MINI

RESEARCH
IN MATH
10
Presented to: Presented by:
Mrs. Lorelie Rivera Dieter F. Suico
LENSES
OF
CAMERA
I. Introduction

A camera is a light tight box with a lens, or even a pinhole, at one end. At the
other end of a digital camera is an electronic image sensor. Film, coated with light
sensitive chemicals, is at the other end of a film camera. The lens is made up of one or
more curved pieces of glass or plastic. The shape of the lens, and the material it is
made of, causes light reflected from an object to bend or refract as it travels through the
lens. This refraction causes an image to be formed as indicated (look at the picture
below)

Just the right amount of light must hit the film. Cameras have a door which opens letting
light hit the film or sensor and closes to stop the light from hitting the film or sensor. The
amount of light hitting the film or sensor depends on how long that door is open and
how big the door is. The door is called the shutter. The size of the door is called the
aperture. We will examine the shutter in Section II and the aperture in section III. In
section IV we will examine the "focal length" of lenses and see how that affects
aperture.
II. Shutter Speeds

The camera shutter is like a door which opens to let light in. Shutter speeds are the
time the door or shutter remains open. Common shutter speeds in seconds are
1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60, 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1. Most also
have a B (Bulb) setting where the shutter stays open until you release the button. A
common shutter speed is 1/125 second which is a tiny part of one second. In taking
pictures of the night sky, however, photographers often use shutter speeds of several
seconds, minutes or even hours. Shutter speed dials often use only the denominator
instead of the entire fraction. Hence, 1,000 on a shutter speed dial means 1/1000 of a
second.

The shutter speeds form a geometric sequence. In moving from 1/1000 second towards
1 second each increase in shutter speed increases the time and the amount of light
hitting the film by a factor of 2. The common ratio is hence 2.

III. Aperture

Aperture Defined. The aperture is the diameter of the lens. In other words, the
aperture is how big the door is. The larger the diameter, the more light that can pass
through the lens. Cameras can actually change the size of their door or aperture. We
will, therefore, first consider telescopes which do not change the size of their opening
and are hence easier to understand. Telescopes need a large diameter to collect the
light from distant objects in the sky. The diameter of the telescope lens is often much
more important that its power or magnification. The price of telescopes increases as the
lens diameter increases.

Telescope Types. It is easier to make a large diameter curved mirror than it is to

make a lens. Larger diameter telescopes therefore often use a curved mirror instead of
a lens. The image is formed as shown in the diagram below. Telescopes that use
mirrors are called reflecting telescopes. Telescopes using lenses are called refracting
telescopes.
 Area = Light Gathering Power. While the aperture is measured by the diameter of
the lens or mirror, the light gathering power is determined by the area of lens or mirror.
The area of a circle equals pi (Π) times the radius squared or Area = Π r2. A
60mm telescope has an area of Π r2 = Π 30mm2 = 2827mm2. (Radius = 1/2
diameter.) A 120mm telescope has an area of Π 120mm2 = Π(60mm)2 =
11,310mm2. While the diameter is double, the area and light gathering
capacity goes up four times since area is calculated using the square of the
radius. (11,310 divided by 2837 = 4)

On the test you should be able to determine the area of a lens with a given
diameter. You should also be able to compare the area of lens of one diameter with the
area of a lens of another diameter. Since we are comparing two quantities by division,
we are finding a ratio. You should also be able to take into account the secondary
mirror of a reflecting telescope. The secondary mirror is also round. The incoming light
is blocked by the secondary mirror. My 6 inch reflecting telescope has a 1.5 inch
seconding mirror. You calculate the effective light gathering area as follows: The area of
a six inch diameter mirror is Π r2 = Π (3in)2 = 28.27 square inches. Subtract from this the
area of a 1.5 inch diameter circle. Π r2 = Π (1.55in)2 = 1.77 in2 . 28.27 - 1.77 = 26.5 in2.
You can also calculate the percentage loss due to the secondary mirror, 1.77 divided
28.27 = .063 = 6.3%, a relatively small loss.

Designation of Aperture. The diameter of a telescope lens or mirror is usually

given on the telescope, the box and/or the owner's manual. Binoculars are basically two
small telescopes joined together. Binoculars have designations such as 7 x 35, 7 x 50,
10 x 50, or 3 x 21 on them. The first number is the magnification or power. The second
number is the lens diameter in millimeters. Camera lenses also designate the aperture
but in a more complex way.
IV. Focal Length

Focal Length Described. Before we discuss the aperture of camera lenses, we

must first consider another important characteristic of lenses, the focal length. The focal
length can be thought of how long a lens is. Long lenses, like a photographer uses at a
football game, makes things appear close up. Short lenses make things look further
away but give you a wide angle of view. Now, let's get a little more technical.

