# Aperture Authority

> Photography guides, gear comparisons, shooting rules, and practical tools. Gear recommendations are researched, and retailer links may earn a commission.

## Start Here

- [Aperture Authority](https://apertureauthority.com): Photography guides, gear comparisons, location rules, and practical shooting tools.
- [Rules by Location](https://apertureauthority.com/rules): Sourced and dated photography rules for parks, cities, states, and countries.
- [Learn Photography](https://apertureauthority.com/learn): Camera settings, light, focus, composition, editing, and video fundamentals.
- [Photography Gear](https://apertureauthority.com/gear): Research-based camera, lens, lighting, audio, and stabilization comparisons.
- [Photography Genres](https://apertureauthority.com/genres): Field guides for real estate, portrait, landscape, street, wildlife, and other subjects.
- [Photography Tools](https://apertureauthority.com/tools): Calculators and planning tools for exposure, light, focus, filters, and shot lists.
- [Photography Paths](https://apertureauthority.com/paths): Goal-based routes through settings, gear, rules, genres, and tools.
- [Search Aperture Authority](https://apertureauthority.com/search): Search guides, buying comparisons, genre walkthroughs, location rules, and tools.

## Rules and Permits

- [National Park Photography Permit Rules](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/national-park-photography-permit-rules): How the 2025 EXPLORE Act changed permits for small crews in US national parks.
- [Freedom of Panorama Comparison](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/freedom-of-panorama): Compare whether landmark and public-art photos can be sold across 100 countries.
- [US City Film Permit Comparison](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/us-city-film-permits): Compare handheld exemptions, fees, insurance, and permit rules across major US cities.
- [Photography Rules in France](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/france): Street photography, image rights, and commercial landmark use in France.
- [Photography Rules Dataset](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/data.json): Machine-readable location rules with verification dates, source URLs, and page links.

## Photography Fundamentals

- [The Exposure Triangle](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/the-exposure-triangle): How aperture, shutter speed, and ISO trade light, motion, depth, and noise.
- [How to Use Manual Mode](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/how-to-use-manual-mode): A practical order of operations for setting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
- [Shooting in Different Light](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/shooting-in-different-light): Camera settings and decisions for golden hour, midday, overcast, backlight, and low light.
- [Video Codecs, Formats, Log, and RAW](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/video-codecs-formats-and-log-profiles): A plain-language map of containers, codecs, bit depth, Log profiles, and RAW video.

## Camera and Gear Decisions

- [Camera Gear Finder](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/gear-finder): Filter the research catalog by what you shoot, gear type, and budget.
- [Wildlife and Sports Gear Finder](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/gear-finder?goal=wildlife): Fast bodies, long lenses, carry, and media for distant action subjects.
- [Product Studio Gear Finder](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/gear-finder?goal=studio): Macro, lighting, backdrops, stands, and support for repeatable product photos.
- [Event and Wedding Gear Finder](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/gear-finder?goal=event): Bodies, reach, flash, audio, cards, and carry for long coverage days.
- [What Camera Should You Buy?](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/what-camera-should-you-buy): Choose a camera system by subject, budget, sensor size, lenses, and video needs.
- [Best Vlogging Cameras](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-vlogging-cameras): Compare creator cameras for autofocus, stabilization, audio, screen design, and carry size.
- [Best Cameras for Video](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-cameras-for-video): Compare hybrid, filmmaking, and vlogging cameras by codecs, autofocus, heat, and stabilization.
- [Best Gimbals for Video](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-gimbals-for-video): Research-based gimbal picks for mirrorless cameras, phones, payloads, and budgets.
- [Prime vs Zoom Lenses](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/prime-vs-zoom-lenses): Compare focal-length flexibility, aperture, weight, price, and the best first-lens choice.

## Genre Guide

- [Real Estate Photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/real-estate-photography): A room-by-room guide to composition, exposure, lighting, gear, and delivery.
- [Landscape Photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/landscape-photography): A field guide to light, composition, lenses, filters, tripods, and outdoor workflow.
- [Portrait Photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/portrait-photography): Practical portrait guidance for light, focal length, background control, and gear choices.

