Pentax MZ-6 User Manual

Page 48

STEP UP

ANCED OPERA

TIONS

ABOUT FOCUSING

EFFECT OF APERTURE AND SHUTTER SPEED

A correct exposure is established by a combination of shutter
speed and aperture setting according to the subject bright-
ness. There are many correct combinations of shutter speed
and aperture for a particular subject brightness. Different
shutter speed and aperture settings produce different effects.

◆ Effect of Shutter Speed

The shutter speed determines the film
exposure time, or the length of time that
light is allowed to strike the film. If the
subject is moving, the image will be
blurred when a slow shutter speed is
used. It is possible to enhance the effect
of motion, (The movement of a wave or
waterfall) by intentionally using a slower
speed. Choosing a faster shutter speed
will allow the image of a moving subject
to be frozen. A faster shutter speed also
helps prevent camera shake.

◆ Effect of Aperture

The aperture increases or reduces the
amount of reflected light from an object
which passes through the lens, controlling
how much light strikes the film. If the aper-
ture is opened up to increase the amount
of light, objects in front of and behind an in-
focus subject will not be focused. That is,
the range of focus (depth of field) becomes
small. If the aperture is closed down to
reduce the amount of light, the depth of
field increases. For instance, if you shoot a
person against a landscape with the aper-
ture open, the landscape in front of and
behind the person will be blurred, making
the person appear to rise out of the land-
scape. By contrast, closing down the aper-
ture increases the in-focus range.

PREVIEWING THE DEPTH OF FIELD

Before taking a picture, you can check the depth of field in
the viewfinder.

Focusing the subject.

qAdjust focus to the subject.

Previewing the depth of field

qWhile looking through the viewfind-

er, press the preview button.
You can check the focused area in the
viewfinder.

• The depth of field can be previewed in

any exposure mode.

• The focus range display in the viewfind-

er may differ slightly from the actual
picture.

Memo

faster shutter speed

slower shutter speed

closed down aperture

open aperture

MZ-6(E)04 D2/074-084 11/8/02 12:04 PM Page 82