Stopping down refers to adjusting which camera control?

• A. Shutter Speed
• B. Aperture
• C. ISO
• D. White Balance

Answer: (B)

Stopping down refers to adjusting the aperture, the lens opening that controls how much light reaches the sensor. When you stop down, you make the opening smaller (higher f-number), which reduces the light and increases depth of field, making more of the scene appear in sharp focus from front to back. This is useful for landscapes or architectural shots where you want everything to be in focus. In contrast, widening the aperture (lower f-number) lets in more light and creates a shallower depth of field, which helps isolate a subject, like in portraits. The other controls—shutter speed changes how long the sensor collect light, ISO changes the sensor’s sensitivity, and white balance adjusts color temperature. So stopping down is all about the aperture.