The focal length of a lens is the distance between the optical center of the lens
and the points where a clear image is formed. This is shown in (Light path of a Lens ↑)
repeated below. We measured the focal length of several magnifying glasses which are
one piece, or "simple," lenses. A camera lens is usually composed of several individual
lenses and is called a compound lens. The focal length of modern camera lenses and
telescopes is usually measured in millimeters.

Focal length is very important in photography. Short focal length lenses gives you a
wide view and are called wide angle lenses. Longer focal length lenses have a narrow
view and make things appear closer. They are called telephoto lenses. In between are
normal lenses which have an angle of view similar to the human eye. 35mm cameras
use film that is 35mm wide. Common wide angle focal lengths for 35mm
cameras are 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm. Common normal focal lengths for
35mm cameras are 50mm and 55mm. Common telephoto lenses for 35mm
cameras are 100mm, 135mm, 200mm, 300mm and 400mm. Zoom lenses
are popular today. A zoom lens has a range of focal lengths. The photographer
changes the focal length with a button on the camera or a ring on the lens. Examples of
common zoom lenses for 35mm cameras are 28mm to 80mm, 70mm to 210mm and
100mm to 300mm.
 Angle of View. Looking through the viewfinder of a camera, we identified points
that were on the edge of the scene. We treated these as points on two rays extending
from the camera which was the vertex. In this way we could fairly precisely measure
with the large protractors we made the angle of view of a lens with a particular focal
length. The Picture above is a diagram of the angle of view of lenses with
focal lengths 28, 35, 55, 100, 135, 200 and 400. The values are from a "Canon
EOS System" brochure, page 12, "EF Lens Specifications." These angles are
somewhat wider than yours since they measure the angle of view across the diagonal of
the viewfinder.
V. Adjustable Camera Apertures - f-stops

Unlike telescopes, you can adjust the aperture or diameter of many camera lenses
as shown in Below using a ring on the lens or an electronic button. This is one of the
two primary ways to get the proper amount of light hitting the film.

Relation Between Aperture and Focal Length. The numbers in Picture require
considerable explanation. A larger aperture (diameter) results in more light. The amount
of light is also related to focal length, however. Let's say you are taking a photograph of
a wall 20m by 30m with a lens having a 28mm focal length and an aperture (diameter)
of 14mm. Now stand at the same location and switch to a 55mm lens, approximately
twice the focal length of a 28mm lens. Assume the 55mm lens has the same
aperture or diameter. Now you will only see a portion of the wall 10m by
15m; half the distance for both dimensions. The area you see with the
55mm lens will be almost 4 times less than with the 28mm lens. 20m x 30m
= 600m2. 10m x 15m = 150m2. 600 divided by 150 = 4. With 1/4 of the
scene, you receive 1/4 the light even though both lens openings have an
area of Π r2 = Π (7mm)2 = 154mm2.

To get the same amount of light you need a lens opening with 4 times
the area. 4 (154mm2) = 616mm2. Use Π r2 to find the radius needed.
616mm2 = Π r2. r2 = 616/Π. Taking the square root of both sides, r equals
approximately 14mm or diameter equals 2r or 28mm. Therefore, to get the
same amount of light as a 28mm focal length lens with a diameter of 14
mm, you need a 55mm lens with about twice the diameter or 28mm.
 f-stops. Relax! Photographers really don't calculate all of this to take a

photograph. Instead, they use f-stops. . We can also solve

this for diameter. . F-stops are designed so that the same

f-stop number on any lens results in the same amount of light hitting the film no
matter what the focal length.

Cameras use the following sequence of f-stop numbers: 1.4, 2,

2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22. This sequence seems pretty mysterious at first. We
found out what it means, however, by finding the diameter and area for different focal
length lenses. Let's find the diameter and area for various f-stops on the 28mm and
55mm lenses.

As the f-stop moves in the direction f1.4 to f16, the area, and hence the amount of light,
is cut in half with each increasing f-stop number. It is hence a geometric ratio with the common
ratio of 1/2. Conversely, moving in the direction of f16 to f1.4, the area, and hence the amount of
light, doubles (increases by a factor of 2) with each decreasing f-stop number. It is hence a
geometric ratio with a common ratio of 2. The f-stops and diameters are also geometric ratios
decreasing or increasing by a factor of the square root of 2 or about 1.4 with each change of f-
stop. The common ratio is the square root of 2 because the amount of light depends on area
which changes by the square of radius. The table also shows that for a given f-stop, the area of
the 55mm lens is about 4 times that of the 28mm. As explained above, however, the actual light
hitting the film is the same since the 55mm lens takes in only 1/4 the scene that the 28mm lens
takes in.
VI. Exposure

