← Creative Hut LibraryPhotography basics · Aperture
Part 9 of 13 in the aperture guide
How do I set the aperture on my camera?
Written by Abin Alex, Founder and Director, and Anu Joseph, Faculty, Creative Hut Academy. Reviewed 29 October 2026.
Short answer. Use aperture priority (marked A or Av) to choose the f-number and let the camera pick the shutter speed, or use manual mode to set both yourself.
- Aperture priority: you set the f-number, the camera sets the shutter speed.[2]
- Manual: you set the f-number, shutter speed and ISO.
- Turn the control dial to change the f-number. Each click is usually a third of a stop.
- When you close the aperture, the camera slows the shutter to compensate. Watch for blur from camera shake.
In photography
For a portrait, switch to A mode, set f/2 and focus on the eye. For a landscape on a tripod, set f/8 and let the shutter run slow.In cinematography
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 ISO instead.[1]Admissions Open
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[Lecture example slot: camera screen and dial showing aperture priority and the f-number. Creative Hut Sony tips images can go here]
Questions people ask
What does Av or A mean on my camera?
Aperture priority. You set the f-number and the camera sets the shutter speed.
Why can I not reach a wide aperture when I zoom in?
Many zoom lenses have a variable aperture, which gets narrower as you zoom in, for example from f/3.5 to f/5.6.
References
- Wheeler, P. (2005) Practical Cinematography, 2nd edn. Oxford: Focal Press, pp. 101, 130, 139 to 140.
- Langford, M., Fox, A. and Sawdon Smith, R. (2015) Langford’s Basic Photography, 10th edn. Abingdon: Routledge.
All 13 questions in this guide
- What is aperture, and what does it do?
- What is a diaphragm, and how does it work?
- What is the difference between absolute and relative aperture?
- How is the f-number written, and why does a bigger number mean a smaller opening?
- Why does each f-stop multiply by 1.4 and not by 2?
- What are full, half and third stops of aperture?
- What is effective aperture?
- What is lens speed, and what does maximum aperture mean?
- How do I set the aperture on my camera?
- What is the difference between an f-stop and a T-stop?
- Does a smaller aperture always make a sharper picture?
- How does aperture affect depth of field?
- How do cinematographers use aperture?
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Guide by Abin Alex and Anu Joseph, Creative Hut Academy.