## Interactive Tools

- [Camera Gear Finder](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/gear-finder): Filter the research catalog by shooting goal, department, budget, and search term.
- [Shot-List Generator](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/shot-list-generator): Build, streamline, complete, email, and print a real estate photography shot list.
- [Exposure Calculator](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/exposure-calculator): Balance aperture, shutter speed, and ISO while preserving the same exposure.
- [Golden Hour Calculator](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/golden-hour): Find sunrise, sunset, golden hour, blue hour, and twilight for a location and date.
- [Depth of Field Calculator](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/depth-of-field-calculator): Calculate near limit, far limit, total depth, and hyperfocal distance.
- [ND Filter Calculator](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/nd-filter-calculator): Convert a base shutter speed into the correct exposure for one to sixteen stops of ND.

## Editorial Information

- [About Aperture Authority](https://apertureauthority.com/about): Who publishes the site and how its guides, gear picks, and rules library are maintained.
- [How We Research and Rate](https://apertureauthority.com/how-we-research): The evidence behind gear recommendations and what the Aperture Score means.
- [Editorial Policy and Corrections](https://apertureauthority.com/editorial-policy): Source standards, update dates, corrections, affiliate separation, and editorial accountability.
- [Affiliate Disclosure](https://apertureauthority.com/disclosure): How retailer links support the site without changing scores or recommendations.

## Topic Paths

- [Learn manual photography without pretending it is magic](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/the-exposure-triangle): A clean path through aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus, depth of field, and manual mode.
  - [Exposure triangle](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/the-exposure-triangle)
  - [Aperture and f-stop](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/what-is-aperture-and-f-stop)
  - [Shutter speed](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/shutter-speed-explained)
  - [ISO](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/iso-explained)
  - [Manual mode](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/how-to-use-manual-mode)
- [Build a creator video setup that makes technical sense](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-vlogging-cameras): Cameras, codecs, microphones, lights, gimbals, ND filters, and storage in one practical path.
  - [Camera Gear Finder](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/gear-finder?goal=video&source=topic-clusters:creator-video-kit)
  - [Best vlogging cameras](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-vlogging-cameras)
  - [Video codecs and log profiles](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/video-codecs-formats-and-log-profiles)
  - [Best microphones for video](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-microphones-for-video)
  - [Best gimbals for video](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-gimbals-for-video)
- [Pick the camera body before the accessories start shouting](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/what-camera-should-you-buy): A practical path through beginner, mirrorless, full-frame, budget, sports, wildlife, video, and used camera choices.
  - [What camera should you buy?](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/what-camera-should-you-buy)
  - [Best cameras for beginners](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-cameras-for-beginners)
  - [Best mirrorless cameras](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-mirrorless-cameras)
  - [Best full-frame cameras](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-full-frame-cameras)
  - [Best cameras under $1000](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-cameras-under-1000)
- [Choose the lens by the frame you need](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/focal-length-explained): Focal length, crop factor, primes, zooms, portrait lenses, macro, telephoto, wide angles, and budget picks.
  - [Focal length explained](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/focal-length-explained)
  - [Crop factor explained](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/crop-factor-explained)
  - [Prime vs zoom lenses](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/prime-vs-zoom-lenses)
  - [Best prime lenses](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-prime-lenses)
  - [Best zoom lenses](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-zoom-lenses)
- [Stabilize the camera, then decide what the light needs](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-tripods): Tripods, heads, ND filters, polarizers, long exposure, waterfalls, and the calculator that keeps shutter math honest.
  - [Best tripods](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-tripods)
  - [Best travel tripods](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-travel-tripods)
  - [Best ball heads](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-ball-heads)
  - [Best fluid video heads](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-fluid-video-heads)
  - [Best gimbals for video](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-gimbals-for-video)
- [Build a small studio that earns its floor space](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-lights-for-video): Lights, modifiers, stands, backgrounds, product photography, portraits, headshots, and prints.
  - [Best lights for video](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-lights-for-video)
  - [Best LED video lights](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-led-video-lights)
  - [Best flashes and speedlights](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-flashes-and-speedlights)
  - [Best softboxes and modifiers](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-softboxes-and-modifiers)
  - [Best C-stands and grip](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-c-stands-and-grip)
- [Plan a real-estate shoot from route to final frame](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/shot-list-generator): The field workflow, shot-list tool, wide lenses, tripod choices, stabilization, and permit checks.
  - [Real estate photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/real-estate-photography)
  - [Shot-List Generator](https://apertureauthority.com/tools/shot-list-generator)
  - [Best wide-angle lenses](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-wide-angle-lenses)
  - [Best tripods](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-tripods)
  - [Gimbal moves and technique](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/gimbal-moves-and-technique)
- [Shoot landscapes, travel, and weather without guessing](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/landscape-photography): Light, lenses, tripods, filters, weather protection, and location rules for field photography.
  - [Landscape photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/landscape-photography)
  - [Travel photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/travel-photography)
  - [Golden hour](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/golden-hour)
  - [Best travel tripods](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-travel-tripods)
  - [Best polarizing filters](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-polarizing-filters)
- [Make portraits look intentional instead of lucky](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/portrait-photography): Focal length, lens choice, light, posing-adjacent composition, flash basics, and headshots.
  - [Portrait photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/portrait-photography)
  - [Headshot photography](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/headshot-photography)
  - [Best 85mm lenses](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-85mm-lenses)
  - [Best lenses for portraits](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-lenses-for-portraits)
  - [Flash photography basics](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/flash-photography-basics)
- [Know whether you can shoot, sell, or bring gear there](https://apertureauthority.com/rules): Location rules, commercial permit traps, freedom of panorama, and national park changes.
  - [Rules by location](https://apertureauthority.com/rules)
  - [Freedom of panorama](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/freedom-of-panorama)
  - [National park permit rules](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/national-park-photography-permit-rules)
  - [US city film permits](https://apertureauthority.com/rules/us-city-film-permits)
  - [National park photography rules](https://apertureauthority.com/learn/national-park-photography-rules)

