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Plain-English explainers for the questions photographers actually ask. Short, specific and kept up to date.
Basics
- The exposure triangle explained: aperture, shutter and ISO
Understand how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together, with simple stop calculations and practical ways to choose your camera settings.
- Aperture explained: f-stops, depth of field and light
What f/1.8, f/4 and f/11 actually mean, how aperture changes brightness and background blur, and which setting to use for portraits, landscapes and low light.
- Shutter speed explained: settings for sharper photos
Learn how shutter speed affects motion and exposure, with starting settings for people, sport, camera shake and deliberate motion blur.
- ISO explained: how to choose the right camera setting
Learn what ISO does, when to raise it and how to use Auto ISO, with practical settings for balancing image noise, shutter speed and sharpness.
- Full frame vs APS-C: what the sensor size really changes
Crop factor, field of view, background blur, low light and cost: what you gain and give up with a full-frame or APS-C camera, explained without the jargon.
- RAW vs JPEG: which photo format should you use?
Compare RAW and JPEG for editing, file size and sharing, with a practical way to choose the right camera format and test both on the same shoot.
Lenses
- Focal length explained: what 24mm, 50mm and 85mm look like
See how 24mm, 50mm and 85mm change framing, why camera position controls perspective, and how sensor size affects the view from your lens.
- Prime vs zoom lenses: which should you choose?
Compare prime and zoom lenses for low light, framing, size and everyday use, with a practical look at a 24–70mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.2.
- 50mm vs 85mm for portraits: framing, space and background
Compare 50mm and 85mm portrait lenses for working distance, small rooms and background blur, with practical settings and Canon lens examples.
Gear
- CFexpress Type B vs SD cards: what speed do you need?
Understand card write speeds, V30, V60 and V90 ratings, and which CFexpress Type B or SD cards suit your camera's photo and video settings.
Canon
- Can you use Canon EF lenses on RF cameras?
Yes, with Canon's EF-EOS R adapter, and with no loss of image quality or autofocus. Here's which adapter to buy and what to watch out for.
Drones and action cams
- UK drone rules: Flyer ID, Operator ID and sub-250g drones
Understand current UK drone rules for Flyer IDs, Operator IDs and sub-250g camera drones, including class marks, flight limits and Remote ID.