F-stops

F-stops are a way to measure the size of a camera lens’s aperture—the opening that lets light in. The smaller the F-stop number (like f/2.8), the larger the aperture, allowing more light to reach the sensor and resulting in a brighter image with a blurred background. Conversely, a higher F-stop (like f/16) means a smaller aperture, letting in less light and increasing the depth of field, so more of the scene appears in focus. F-stops are part of a standard system that helps photographers control exposure and depth of field effectively.