B
- Back button focusUsing a button on the back of the camera to activate autofocus, not the shutter button.
- Back illuminated sensorNewer, more efficient sensor design with the wiring on the back surface.
- BacklightingWhere the light is coming straight at the camera and through your subject.
- BackpackCamera bag designed like a rucksack, ideal for bulkier and heavier equipment.
- Ball headSimple tripod head which allows movement in any direction with a single locking knob.
- Barrel distortionWhere straight lines near the edge of a picture appear to bow outwards.
- BatteriesPower sources for cameras or other accessories, usually rechargeable.
- Battery chargerUsed for recharging batteries when they can be taken out of the device.
- Battery gripAdd on accessory to increase a camera's battery life and make vertical shooting easier.
- Battery lifeHow long a camera will run for between charges.
- Bayer sensorMost common type of sensor, where colors are captured by a 'Bayer' pattern of red, green and blue photosites.
- Bayonet mountTwist-lock mechanism for attaching and removing lenses quickly.
- BillinghamPrestige British maker of traditionally styled camera bags.
- Bits and bit depthThe amount of digital information used to capture, store and display digital photos.
- Black and whiteGenre of photography where colors are replaced by shades of grey, and still popular today.
- Black and white filtersFilters for changing the way colors are translated into shades of grey in black and white photography.
- BokehDescribes the visual appearance of out of focus areas in a photo.
- BoomPole or bar used to move microphones or cameras over a subject.
- Bounce flashFlash technique where the light is reflected off nearby walls or ceilings to soften its appearance.
- BracketingTaking multiple shots at different exposure settings, for example, to choose the best one later.
- Bridge cameraCamera with a very long zoom range designed for versatility and long range shooting.
- Brightline framesFraming marks used in cameras with simple 'direct vision' viewfinders.
- Brolly (lighting)An umbrella with a silvered interior, used to soften studio lighting.
- Buffer capacityNumber of shots that can be stored in the camera's short term memory during continuous shooting.
- Bulb (B) exposureShutter speed setting where the shutter stays open until you release the button.
- Burst modeMode where the camera takes pictures continuously while the shutter button is held down.