📸 Camera Basics for Beginners: ISO, Shutter Speed & Aperture Explained Simply

Last updated: June 26, 2025

📸 Camera Basics for Beginners: ISO, Shutter Speed & Aperture Explained Simply

If you're new to photography or filming with action cams, mirrorless, or even your smartphone—understanding the exposure triangle is key to taking control of your shots.

Today, we’re breaking down the three pillars of manual shooting:ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture—what they do, how they affect your image, and when to adjust them.

Let’s keep it simple, powerful, and creator-friendly.

🔺 What Is the Exposure Triangle?

Think of your camera like your eye. To capture a perfect image, you need the right balance of light—not too bright, not too dark. ISO, shutter speed, and aperture all control how much light hits your sensor.

Setting	What It Controls	Key Tradeoff
ISO	Sensor sensitivity to light	Higher ISO = more brightness, but more grain
Shutter Speed	How long your shutter stays open	Slower = motion blur, Faster = freeze action
Aperture (f-stop)	Size of lens opening	Wider = more light, blurry background; Narrower = less light, more focus

🔦 ISO: Brightness vs. Noise

ISO is your camera's sensitivity to light. Start at ISO 100 or 200 for outdoor scenes. As light fades, bump it to ISO 800, 1600, or beyond—but beware: the higher you go, the grainier (noisier) your photo gets.

G4G Tip: In low light with action cams like the Insta360 X4 or DJI Action 5 Pro, try ISO 400–800 for balance. Keep it as low as possible for sharper footage.

🕒 Shutter Speed: Freezing or Blurring Motion

Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second (e.g., 1/1000 = super fast, 1/30 = slow). Fast shutter speeds freeze movement—great for action. Slower ones introduce motion blur, which can be artistic or disastrous, depending on your goal.

Use Case	Shutter Speed
Bright daylight	1/1000 or faster
Portraits	1/125 – 1/250
Night scenes	1/30 or slower (use a tripod!)
Cinematic video	Use 1/2x your frame rate (e.g., 1/120 for 60fps)

G4G Tip: For smooth GoPro or Insta360 footage, match shutter to double your frame rate. Use ND filters in bright light to avoid overexposure.

🔘 Aperture (f-stop): Depth & Drama

Aperture controls how wide your lens opens. It's written as f/2.8, f/4, f/8, etc. Lower numbers = wider openings = more light + blurrier background. Higher numbers = sharper, deeper focus, but less light.

Action cams usually have a fixed aperture, but if you're using a DSLR or mirrorless, you can dial this in.

Aperture	Use Case
f/1.8 – f/2.8	Portraits, low light, creamy backgrounds
f/4 – f/5.6	General use, balanced sharpness
f/8 – f/11	Landscapes, group shots, everything in focus

🎬 Real-World Example: Shooting a Bike Ride

Want to shoot a smooth hyperlapse on your Insta360 X4 or DJI Action 5 Pro while biking in daylight?

• ISO: 100–200

• Shutter: 1/120 (for 60fps), or faster if bright

• ND filter: Yes, to maintain motion blur without overexposing

• Aperture: Fixed (but ND helps simulate aperture control)

This combo gives you cinematic motion blur, sharp detail, and stable exposure.

📸 Camera Basics for Beginners: ISO, Shutter Speed & Aperture Explained Simply

🧠 Final Thoughts: Practice = Power

Once you master these three settings, you can handle almost any lighting or movement challenge. Start in manual mode or Pro mode on your camera or app, and experiment until you get the feel.

Don’t fear mistakes—great creators are born by tweaking and trying.