DSLR: Digital Single-Lens Reflex
A type of digital camera that uses a mirror and optical viewfinder to capture images.
FPS: Frames Per Second
Refers to the number of individual frames or images a camera can capture in one second,
often used when discussing continuous shooting or video recording capabilities.
HSS: High-Speed Sync
A feature available on some external flashes and camera systems that allows you to use a
flash at shutter speeds higher than the camera's standard flash sync speed. This is useful
for balancing flash and ambient light in bright conditions.
TTL: Through The Lens
Refers to a metering system where the camera measures the light exposure by metering it
through the camera's lens. This system is often used in modern cameras to achieve
accurate exposure settings.
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ISO in photography refers to the sensitivity of the camera's image sensor to light. A higher
ISO value makes the sensor more sensitive to light, allowing for better performance in low-
light conditions but potentially introducing noise in the image.
RAW: Stands for nothing in particular, but it refers to unprocessed image data straight from
the camera's sensor. It retains all the original image information and provides greater
flexibility for post-processing.
JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group
A common image file format that uses compression to reduce file size. JPEG is widely used
for sharing and displaying images.
EV: Exposure Value
A measurement of the camera's exposure settings, combining aperture, shutter speed, and
ISO. Adjusting the EV allows you to maintain the same exposure while changing one or
more of these settings.
AF: Auto Focus
The camera's ability to automatically adjust the focus to make the subject sharp.
VR / IS / OIS: Vibration Reduction / Image Stabilization / Optical Image Stabilization
Technologies and systems used to reduce the effects of camera shake or vibration when
capturing images or videos, resulting in sharper photos and smoother videos.
DOF: Depth of Field
Refers to the range of distances within a photo that appears acceptably sharp. A shallow
depth of field means only a small portion of the image is in focus, while a deep depth of field
means more of the image is in focus.
EXIF: Exchangeable Image File Format
Metadata embedded in an image file that includes information about the camera settings,
date, and other details related to the image.
CPL: Circular Polarizing Filter
A type of camera filter that reduces reflections and glare from non-metallic surfaces,
enhances color saturation, and improves overall image quality.
ND: Neutral Density
A filter used to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, allowing for longer exposures
or wider apertures in bright conditions.
SLR: Single-Lens Reflex
Refers to a type of camera where a mirror reflects the image through the lens into an optical
viewfinder, providing an accurate representation of the scene to the photographer.
LCD: Liquid Crystal Display
The screen on the back of many digital cameras where you can review and navigate through
images, access camera settings, and often use Live View to compose photos or videos.
PPI / DPI: Pixels Per Inch / Dots Per Inch
Measures the resolution of an image, with PPI used for digital images and DPI used for print.
A higher PPI or DPI indicates a higher quality image.
RGB: Red, Green, Blue
The primary colors used in digital imaging and displays. The combination of these colors at
varying intensities creates a wide range of colors in images.
CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black)
A color model used in printing, where these four ink colors are combined to produce a wide
range of colors in printed images.
HDR: High Dynamic Range
A photographic technique that combines multiple exposures of the same scene to capture a
wider range of tones, from shadows to highlights.
