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MMaximum Aperture

The maximum diameter of the lens opening is referred to as its maximum aperture or minimum f-number. The minimum f-number is the smallest f-number that can be selected with the lens. The maximum aperture varies from lens to lens and is included in the lens model name.

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Stop-Down Metering
A metering method that measures light with the aperture stopped down.
Smart Photo Selector Mode
The Smart Photo Selector mode allows you to capture up to five (best) images and choose the best one manually, or have the camera choose the best image for you, based on composition, focus, blur, face detection, smile and blink detection. Find out more.
Shadow
The dark area—as opposed to the highlight—of a subject or scene.
Sync Speed
The speed at which a flash synchronizes with the opening of the shutter. Normal X-sync flash operation requires the entire shutter to be open when the flash is fired. Shutter speeds at which this is possible are referred to as sync speeds.
Shutter
A device that opens and closes in a camera to allow light to pass through the camera body to the imaging sensor or film.
Smile Timer
Select Nikon COOLPIX cameras have a Smile Timer which snaps a photo when the camera detects a smile, regardless of whether the shutter button was pressed or not. Find out more.
Spot Metering
A metering method in which meter sensitivity is concentrated within a small circle in the center of the viewfinder. Recommended for very precise metering; requires extensive knowledge of lighting for really effective use.
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface. A computer connection once commonly used and often preferred for digital imaging because of its high speed interface.
Scene Auto Selector
Nikon COOLPIX cameras are so smart they know what kind of picture you're taking and can automatically select from six commonly used scene modes, eliminating the mode-setting procedure and streamlining the shooting process. Find out more.
Split Lighting
Split Lighting is a portrait lighting technique in which only half of the face is illuminated. It is a dramatic lighting style, used to thin the subject's face.
Standby Timer
The standby timer allows you to adjust the amount of time before the camera goes into standby mode, and can be adjusted using custom settings. Find out more.
Soft Focus
An effect resulting from diffusing light around a sharply focused image.
Slave
A slave is a wireless accessory that allows multiple Speedlights or strobes to be used in multiple lighting setups. Find out more.
Spot Fill-Flash
An effect similar to that achieved with center-weighted fill-flash. though the narrower angle spot meter enables more selective ambient light exposure control.
Sensitivity
See ISO.
SXGA
Acronym for Super Extended Graphics Array. An SXGA display is capable of a resolution of 1280x1024 (5:4 standard) 24 bit color.
Stitching
"Stitching" is the term used to electronically join a series of images together to make one large image using software. Find out more.
Single Servo AF
An autofocus mode in which autofocus operation stops when the subject comes into focus. Useful for shooting stationary subjects.
Scene Modes
A mode in which camera settings are adapted to a specific scene or type of subject. The scene modes automatically selects the appropriate exposure (shutter speed, ISO, aperture) for the particular scene the photograph is being taken in. Find out more.
Split-Image Rangefinder
A focusing screen focus aid, comprising two prisms with their faces angled in opposite directions. Even a slightly out-of-focus image will appear split, enabling you to adjust for accurate focus.
Stopped Down
Refers to stopped down metering, a method of metering in which the light is measured by the camera through the lens with the aperture set for the f/stop at which the photo will be taken.
Super Integrated Coating
Nikon Super Integrated Coating is Nikon's term for its multilayer coating of the optical elements in NIKKOR lenses. Find out more.
Storage Device
A storage device is a device that allows for the recording or storage of information or data. This can be a disk drive, removable media card, or other portable device that contains data for archiving purposes or future use. Find out more.
Short Movie Creator Software
Software used to combine still and motion footage together with music to form the finished short movie file of the Motion Snapshot.
Sunny 16
Often called the sunny 16 rule, it's a quick guideline for exposure on a bright sunny day: Set the aperture at f/16 and the shutter speed to the fraction closest to the film's speed (for example, 1/125 second for ISO 100 film).
SLR
A single lens reflex camera.
Serial
A method for connecting an external device such as a printer, scanner or camera to a computer. It has been all but replaced by USB and FireWire in modern computers.
Selective Color Effect
A Special Effect available on certain Nikon D-SLR cameras. All colors other than the selected color(s) are recorded in B&W. Users can select a single color or a secondary color and even select a tertiary color.
Slow Glass
Slang term for a slow lens.
Short Lighting
When photographing a portrait subject, short lighting is the technique whereby you place the main light on the side of the face which is facing away from the camera and light source. Find out more.
Single Point AF
See AF Area Modes
Self-Timer
A camera mechanism that delays the release of the shutter by several seconds; in most cameras, ten seconds is common.
Simultaneous Live View
Simultaneous Live View is a feature present in certain Nikon digital cameras that allow the user to view the video signal being captured on the camera's LCD and to an external monitor display that is connected to the camera. Find out more.
SD Card
Secure Digital, a type of card used in digital cameras to store images. Available in a range of storage capacities, the cards can be erased (when the images have been transferred or are no longer needed) and reused many times.
