Glossary

AF:  Autofocus - Mechanism that moves lense elements to bring the subject into focus.

APS:  Advanced Photo System - Type of film that uses a smaller negative size than 35mm film and allows for advanced functions such as changing cartridges mid-roll.

ARC:  Adobe RAW Converter - an Adobe Photoshop plug-in that allows for Photoshop to work directly with RAW files.

ASA:  American Standards Association - See ISO - committee that sets standards on sensitivity of imaging surfaces.

 

BPP:  Bits per pixel - Amount of data stored per imaging element.

 

CCD:  Charge Coupled Device - Imaging sensor in digital cameras.

CF:  Compact Flash - Type of portable storage medium the size of a matchbook, often used in digital cameras.

CMOS:  Complimentary Metal Oxide Sensor - Imaging sensor in digital cameras.

CMYK:  Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key - The three primary colors of reflected light (color on printed paper), key represents black.  Since black is the absence of light, it is not easily produced by mixing the primary pigments.

CRT:  Cathode Ray Tube - Technology employed by monitors using a vacuum sealed tube and a beam of electrons to paint an image onto a phosphor map.

DOF:  Depth-Of-Field - A term used to describe the thickness of the focal plane.

DSLR:  Digital Single Lense Reflex - Digital camera that employs a reflex action to flip mirror out of the optical light path during exposure.

ED:  Extra-low Dispersion - Lense manufacturing process used by Nikon to reduce chromatic aberrations.

EM:  Electromagnetic - Radiation radiating from a black body source when heated.

EOF:  End Of File - Marker used by computers to indicate where a data stream ends.

EXIF:  Exchangeable Image File Format - Image metadata storing information such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, date, time, camera model, manufacturer and other pertinent information.

EV:  Exposure Value - Arbitrary amount of light equivalent to one stop of light.

 

FAQ:  Frequently Asked Questions - A list of questions people have often asked.

FF:  Full Frame - Imaging sensor equivalent in size to a 35mm negative.

FOV:  Field-Of-View - The angle from the source included in an image.

GB:  Gigabyte - A unit of measure used in computer storage equivalent to 1,000,000,000 bytes.

GFI:  Ground Fault Interrupter - Device that cuts power to a circuit when a difference of 5 mA is detected between the hot and return leads.

GM Chart:  GretagMacbeth ColorChecker Color Rendition Chart - used to verify colors against a known standard.

GP:  Gigapixel - A unit of measure typically used with imaging sensors equivalent to 1,000,000,000 individual elements.

 

ICC:  International Color Consortium - A group of manufacturers that developed an open standard for specifying color information.

IEEE:  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Standards committee.

I/O:  Input/Output - Data path in computers.

IF:  Internal Focus - Lense system that focuses by moving elements within the lense itself without changing the physical length or turning of the outer ring.

IPTC:  International Press Telecommunications Council - A consortium of the world's major news agencies and news industry vendors.  This group promoted the addition of special fields in image files that allow for the addition of notes and photograph/photographer information.

IR:  Infrared - long wavelength, low frequency light below the visible light spectrum.

IS:  Image Stabilization - Canon's version of reducing camera shake in recorded images.

ISO:  International Standards Organization - Standard for measuring the sensitivity of photographic imaging sources.

IZ:  Internal Zoom - Lense system that changes focal lengths within the lense without changing the physical outer length.

JPEG:  Joint Photographic Experts Group - Common file format for image maps that uses lossy compression techniques to reduce file size.

 

KB:  Kilobyte - A unit of measure used in computer storage, equivalent to 1,000 bytes.

 

LCD:  Liquid Crystal Display - Type of display that utilizes electrical current to align crystals to allow light to pass.

 

MB:  Megabyte - A unit of measure used in computer storage equivalent to 1,000,000 bytes.

MH:  Metal Halide - High intensity lighting used by many reef tank hobbyists to enhance the growth of corals.  This type of lighting employs metal vapors to create an arc of light.

MP:  Megapixel - A unit of measure typically used with imaging sensors equivalent to 1,000,000 individual elements.

MTBF:  Mean Time Between Failure - Average life expectancy of electronic components.

MTF:  Modulation Transfer Function - Spacing of high frequency lines before merging occurs, useful in judging lense quality and resolution.

 

NEF:  Nikon Electronic File - Nikon's version of a RAW file.

NO:  Normal Output - standard household fluorescent lamps used by reef aquarists to light tanks.  These are typically used when coral growth is not involved.

 

OEM:  Original Equipment Manufacturer - Manufacturer that designed, developed and produces a particular piece of equipment.

OOF:  Out-Of-Focus - Areas of the photograph which are not sharply defined by focus.

OS:  Operating System - Software that allows the interaction between hardware and the user interface.

PC:  Power Compact - High intensity fluorescent lighting used by reef keepers that produces higher light output than standard fluorescent lighting, yet costs less than metal halide lighting.

PDA:  Personal Digital Assistant - An electronic organizer with high resolution, high color screens.  Usually come loaded with either Microsoft's Pocket PC OS, or Palm OS.  Some medium format digital backs use these devices for control and image capture display.

RGB:  Red, Green, Blue - The three primary colors of transmitted light (light through a filter).

 

SLR:  Single Lense Reflex - Camera that employs a reflex action to flip the mirror out of the optical light path during exposure.

SWM:  Silent Wave Motor - Nikon's version of focusing the lense by moving lense elements using ultrasonic waves.

 

TB:  Terabyte - A unit of measure used in computer storage equivalent to 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.

TIFF:  Tagged Image File Format - Common file format for image maps, typically stored as a linear uncompressed binary stream.

TP:  Terapixel - A unit of measure typically used with imaging sensors equivalent to 1,000,000,000 individual elements.

TTL:  Through The Lense - Metering that allows the camera to judge exposure on information actually being recorded.

 

URL:  Uniform Resource Locator - A unique address to every page and file on the internet that allows browsers to access each independently.

USB:  Universal Serial Bus - Computer I/O interface.

USM:  UltraSonic Motor - Canon's version of focusing the lense by moving lense elements using ultrasonic waves.

UV:  Ultraviolet - short wavelength, high frequency light above the visible light spectrum.

 

VHO:  Very High Output - Very high intensity fluorescent lighting used by reef aquarists for coral growth.  These can cover a much broader area than power compact lighting, yet costs significantly less than metal halide lighting.

VR:  Vibration Reduction - Nikon's version of reducing camera shake in recorded images.

 

WB:  White Balance - The adjusting of color channels to assure white appears neutral in color.