Correct Exposure with Shutter Speeds and f-stops. To get a photograph that is not too
dark or not too light the photographer uses the f-stops and shutter speeds to control the
amount of light hitting the film. The amount of light hitting the film is called the exposure.
The photographer determines how much light is needed by using a light meter, suggestions
on the box of film, or from experience. Since the mid 1960s most single lens reflex cameras
have light meters inside them. The photographer can set the shutter speed and then move
the aperture ring until a needle or light indicates the exposure is right. Conversely, the
photographer can set the f-stop and then move the shutter speed dial until the needle or
light indicates the correct exposure. Modern cameras will also generally have a setting that
will automatically set a proper shutter speed and f-stop.

Since there are two variables (shutter speeds and f-stops)

that control the amount of light hitting the film, there are
several combinations of shutter speeds and f-stops that will
give the same exposure. Suppose the meter says 1/125, f8
is a proper exposure. I can double the exposure by
increasing the shutter speed to 1/60. I can then halve the
exposure by changing the aperture to f11. The new setting
of 1/60, f11 gives the same exposure (i.e. allows the same
amount of light) as the old setting of 1/125, f 8. On the test
you will be given a particular shutter speed and f-stop
setting. You will then be asked to find several other settings
which will give the equivalent exposure.

Why Two Controls Are Useful. Why do you need both shutter speed and f-stop
settings? First, having both allows you to vary the light over a wide range. For example,
1/1000, f16 lets in very little light, while 1 second, f1.4 lets in a large amount of light. If you
just had the shutter speeds or just had the f-stops, you would not have such a wide range.

Second, varying the shutter speed or aperture affects how the photograph looks. If
you want to freeze action you can use a fast shutter speed of 1/1000, 1/500 or 1/250 of a
second. Conversely, you might want to blur a fast moving subject to give the illusion of
movement by using a slow shutter speed. You might also use a slow shutter speed with the
camera mounted on a tripod to give a misty, feathery appearance to a waterfall.

Aperture affects how much of the scene is in focus. If I use an f16 f-stop to take a
photograph of a person's head with a bookcase behind them, both his or her head and the
bookcase will be in focus. If I instead use an f2 f-stop, his or her head will be in focus but
the books in the bookcase will not. I might want the books to be blurred if I am interested in
viewers focusing their attention on the person's face rather than the books. This concept of
how much is in focus is called depth of field. Many single lens reflex cameras allow you to
close the aperture to the desired f-stop while looking through the viewfinder to visualize
what the depth of field will be. This is called depth of field preview. Many lenses also have a
scale on them that helps you determine the depth of field.
VII. Conclusion

If you are interested in photography, but are confused by some of the math, don't let
that stop your interest. You don't need to understand all the math here to enjoy
photography. If you find the math interesting, but don't care for photography, enjoy the
math. Photography uses a lot of middle school math concepts. In any event, read through
this paper to prepare for the test. Pay particular attention to the "On the test" clues. Focus
on the calculations we did in class. You will get to use this paper during the test.

While this is a long paper, we have really just touched the surface of studying
photography and math. For example, we have not discussed film processing and printing, or
digital image manipulation.

Finally, remember cameras are just tools. The true joy of photography is finding the
light of God in the beauty of nature and the people around us.

VIII. SOURCES:
• https://photographylife.com/what-is-shutter-speed-in-photography/
• http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-
explore/article/g3cu6o1r/understanding-maximum-aperture.html
• http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-
explore/article/g3cu6o2o/understanding-focal-length.html
• http://www.uscoles.com/fstop.htm
• https://photographylife.com/iso-shutter-speed-and-aperture-for-
beginners/
IX. About the Researcher

Dieter F. Suico, the reseacher of this mini-research paper with a topic

of Lenses of Camera. He was born on March 15, 2001 at Taguig, Quezon
City. He loves to explore things especially to where he is interested in and
Adventuring too with his friends. He uses his leisure time to play Dota 2 and
Infestation the NewZ with his friends. He actually won Dota 2 Event held at
Informatics College Cebu that was on February 24, 2017. He is certified Otaku
fan, he started to watch anime since 2014. He is kind of a guy who loves to
think negative than positive thoughts. He wants to be a Nautical someday.

X. Dedication

I dedicate this research to my currently math teacher at the same time

my adviser Mrs. Lorelie Rivera, without her knowledge she shared to us I
couldn’t finish this difficult task she given to us. I learned many things to her
especially values to become a better person.

I just want to thank God because he is always there to guide me where

the right path is, also I want to thank someone special of mine because of her
I’m dedicated and motivated.