Speedlights
The trade name given to electronic flashes manufactured by Nikon.
Slide Film
See Reversal Film.
Standard TTL Flash
A type of TTL auto flash that does not apply any automatic flash exposure compensation to the flash output.
Shooting Menu Banks
Shooting menu options are stored in one of four banks. Find out more.
Soft Focus Filter
Provides a soft-focus effect by diffusing light. Imparts a slight flare to the image. Ideal for portrait photography.
Stereo
The reproduction of sound, using two or more audio channels. Stereo sounds are heard as if they are coming from more than one direction.
Smart Portrait System
Nikon’s Smart Portrait System incorporates into COOLPIX cameras a series of automatic functions, including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, Improved Face-Priority AF, Face Priority AE, Smile Mode, Blink Warning, Skin Softening and D-Lighting. Find out more.
SmartMedia
A wafer-thin, matchbook-size memory card. It is also a flash-memory based storage medium.
SVGA
Acronym for Super Video Graphics Array. An SVGA display is capable of a resolution of 800x600 - 1024x768 at 8 bits (256 colors to 65,536 colors).
Shutter Release
The button that is fully depressed to release the shutter. With the latest cameras, lightly pressing the shutter button activates the exposure meter and starts the autofocus operation.
Slow Lens
A lens that has a relatively small maximum aperture, usually in the range of f/3 to f/4. Because such a lens allows in less light, slower shutter speeds may be called for in order to get an optimum exposure.
Silent Wave Motor
AF-S NIKKOR lenses feature Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor, which represents a significant advance in AF lens technology. Find out more.
Slow Motion Movie Crop
When shooting Slow Motion Movies using the Nikon 1 digital camera system, the movies are captured in a cropped aspect ratio. Find out more.
Solid State Drive (SSD)
A SSD is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. An SSD drive, unlike a traditional hard disk drive, does not have spinning disks or moveable read/write heads. Find out more.
Shutter Priority
An auto-exposure method in which a lens aperture is automatically set by the camera to match your manually selected shutter speed. Useful for stopping action at high shutter speeds or creating motion effects at low shutter speeds.
Scene Effect
Incorporated into select Nikon COOLPIX cameras, the Scene Effect is an adjustment slider that allows you to adjust the intensity of certain scene modes. Find out more.
SDXC Card
The Secure Digital Extended Capacity card is a newer SD card format that allows capacities of a maximum 2 TB. Note: SDXC cards only work in SDXC compatible devices; standard SD cards work in SD, SDHC and SDXC devices.
Standard Definition (SD) Video Capture
Video recording in standard definition (640x480), using a 4:3 aspect ratio. Not High Definition.
Stop Motion
Stop Motion is an animation technique whereby you take individual frames of an object, making it appear to be moving of its own accord, and using software, turn it into a movie. Stop Motion should not be confused with time lapse.
Skylight Filter
Removes a portion of the blue light in a scene.
Stereo Microphone
A microphone that captures audio in stereo (two or more channels).
SDHC Card
The Secure Digital high capacity card is a newer SD format that allows capacities of four to eight gigabytes. Note: SDHC cards only work in SDHC compatible devices; standard SD cards work in both SD and SDHC devices.
Scene Recognition System
The Scene Recognition System recognizes the position, color, tones and characteristics of a subject or scene prior to capture and compares it to the camera's built-in database to achieve accurate autofocus, auto exposure and auto WB. Find out more.
Subject Tracking
COOLPIX cameras and select D-SLRs in Live View mode, maintain focus on a moving subject using a contrast detection system, which is based on the principle that objects in a scene that are in focus display the highest contrast. Find out more.
Saturation
Technically, the degree to which a color is undiluted by white light. On an everyday basis, the degree of color intensity.
Shutter Speed
The measurement of how long a camera's shutter remains open as the picture is taken.
Sharpness
The quality of an image appearing to be in focus; commonly, the clarity of detail in a photo.
Side Lighting
Lighting that falls on the subject from the side. It's ideal for revealing detail and texture in the lit side of the subject.
Slow Sync
A technique for using flash with slow shutter speeds. The flash exposure is the same regardless of the synchronized speed chosen, but the choice of shutter speed will effect the ambient exposure.
Spherical Aberration
One of Seidel's five aberrations. It is a variation in the focal length of a lens from the center to the edges, due to its shape. Spherical aberration appears as a halo, blur and loss of sharpness. Find out more.
Soft Lighting
Generally refers to a light source that has been diffused, filtered or weakened in intensity to make it less direct or harsh and more flattering to the subject.
Shockproof
A testing method based on MIL-STD 810F Method 516.5 - Shock³ compliant and drop test from a height of 60-inches passed. Find out more.
Silent Stepping Motor (STM) Control
Certain 1 NIKKOR lenses utilize Silent Stepping Motor Control which means the lens is quiet when zooming, ideal for use when shooting videos with sound.
Silent Live View Mode
The mirror remains up and the shutter stays open during live view photography for less noise than Quiet mode. Find out more.