Aperture
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[[Image:Aperures.jpg|thumb|A big (1) and a small (2) aperture]]
In [[optics]], an '''aperture''' is a hole or an opening through which light is admitted. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of [[ray (optics)|rays]] that come to a [[focus (optics)|focus]] in the [[image plane]]. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are, which is of great importance for the appearance at the image plane. If the admitted rays also pass through a lens, highly collimated rays (narrow aperture) will result in sharpness at the image plane, while uncollimated rays (wide aperture) will result in sharpness for rays with the right focal length only. This means that a wide aperture results in an image that is sharp around what the lens is focusing on and blurred otherwise. Obviously, the aperture also determines how many of the incoming rays that are actually admitted and thus how much light that reaches the image plane (the narrower the aperture, the darker the image).
An optical system typically has many openings, or structures that limit the ray bundles (ray bundles are also known as ''pencils'' of light). These structures may be the edge of a [[lens (optics)|lens]] or [[mirror]], or a ring or other fixture that holds an optical element in place, or may be a special element such as a [[diaphragm (optics)|diaphragm]] placed in the optical path to limit the light admitted by the system. In general, these structures are called '''stops''', and the '''aperture stop''' is the stop that determines the ray cone angle, or equivalently the brightness, at an image point.
In some contexts, especially in [[photography]] and [[astronomy]], ''aperture'' refers to the ''diameter'' of the aperture stop rather than the physical stop or the opening itself. For example, in a [[telescope]] the aperture stop is typically the edges of the [[objective lens]] or mirror (or of the mount that holds it). One then speaks of a telescope as having, for example, a 100 centimeter ''aperture''. Note that the aperture stop is not necessarily the smallest stop in the system. Magnification and demagnification by lenses and other elements can cause a relatively large stop to be the aperture stop for the system.
Sometimes stops and diaphragms are called apertures, even when they are not the aperture stop of the system.
The word aperture is also used in other contexts to indicate a system which blocks off light outside a certain region. In astronomy for example, a [[Photometry (astronomy)|photometric]] aperture around a [[star]] usually corresponds to a circular window around the image of a star within which the light intensity is summed.<ref>Nicholas Eaton, Peter W. Draper & Alasdair Allan, [http://www.starlink.rl.ac.uk/star/docs/sun45.htx/node36.html Techniques of aperture photometry] in PHOTOM -- A Photometry Package, 20th August 2002</ref>
[[Image:ApertureDefn1707.png|right|thumb|244px|Definitions of ''Aperture'' in the 1707 ''Glossographia Anglicana Nova''<ref>[[Thomas Blount (Lexicographer)|Thomas Blount]], ''Glossographia Anglicana Nova: Or, A Dictionary, Interpreting Such Hard Words of whatever Language, as are at present used in the English Tongue, with their Etymologies, Definitions, &c. Also, The Terms of Divinity, Law, Physick, Mathematics, History, Agriculture, Logick, Metaphysicks, Grammar, Poetry, Musick, Heraldry, Architecture, Painting, War, and all other Arts and Sciences are herein explain'd, from the best Modern Authors, as, Sir Isaac Newton, Dr. Harris, Dr. Gregory, Mr. Lock, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Dryden, Mr. Blunt, &c.'', London, 1707.</ref> ]]
==Application==
The aperture stop is an extremely important element in most optical designs. Its most obvious feature is that it limits the amount of light that can reach the image/[[film plane]]. This can either be undesired, as in a telescope where one wants to collect as much light as possible; or deliberate, to prevent saturation of a detector or overexposure of film. In both cases, the size of the aperture stop is constrained by things other than the amount of light admitted, however:
*The size of the stop is one factor that affects [[depth of field]]. <!-- There is some confusion here. So let's be clear: Long depth of field occurs when the lens opening, and thus the stop, is small. However, a small opening equals a large f-stop number. --> Smaller stops produce a longer depth of field, allowing objects at a wide range of distances to all be in focus at the same time.
*The stop limits the effect of optical [[Aberration in optical systems|aberrations]]. If the stop is too large, the image will be distorted. More sophisticated optical system designs can mitigate the effect of aberrations, allowing a larger stop and therefore greater light collecting ability.
*The stop determines whether the image will be [[vignetting|vignetted]]. Larger stops can cause the intensity reaching the film or detector to fall off toward the edges of the picture, especially when for off-axis points a different stop becomes the aperture stop by virtue of cutting off more light than did the stop that was the aperture stop on the optic axis.
*A larger aperture stop requires larger diameter optics, which are heavier and more expensive.
In addition to an aperture stop, a photographic lens may have one or more ''field stops'', which limit the system's [[Angle of view|field of view]]. Outside the angle of view, a field stop may become the aperture stop, causing [[vignetting]]; vignetting is only a problem if it happens inside the desired field of view.
The [[pupil]] of the [[eye]] is its aperture; the iris is the diaphragm that serves as the aperture stop. Refraction in the [[cornea]] causes the effective aperture (the [[entrance pupil]]) to differ slightly from the physical pupil diameter. The entrance pupil is typically about 4 mm in diameter, although it can range from 2 mm ({{f/|8.3|link=yes}}) in a brightly lit place to 8 mm ({{f/|2.1}}) in the dark.
In astronomy, the diameter of the aperture stop (called the ''aperture'') is a critical parameter in the design of a [[telescope]]. Generally, one would want the ''aperture'' to be as large as possible, to collect the maximum amount of light from the distant objects being imaged. The size of the aperture is limited, however, in practice by considerations of cost and weight, as well as prevention of aberrations (as mentioned above).
