotate a command dial to shift the combination while maintaining the same exposure. Rotating right might change f/5.6 at 1/250 to f/4 at 1/500, giving you a wider aperture with a faster shutter speed but identical overall brightness.
How to Change Aperture on Canon Cameras
Canon’s control layout varies slightly between DSLR and mirrorless bodies, but the logic stays consistent across their lineup. The process takes about 3 seconds once you know where to look.
For Canon EOS R series mirrorless cameras like the EOS R3:
- Turn the mode dial to Av (Aperture Priority) or M (Manual)
- Rotate the main control dial on top of the camera body
- Watch the f-stop value change in the viewfinder or rear LCD
- The control ring on RF lenses can also be customized to adjust aperture in some models
For Canon EOS DSLR cameras (5D, 6D, 90D series):
- Set your mode dial to Av or M
- Rotate the main dial near the shutter button
- Check the top LCD panel or viewfinder display for your selected f-stop
- In Manual mode, use the main dial for aperture and the quick control dial on the back for shutter speed
Canon’s Av mode pairs especially well with their RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, where you can shoot wide open at f/2.8 for portraits or stop down to f/8 for group shots, all while the camera maintains proper exposure automatically.
How to Change Aperture on Nikon Cameras
Nikon’s aperture controls mirror Canon’s approach but with slightly different dial positions. The Z-mount mirrorless bodies offer the most intuitive control scheme Nikon has ever designed.
For Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras like the Z6 III:
- Switch the mode dial to A (Aperture Priority) or M (Manual)
- Rotate the rear command dial to adjust aperture
- The f-stop appears in the electronic viewfinder and top control panel
- In Manual mode, the front dial controls shutter speed while the rear dial controls aperture
For Nikon DSLR cameras (D850, D780, D7500 series):
- Set your camera to A or M mode
- Rotate the sub-command dial (front dial near the shutter button)
- Monitor the f-stop in the viewfinder or top LCD
- Ensure your lens is set to the minimum aperture position if using older G-type lenses
Nikon’s implementation feels slightly more tactile than Canon’s, with a satisfying click at each third-stop increment. This physical feedback helps when you’re adjusting settings without looking at the camera, which matters during fast-paced event photography.
How to Change Aperture on Sony and Fujifilm Cameras
Sony and Fujifilm take different philosophical approaches to aperture control. Sony prioritizes customization while Fujifilm embraces traditional tactile dials.
For Sony Alpha cameras like the A7 series:
- Turn the mode dial to A (Aperture Priority) or M (Manual)
- Rotate the control wheel on the camera back (default setting)
- Alternatively, customize any of the control dials through the menu system
- The aperture value displays in the viewfinder, LCD, and optional top display on higher-end models
- Some Sony shooters reassign aperture to the front dial for faster access during manual shooting
For Fujifilm X series cameras like the X100VI:
- Many Fujifilm lenses include a dedicated aperture ring on the lens barrel itself
- Rotate the aperture ring to your desired f-stop, with clear click stops at each value
- Set the ring to “A” position to control aperture via the camera’s command dial instead
- The shutter speed dial on top of the camera body completes the manual control experience
- This physical control layout mimics classic film cameras and speeds up adjustments significantly
Fujifilm’s physical aperture rings provide the fastest aperture changes in the industry. You can adjust from f/2 to f/8 in under a second without taking your eye from the viewfinder, which gives you a real advantage during documentary or street photography where moments disappear quickly.
When to Use Wide vs Narrow Apertures
Choosing the right aperture depends on your subject, lighting conditions, and creative intent. These practical examples show when each aperture range delivers the best results.
