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This video is part of our Intro to Photography series, where we break down some of the fundamental concepts of the image-making process. You can find a written version below.

• What is Shutter Speed?
• What is Exposure?
• What is Aperture?

Aperture value is one of the fundamental aspects of exposure and perhaps the most intimidating, but it needn't be. The easiest way to think about it is as the name of the size of the hole through which your camera sees the world. A bigger hole lets in more light, and a smaller hole lets in less.

The naming system can seem confusing at first: aperture settings are named for what fraction of the focal length the diameter of the hole is. This risks being confusing in two ways: firstly, a smaller number represents a larger hole, and, secondly, the pattern relates to the square root of 2. Most people won't be able to spontaneously think in terms of root 2, so your best bet will be to memorise them.

The key thing to learn is that changing your aperture value by a whole'stop' lets in double or half the amount of light, in just the same way that doubling or halving your shutter speed does. With time, you'll come to remember that F2 is a whole stop brighter than F2.8 and that F4 is another stop less bright.

This is why lenses with very large apertures are typically so much larger and more expensive than lenses that aren't as bright.

As well as letting in more light, to give you better image quality in low light conditions, a wide aperture will also give you shallower depth-of-field, and blurrier backgrounds. But that's a story for another day.

• What is Shutter Speed?
• What is Exposure?
• What is Aperture?

We recently posted our review of the Fujifilm X-E5 and, as always, we took a lot of pictures with the camera while writing it. The look is pretty much what you'd expect from a modern Fujifilm camera, as it has the 40MP APS-C sensor that's shared among many of its X-series cameras, like the X-T5, X-T50 and X-H2.

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

See the sample gallery

There's also a separate sample gallery taken using a few "recipes"; custom JPEG settings shared among the Fujifilm community. The X-E5 supports saving recipes to its Film Simulation dial, so we made sure to use the feature while working on the review.

See the recipe sample gallery

Canon USA, Australia and Asia have issued a notice for owners of the black EOS R50 regarding a potential issue with the mode dial. The company apologized and is offering free repair services to those experiencing issues.

In the announcement, Canon says that a small number of R50 units may have a stiff or difficult-to-operate mode dial. It added that the dial may break and detach from the camera entirely in some instances. This issue only impacts the black model of the R50 and does not apply to the white version.

Canon provided specific serial numbers, allowing users to check if their camera may be at risk. Cameras with the first two digits of serial numbers between 19 and 23 are included in the batch of impacted units. The service advisory is for customers in Asia, Australia and the US.

So, what do you do if you own a black R50? Canon says that any black R50 with those serial numbers is eligible for a free inspection and repair. If you want to take advantage of the free service, you first need to create a Canon account and register your camera. Canon will perform free repairs for this issue until July 31, 2028.

Rumors had been swirling for weeks about a looming increase in Fujifilm prices in the US on August 1, and now those rumors are confirmed. Prices of Fujifilm cameras and lenses have increased, with list prices for US customers as much as $800 higher than they were in July.

The price increases apply to both cameras and lenses. We noted prices at B&H and Fujifilm yesterday and compared them to list prices as of today. Most of the company's camera lineup has seen an increase, with the exception of a few older models. The X half and X-E5 remain consistent, but those prices already had the tariffs factored in at the time of launch. The rest have been increased by anywhere from 10 to 15%.

The GFX100 II, for example, jumped from $7,500 to $8,300, resulting in a $800 difference. Percentage-wise, the X-S20 saw the most substantial change, with a 15% increase. Most of the lenses we looked at increased from $100 to $200.

US retailer Moment shared about the increase with a list of cameras and their respective prices. It also addressed the fact that many Fujifilm cameras are backordered, explaining that, according to Fujifilm, "all open backorders containing these affected products will be subject to the price increase." That's far from good news for those who have backordered cameras and expected a certain price. If you ordered from Moment, though, it said it is paying the difference in price so that customers don't have to. How other retailers plan to handle this is unclear.

This increase should come as no surprise, given the tariff situation in the US. Most other camera brands had already increased prices, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica and Sigma. Canon even recently said that it will potentially increase prices again. Japan and the US recently reached a new trade agreement with a 15% tariff rate on goods shipped to the US, but that's still higher than the 10% rate that had been in place since May.

Photography can be an overwhelming hobby for those starting out. There are mountains of technical jargon, endless gear choices, and it can also seem like you need to know it all right off the bat. Plus, it can be discouraging when you are bombarded with work from experienced photographers on social media all the time.

While living in a time when information is so easily accessible can certainly be a good thing, there is plenty of confidently incorrect (or at least misleading) information out there as well. Knowing what is right and what is worth paying attention to can only add to the intimidation factor when getting into photography. To help you sift through the noise, here are some good ways to start your photography journey (or refresh your skills if you've been here for a while).