==In photography==
The aperture stop (not to be confused with "[[f-stop]]", see below) of a [[photographic lens]] can be adjusted to control the amount of [[light]] reaching the [[Photographic film|film]] or [[image sensor]]. In combination with variation of [[shutter speed]], the aperture size will regulate the film's degree of [[exposure (photography)|exposure]] to light. Typically, a fast shutter speed will require a larger aperture to ensure sufficient light exposure, and a slow shutter speed will require a smaller aperture to avoid excessive exposure.
[[Image:Aperture diagram.svg|right|thumb|350px|Diagram of decreasing aperture sizes (increasing
[[f-number]]s) for "full stop" increments (factor of two aperture area per stop)]]
A device called a [[diaphragm (optics)|diaphragm]] usually serves as the aperture stop, and controls the aperture. The diaphragm functions much like the [[iris (anatomy)|iris]] of the [[eye]]—it controls the effective [[diameter]] of the lens opening. Reducing the aperture size increases the [[depth of field]], which describes the extent to which subject matter lying closer than or farther from the actual plane of focus appears to be in focus. In general, the smaller the aperture (the larger the number), the greater the distance from the plane of focus the subject matter may be while still appearing in focus.
The lens aperture is usually specified as an [[f-number]], the ratio of [[focal length]] to effective aperture diameter. A lens typically has a set of marked "f-stops" that the f-number can be set to. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening which allows more light to reach the film or image sensor. The photography term "one f-stop" refers to a factor of √2 (approx. 1.41) change in f-number, which in turn corresponds to a factor of 2 change in light intensity.
[[Aperture priority]] is a semi-automatic shooting mode used in cameras. It allows the photographer to choose an aperture setting and allow the camera to decide the shutter speed and sometimes ISO sensitivity for the correct exposure. This is sometimes referred to as Aperture Priority Auto Exposure, A mode, Av mode, or semi-auto mode.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060620033626/http://elite-cameras.com/articles/aperture-shutter-speed-digital-cameras.php| title=Aperture and shutter speed in digital cameras| work=elite-cameras.com| accessdate=2006-06-20}} (original link no longer works, but page was saved by archive.org)</ref>
===Maximum and minimum apertures===
The specifications for a given lens typically include the minimum and maximum apertures.
These refer to the maximum and minimum f-numbers the lens can be set at to achieve, respectively.
A typical lens will have an f-number range from {{f/}}16 (small aperture) to {{f/}}2 (large aperture) (these values vary).
The maximum aperture (minimum [[f-number]]) tends to be of most interest (and is always included when describing a lens). This value is also known as the '''[[lens speed]]''', because it is proportional to the square of accepted light, and thus inversely proportional to the square of required exposure time (i.e. using a lens with f/2, one can take pictures at one quarter of the exposure time necessary using a f/4 lens). Professional lenses for 35mm cameras can have f-numbers as low as {{f/}}1.0, while professional lenses for some movie cameras can have f-numbers as low as {{f/}}0.75 (very large relative aperture). These are known as "fast" lenses because they allow much more light to reach the film and therefore reduce the required exposure time. [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s film ''[[Barry Lyndon]]'' is notable for having scenes shot with the largest relative aperture in film history: {{f/}}0.7.
Prime lenses have a fixed focal length (FFL) and large aperture and are favored by professionals, especially by photojournalists who often work in dim light, have no opportunity to introduce supplementary lighting, and need to capture fast breaking events.
[[Zoom lens]]es typically have a maximum aperture (minimum [[f-number]]) of {{f/}}2.8 to {{f/}}6.3 through their range. A very fast zoom lens will be constant {{f/}}2.8 or {{f/}}2, which means the relative aperture will stay the same throughout the zoom range. A more typical consumer zoom will have a variable relative aperture, since it is harder and more expensive to keep the effective aperture proportional to focal length at long focal lengths; {{f/}}3.5 to {{f/}}5.6 is an example of a common variable aperture range in a consumer zoom lens.
<gallery>
Image:Jonquil flowers at f32.jpg|{{f/}}32 - narrow aperture and slow shutter speed
Image:Jonquil flowers at f5.jpg|{{f/}}5 - wide aperture and fast shutter speed
</gallery>
===Aperture area===
The amount of light captured by a lens is proportional to the area of the aperture, equal to:
:<math>\mathrm{Area} = \pi \left({f \over 2N}\right)^2</math>
Where ''f'' is [[focal length]] and ''N'' is the [[f-number]].
The focal length value is not required when comparing two lenses of the same focal length; a value of 1 can be used instead, and the other factors can be dropped as well, leaving area proportion to the reciprocal square of the f-number ''N''..
If two cameras of different format sizes and focal lengths have the same [[angle of view]], and the same aperture area, they gather the same amount of light from the scene. The relative focal-plane illuminance, however, depends only on the f-number ''N'', independent of the focal length, so is less in the camera with the larger format, longer focal length, and higher f-number.
==In scanning or sampling==
The terms ''scanning aperture'' and ''sampling aperture'' are often used to refer to the opening through which an image is sampled, or scanned, for example in a [[Drum_scanner#Drum|Drum scanner]], an [[image sensor]], or a television pickup apparatus. The sampling aperture can be a literal optical aperture, that is, a small opening in space, or it can be a time-domain aperture for [[sampling (signal processing)|sampling]] a signal waveform.
For example, [[film grain]] is quantified as ''graininess'' via a measurement of film density fluctuations as seen through a 0.048 mm sampling aperture.
==See also==
* [[Bokeh]]
* [[Shallow focus]]
* [[Deep focus]]
* [[Diaphragm (optics)]]
* [[Entrance pupil]]
* [[Exit pupil]]
* [[Lyot stop]]
==References==
<references/>
* {{1911}}
==External links==
{{photography subject}}
[[Category:Science of photography]]
[[Category:Geometrical optics]]
[[Category:Physical optics]]
[[Category:Observational astronomy]]
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