Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

A smaller lens opening results in what effect on depth of field?

1. Shallower depth of field

2. Darker exposure

3. Greater depth of field

4. Less clarity

The correct answer is: Greater depth of field

A smaller lens opening, often referred to as a higher f-stop number, leads to a greater depth of field. This means that a larger portion of the image will be in focus, from the foreground to the background. This effect occurs because a smaller aperture reduces the amount of light entering the camera, which increases the range of distances within which objects appear sharp. In practical application, photographers often use a smaller aperture when they want to capture landscapes where it's important for both the foreground and the background to be clear. This greater depth of field allows for more detail to be noticed in the scene. While options about darker exposure and less clarity might seem relevant, they do not accurately reflect the primary effect of a smaller aperture on depth of field. A darker exposure can indeed result from a smaller opening, as less light is allowed into the camera, but this is not the key concept being addressed. Similarly, less clarity is related more to other factors such as lens quality and focus accuracy rather than being a direct consequence of the aperture size affecting depth of field.