What is an "aperture" and what does it do in my digital camera?

What is an "aperture" and what does it do in my digital camera?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: Why would I use the "image stabilizer" feature?; How do various image stabilizers differ?; What shutter speed range do I need for my digital camera? and more...

With digital cameras, an "aperture" in a camera can also be known as the "F-stop" or the lens opening. It's basically the size of the hole in the lens, so when you're looking through the lens, you look through the lens wide open, as you take the picture it closes down to adjust the amount of light coming through. Therefore the aperture, or F-stop, or lens opening controls the amount of light. The bigger the hole, the more light comes through. The smaller the hole, the less light comes through. The aperture also affects the amount or quantity of focus called "depth of field."