First, a shameless plug: we started the DPReview Intro to photography series for just this reason. This video series breaks down concepts into easily digestible content, like "What is shutter speed?" It dives into terms and techniques for videographers and photographers alike. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and check back at the DPReview website to stay updated on the series.

Outside of our videos, we've also been focused on putting out beginner-focused articles. These touch on everything from travel photography to gear care.

In all of our beginner content – videos and articles alike – we aim to simplify complex terms and concepts while maintaining accuracy. It can be hard to unlearn bad technique or knowledge, so we want to ensure you have the correct information right out of the gate.

Did you know that many camera brands and retailers produce educational content? Canon, Nikon and Sony all produce content with helpful information that you can trust. Sometimes, it's materials specifically for their gear, but it is frequently general photography content related to technique and creativity. Tamron also has what it calls Tamron University, offering free master classes put on by pro photographers.

Beyond camera brands, some retailers also offer educational content. B&H Explora, for example, is filled with a wide range of informational articles and videos. Likewise, Adorama's blog has articles on everything from editing to composition tips to gear.

Books are great resources for learning techniques and terms and for finding inspiration.

Photo: Abby Ferguson

I know, who reads books anymore? But books can still be a superb source of information, and, for some, that format is easier to learn from than videos or reading on a screen. There are loads of fantastic photography books that cover anything you may be trying to learn, from the technical to creative and even theory.

Photography textbooks, such as Photography by Barbara London, Jim Stone and John Upton, or Digital Photography Complete Course by David Taylor, offer a wealth of information that will cover every step of the process, from learning your camera to editing, printing and more.

Beyond the technical side of things, photography books (as in, books of photographs) are a fun way to learn about composition and find inspiration. Simply looking at loads of pictures is a great way to learn about the medium and expand your knowledge of what's possible, helping you improve your images.

Sometimes, a more structured format is the best way to learn and grow. That doesn't mean you need to get a four-year degree in photography, though. Taking a single semester of an introductory photography course is a great place to kickstart your learning. It will help you learn the basics more in-depth and set you up to keep learning outside of class. One of the best parts of taking a class is having the opportunity to get feedback on your work, so that you aren't trying to learn in isolation.

Many small community colleges offer photography classes that can be relatively affordable (at least when compared to larger universities). You could also take an online photography class if you don't have a college near you but want access to that structured format. These can be offered through colleges and universities, as well as through smaller organizations that put on workshop-style courses online. Maine Media is one such example, but there are many options available.

Of course, YouTube and Instagram are all full of individuals teaching photography. Likewise, a lot of advice is available in forums like ours or Reddit. These platforms are free and easily accessible, which is ideal. However, as with anything online, there's also a lot of iffy information.

That's not to say that you can't learn from YouTube videos or forum posts. YouTube is full of experts who share their opinions and knowledge. But there are just as many people who don't necessarily have all the facts straight. If someone is saying something that contradicts everyone else, perhaps give it some extra thought before implementing their advice.

All of the above resources are excellent tools for learning how to use your camera and take better images. Use them on their own, or use a combination of all of them. However, there is no replacement for simply using your camera. You can read about how to adjust exposure all day. But unless you practice those skills and experiment to see firsthand what happens when you change certain settings, that information likely won't fully click.

The US' de minimis exemptions, which used to protect purchases under $800 from tariffs and duties, will be going away on August 29th, according to the White House. The policy change will have a massive impact on direct-to-consumer brands like AliExpress or Temu, but could also affect Americans shopping for photography gear or used cameras.

For example, say you were searching for a camera – say a PowerShot S120 – on eBay, and found one for $300 that ships from Japan. If you ordered it today and it arrived before August 29th, the price would be the price. You wouldn't have to pay anything on top of it.

However, if you bought that same camera after the de minimis exemptions go away, you'd then have to pay duties and tariffs on top of the purchase price. Yes, those recently announced tariffs even apply to used goods. It's also worth noting that the tariff you'd pay depends on where the good was originally made, not where it's shipping from; if you're buying a Chinese-made camera from Japan, you'll pay the 30% tariff that applies to Chinese exports, not the 15% one for Japanese goods.

This could substantially increase the cost of buying vintage cameras in the US, so if you've been hunting for something in particular, now may be the time to act. Of course, it won't make a difference on items over $800, as those wouldn't have been exempted anyway.

There is some nuance to exactly how much extra you'll be charged, as it's different depending on how your package is shipped. However, the upshot is that you'll be paying more than you would've on packages that came in before August 29th.

This change has been on the horizon for a while. Recent legislation passed in the US already mandated that the exemptions would end on July 1, 2027, and goods from China and Hong Kong haven't been exempt since early May. People buying new gear have also been dealing with prices inflated by tariffs for months, but now even used gear isn't necessarily a safe harbor.