Photographers’ gobbledygook can be confusing! This photography dictionary will help you find the real significance behind that jargon.
E6
The number given to a Chemical process for developing colour transparency film. (created by Kodak during the early 70's and adopted universally by every other manufacturer).
Electrophotography
(Xerox), a dry photocopying technique invented by Chester Carlson in 1938, the invention was initially called electrophotography and was later called xerography. The same process can be found in modern Colour Laser or LED printers.
Emulsion
The light-sensitive material (which is suspended in micro-thin layers of gelatin) that is coated onto different bases to make photographic film, or paper.
Enlargement
A print larger than the negative or trannie used to produce it (blow up).
EOS
A popular autofocus 35mm SLR camera system made by Canon. "EOS" (Electro Optical System) is also the name of the goddess of dawn in Greek mythology. First introduced to the world in March 1987 with the EOS650 camera.
(see SLR & 35mm)
EF lens
The lens of the Canon EOS autofocus camera system.
(see EOS & Bayonet)
ESP
'Electro Selective Pattern' a Matrix style metering found in Olympus cameras.
(see Matrix Metering)
E-TTL
E-TTL (Evaluative-Through The Lens) flash metering. A Canon EOS flash exposure system that uses a brief pre-flash before the main flash in order to obtain a more correct exposure.
(see Balanced Fill Flash & EOS)
EVIL
Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens. Currently found in some Four Thirds system cameras. Electronics is used instead of an optical glass prism, the finder image quality is lower than a traditional SLR but has an advantage of reducing both size and weight.
(see Finder & SLR )
EXIF data
EXIF (Exchange image file format). This is a standard that allows information stored with the digital photograph (camera setting and exposure information) to be used to achieve a balanced colour when the photo is output on a EXIF data-compliant printer. Many programs can also read and display this information.
Existing Light
Available light, includes all natural lighting from moonlight to sunshine; and for photographic purposes, existing light is also the light that is already on the scene. Therefore it takes in: room lamps, fluorescent lamps, neon signs, candles, daylight through windows, and artificially illuminated night scenes.
Exposure
The quantity of light allowed to act on a photographic material; the lens aperture controls intensity or amount of light, and the shutter speed (or the enlarger timer in printing) controls the time.
(see Aperture, Shutter speed & Over exposed)
Exposure compensation
To obtain the best results with certain subjects it may be necessary to alter the exposure from the value suggested by the camera. An exposure compensation button [+/-] is now found on most modern auto cameras. Positive compensation may be needed when the main subject is darker than the background and negative compensation may be needed for a subject lighter than the background.
Exposure latitude
The amount by which you can over or under expose a light-sensitive material with standard processing, and still achieve an acceptable result.
Exposure meter
A photographer's instrument for measuring the amount of light (available or flash) falling on or being reflected by a subject, and converting this measurement into usable information: shutter speed and f stop.
(see Existing Light , f-stop & Shutter speed )
Extension tubes
Metal tubes added to 35mm or medium format cameras, to extend the lens film distance, enabling a magnification greater than x 1(life size).
(see: Close-up lens & Macro lens)
Peter Ashby-Hayter, Bristol, U.K. Bristol Photographer
The photographs and the design of the site are protected under Copyright Laws. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited.