Canon® PowerShot® Digital Field Guide

Glossary

AE

Automatic Exposure. A setting where the camera automatically adjusts the amount of light that hits the image sensor in order to produce a properly exposed image.

AE lock

Automatic Exposure lock. A camera control that allows the photographer to lock the exposure from a meter reading. After the exposure is locked, the photographer can then recompose the image.

AF lock

Autofocus lock. A camera control that locks the focus on a subject and allows the photographer to recompose the image without the focus changing.

AiAF

Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus. A method of focus based on evaluating objects in the scene.

ambient light

The natural or artificial illumination within a scene. Also referred to as available light.

angle of view

The amount of area seen by a lens or viewfinder, measured in degrees. Shorter or wide-angle lenses and zoom settings have a greater angle of view. Longer or telephoto lenses and zoom settings have a narrower angle of view.

aperture

The lens opening through which light passes. Aperture size is adjusted by opening or closing the diaphragm. Aperture is expressed in f-stops such as f/8, f/5.6, and so on. The higher the number, the smaller the aperture opening. See also f-number.

Aperture priority

Av Aperture-Priority AE. A semiautomatic camera mode in which the photographer sets the aperture (f-stop), and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed for correct exposure. Av stands for Aperture value. The opposite of Shutter priority.

artifact

An unintentional or ...