Digital photography A-Z
Camera jargon demystified
What is this site about?
01
An alphabetical directory of photographic terms and jargon
This is a live project that is constantly being expanded. You can download a free PDF version below (2026 edition now available).
02
Camera jargon A-Z
It doesn’t just tell you the meaning of hundreds of photographic terms, it links to in-depth articles that put photographic jargon in context.
03
Photography articles
A series of articles that explains photography principles and technologies so that you can work out what you really need… and what you don’t.
Latest articles
Video accessories and what they do
You can film video with just a camera, but there are a whole bunch of accessories to make filmmaking easier, better, more sophisticated.
Microphone types and when you need them
External microphones are pretty much essential for good quality video recording, but they come in many different types.
Macro photography and how it works
Macro photography is a photography genre with its own equipment and techniques that explain a lot of camera and lens jargon.
Lens adapters and how they work
Lens adapters can let you fit lenses from different makers or eras to your camera, especially if it’s a mirrorless model.
Electronic shutters and how they work
Electronic shutters operate silently, switching the sensor photosites on and off electronically without a mechanical shutter mechanism.
What is bokeh? It’s not just a trendy buzzword
Bokeh is a word used to describe the visual quality of out of focus areas on a picture. You can have ‘good’ bokeh and ‘bad’ bokeh.
