stopping down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stopping down" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in photography and optics to refer to the process of reducing the aperture size to allow less light to enter the camera. Example: "To achieve a deeper depth of field, I recommend stopping down the lens to f/16."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Halfing the aperture is equivalent to stopping down 2 stops.

Stanford University

Stopping down the lens decreases the number of rays that reach the film.

Stanford University

The arrangement of the system, with a central opening in the primary mirror, makes stopping down with a customary diaphragm difficult, and neutral-density filters are used to control light transmission.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You can't risk taking a shot that is both out of focus and badly lit, so here are a few creative compromises (see diagrem, above): If the depth of field is too limited for your purpose you can: 1. Increase the focused depth by reducing the aperture, or "stopping down" (you'll need to flick on a few light switches, though).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Under certain conditions when stopping down the lens, the camera will jam.

WikiHow

Stopping down means to use a smaller aperture than your lens' largest (smallest f/ number).

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

|| || || To stop down the telephoto lens by four stops, I divided the aperture radius by 4.

Stanford University

It's very stopped down, with an 800-millimeter lens — sometimes 600, but mostly 800-millimeter.

The New York Times

Place a flat, high contrast specimen onto the stage in Kohler transmitted illumination with the condenser aperture stopped down.

Stanford University

Both images were taken with a 16ms exposure time and the corrected lens is stopped down to F/4.

Columbia University

Parents stopped down the street to spare children the embarrassment of being seen with Mom.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for greater depth of field in photography, remember to use "stopping down" the lens. This technique is particularly effective for landscape photography where sharpness throughout the scene is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "stopping down" when you actually mean adjusting the shutter speed. "Stopping down" specifically refers to reducing the aperture size, not the duration of exposure.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "stopping down" functions primarily as a term within the field of photography, denoting the action of reducing the aperture size of a camera lens. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

30%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stopping down" is a photography term that refers to decreasing the aperture size of a lens. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in English. It is commonly used to increase the depth of field or control exposure, particularly in landscape and group photography. Related phrases include "reducing the aperture" and "narrowing the aperture". When using this term, ensure it's in the context of aperture adjustment, not shutter speed or other camera settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reducing the aperture

Focuses on the action of making the aperture smaller.

decreasing the aperture

Emphasizes lessening the size of the aperture.

narrowing the aperture

Highlights the reduction in the aperture's width.

closing the aperture

Uses the imagery of the aperture being shut.

decreasing the f-stop

Refers to the technical setting associated with aperture reduction.

increasing the f-number

Uses inverse relation to aperture size.

reducing light transmission

Focuses on the effect of reducing light.

limiting light intake

Highlights restriction of light entering the camera.

lowering the exposure

Emphasizes the effect on the overall exposure of the image.

darkening the image

Highlights the result of reducing light on the image.

FAQs

How does "stopping down" affect depth of field?

"Stopping down" increases the depth of field, meaning more of the image will be in focus from near to far. This is because a smaller aperture reduces the size of the circle of confusion, making objects at different distances appear sharper.

What does it mean to "stop down" a lens?

To "stop down" a lens means to decrease the size of the aperture, which is the opening through which light passes. This is usually done to increase depth of field or reduce the amount of light entering the camera.

When should I consider "stopping down" my lens?

Consider "stopping down" when you need a greater depth of field, such as in landscape or group photography, or when there's too much light for your desired shutter speed and ISO settings. It can also create sunstar effects on bright light sources.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "stopping down"?

You can use alternatives such as "reducing the aperture", "decreasing the aperture", or "narrowing the aperture", all of which describe the same action in photography.