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← Creative Hut LibraryPhotography basics · Aperture

Part 13 of 13 in the aperture guide

How do cinematographers use aperture?

Written by Abin Alex, Founder and Director, and Anu Joseph, Faculty, Creative Hut Academy. Reviewed 29 October 2026.

Short answer. A DOP chooses the T-stop for the look first, since it sets how thin the focus is. Exposure is then set with lights, ND filters and sensor sensitivity, because shutter speed is tied to the frame rate.

  • T-stops are used so that every lens in the set exposes the same.[1][3]
  • ND filters cut the light so the aperture can stay open for the look you want.[2]
  • Changing the iris during a shot changes the exposure on screen, so it is done carefully and only when the shot calls for it.
  • More on set practice is on the aperture page for the DOP.
  • The focus puller, a member of the camera crew, keeps the subject sharp inside the depth of field the T-stop gives.
Interview
A DOP may shoot a close interview at a wide T-stop for a soft background, and then add light to hold exposure there.
Wide establishing shot
The same DOP may close down for a wider shot, so that place and action are both clear.
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Questions people ask

Why does a DOP not use shutter speed to set exposure?

Video shutter speed is usually fixed by the frame rate, for example 1/50 s at 25 frames per second, so exposure is set with the aperture, ND filters and sensitivity.

What does an ND filter do for a DOP?

It cuts the light so the aperture can stay open for the look the DOP wants.

References

  1. PetaPixel. F-Stops vs T-Stops: The Difference Explained in Plain English. petapixel.com/2016/12/30/f-stops-vs-t-stops-difference-explained-plain-english
  2. Wheeler, P. (2005) Practical Cinematography, 2nd edn. Oxford: Focal Press, pp. 101, 130, 139 to 140.
  3. Brown, B. (2022) Cinematography: Theory and Practice for Cinematographers and Directors, 4th edn. New York: Routledge. See the chapters Exposure and Optics & Focus.

All 13 questions in this guide

  1. What is aperture, and what does it do?
  2. What is a diaphragm, and how does it work?
  3. What is the difference between absolute and relative aperture?
  4. How is the f-number written, and why does a bigger number mean a smaller opening?
  5. Why does each f-stop multiply by 1.4 and not by 2?
  6. What are full, half and third stops of aperture?
  7. What is effective aperture?
  8. What is lens speed, and what does maximum aperture mean?
  9. How do I set the aperture on my camera?
  10. What is the difference between an f-stop and a T-stop?
  11. Does a smaller aperture always make a sharper picture?
  12. How does aperture affect depth of field?
  13. How do cinematographers use aperture?
Previous: part 12Back to the guide
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Guide by Abin Alex and Anu Joseph, Creative Hut Academy.