Image Acquisition & Capture Flashcards

Which metering mode evaluates light from the entire scene and averages it, giving extra weight to the area near the focus point?

Answer: Matrix/evaluative metering

Matrix (Nikon) or evaluative (Canon) metering divides the scene into zones, analyzes each, and uses the focus point area as an additional factor.

A photographer shoots indoors under fluorescent lighting without adjusting white balance. The images will most likely have a dominant color cast of:

Answer: Green-yellow

Standard fluorescent tubes emit a green-yellow spike in their spectrum, producing a green-yellow cast when the camera is set to Daylight WB.

In photography, 'exposure latitude' refers to:

Answer: The range of exposures within which a sensor or film can capture acceptable detail

Exposure latitude describes how far over or under a 'correct' exposure a medium can be pushed while still rendering usable detail.

What does the term 'bokeh' specifically refer to in digital imaging?

Answer: The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus blur in an image

Bokeh (from Japanese 'boke') describes the visual quality—smooth, creamy, or busy—of the background blur created by shallow depth of field.

When capturing an image of a fast-moving subject, which combination best freezes motion?

Answer: Fast shutter speed, wide aperture, higher ISO

A fast shutter speed freezes motion; opening the aperture and raising ISO compensates for the reduced exposure time.

A sensor's 'fill factor' is defined as:

Answer: The percentage of a pixel's area that is photosensitive

Fill factor is the ratio of the light-sensitive photodiode area to the total pixel cell area; a higher fill factor improves light collection efficiency.

Which type of autofocus system works by comparing image contrast at the sensor itself, requiring no dedicated AF module?

Answer: Contrast-detection AF

Contrast-detection AF drives the lens back and forth until maximum contrast is found at the imaging sensor, needing no separate ranging hardware.