Use wide apertures (f/1.4 to f/2.8) for:
- Portrait photography where you want smooth background blur and subject isolation
- Low-light situations like indoor events, concerts, or evening photography without flash
- Wildlife photography with telephoto lenses, where you need faster shutter speeds to freeze motion
- Creative bokeh effects that make backgrounds melt into soft, circular blur
Use moderate apertures (f/4 to f/8) for:
- Street photography where you need some depth but still want subject separation
- Product photography that keeps the entire product sharp while slightly softening the background
- General-purpose shooting in good light conditions
- The sharpest optical performance, since most lenses perform best 2-3 stops down from maximum aperture
Use narrow apertures (f/11 to f/22) for:
- Landscape photography where you want sharpness from immediate foreground to distant mountains
- Architecture photography requiring parallel lines and front-to-back detail
- Macro photography where depth of field naturally becomes extremely shallow
- Long exposures in bright conditions, combined with slow shutter speeds for motion blur effects
Professional photographers shopping at Amazing Digital often choose lenses based on their maximum aperture capabilities. A lens like the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM offers different maximum apertures at different focal lengths, which affects how you approach wildlife and sports photography throughout the zoom range. Understanding these trade-offs helps you match equipment to shooting scenarios, similar to the considerations covered in our long prime lens guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does aperture do in a camera?
Aperture controls the size of the opening in your lens that allows light to reach the camera sensor. It directly affects two things: how much light enters the camera (exposure) and how much of your image appears in sharp focus (depth of field). A wider aperture lets in more light and creates a blurred background, while a narrower aperture reduces light and keeps more of the scene sharp from front to back.
Which camera setting controls aperture size?
Aperture Priority mode (marked as A or Av on your mode dial) is the primary camera setting that controls aperture size. In this mode, you select your desired f-stop and the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed to maintain proper exposure. Manual mode (M) also lets you control aperture directly, but you must set both aperture and shutter speed yourself rather than relying on automatic exposure calculations.
Is a lower f-stop a larger aperture?
Yes, a lower f-stop number represents a larger aperture opening. An f/1.8 aperture is physically much wider than f/16, which seems counterintuitive at first. This inverse relationship exists because f-stops are fractions, where the f-number is the denominator. Just like 1/2 is larger than 1/16 in mathematics, f/2 is a larger opening than f/16 in photography.
How do I change aperture on my camera?
First, switch your camera’s mode dial to Aperture Priority (A or Av) or Manual (M) mode. Then rotate the main command dial on your camera body, watching the f-stop value change in your viewfinder or LCD screen. The specific dial location varies by brand: Canon and Nikon place the main dial near the shutter button, Sony uses the rear control wheel, and Fujifilm cameras often have a physical aperture ring on the lens itself that you rotate directly.
What are the camera settings that adjust size of aperture in different shooting modes?
The camera settings that adjust size of aperture are primarily Aperture Priority mode (A or Av) and Manual mode (M). In Aperture Priority, you control only the f-stop while the camera handles shutter speed automatically. In Manual mode, you control both aperture and shutter speed independently. Some cameras also offer Program mode with shift capability, where you can rotate a dial to change the aperture and shutter speed combination while maintaining the same overall exposure.
Can I change aperture while recording video?
Most modern cameras allow aperture changes during video recording, but the adjustment usually causes a visible exposure shift in your footage. Professional videographers typically set aperture before recording starts and use ND filters to control exposure instead. Some cinema cameras and newer mirrorless models offer smooth aperture transitions during recording, but this feature varies significantly by camera model and manufacturer.
Why won’t my camera let me change the aperture?
Your camera won’t let you change aperture if you’re in Auto, Program, or a scene mode like Portrait or Landscape. Switch to Aperture Priority (A or Av) or Manual (M) mode to gain aperture control. If you’re already in the correct mode but still can’t adjust aperture, check that your lens is properly attached and that older Nikon lenses have the aperture ring set to the minimum f-stop position with the lock engaged.
Master Your Camera Settings Today
Mastering the camera settings that adjust size of aperture opens up creative possibilities that automatic modes simply can’t deliver. You now understand how f-stops work, which camera settings control aperture size, and when to choose wide versus narrow openings for different photographic situations.
The next step is pairing this knowledge with quality glass that gives you the aperture range you need. Amazing Digital stocks professional Canon L-series lenses, Nikon Z-mount glass, Sony G Master optics, and Fujifilm XF lenses that let you explore the full aperture spectrum from f/1.4 to f/22. Every lens ships free across the UK with a 1-year warranty and expert support to help you choose the right focal length and maximum aperture for your shooting style.
Browse the collection today and find the lens that matches your creative vision.