## Shoot Kits

- [Real estate starter kit](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/real-estate-photography#recommended-kit): A compact Sony APS-C body, a very wide lens, a stable tripod, and a gimbal for walkthrough clips.
  - Camera: Sony a6700
  - Wide lens: Viltrox 13mm f/1.4
  - Tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum)
  - Motion: DJI RS 4
- [Solo vlogging kit](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-vlogging-cameras#recommended-kit): A stabilized pocket camera, clean wireless audio, fast media, a backup drive, and a small light for one-person video.
  - Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
  - Audio: DJI Mic Mini
  - Memory: SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC 128GB
  - Backup: Samsung T7 Shield
  - Light: Amaran P60c RGBWW Panel
- [Run-and-gun video rig](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/best-cameras-for-video#recommended-kit): A compact cinema body, fast normal zoom, cage, monitor, gimbal, shotgun mic, and battery for paid video work.
  - Camera: Sony FX30
  - Lens: Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
  - Cage: SmallRig Full Camera Cage
  - Monitor: Atomos Ninja V
  - Motion: DJI RS 4
- [First real camera kit](https://apertureauthority.com/gear/what-camera-should-you-buy#recommended-kit): An affordable body, a sharp prime, a reliable card, and a small carry setup that does not turn learning into a hauling problem.
  - Camera: Canon EOS R50
  - Prime lens: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
  - Memory: SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC 128GB
  - Carry: Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L V2
- [Travel landscape kit](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/landscape-photography#recommended-kit): A light full-frame body, wide zoom, serious travel tripod, filters, and a bag that can handle rough days outside.
  - Camera: Sony a7C II
  - Wide zoom: Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
  - Tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon)
  - Filters: K&F Concept Nano-X UV CPL ND Filter Kit 77mm
  - Carry: Shimoda Action X30 V2
- [Portrait and headshot kit](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/portrait-photography#recommended-kit): A full-frame hybrid body, an 85mm prime, simple flash, diffusion, and grip pieces for clean portraits without a studio buildout.
  - Camera: Sony a7 IV
  - Portrait lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
  - Flash: Godox V1
  - Modifier: Westcott 43-inch Umbrella
  - Stand: Neewer C-Stand
- [Wildlife and sports kit](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/wildlife-photography#recommended-kit): A fast autofocus body, serious long zoom, weather-ready carry, and fast media for distant subjects that will not wait.
  - Camera: Sony a9 III
  - Long lens: Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS
  - Value lens: Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM
  - Carry: Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2 20L
  - Memory: SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC 128GB
- [Product studio kit](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/product-photography#recommended-kit): A high-detail body, macro lens, portable strobe, modifier, backdrop, and grip pieces for repeatable product photos at home or in a small studio.
  - Camera: Sony a7R V
  - Macro lens: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
  - Light: Godox AD200 Pro
  - Modifier: Godox AD-S65S
  - Backdrop: Savage Seamless Paper
- [Event and wedding kit](https://apertureauthority.com/genres/event-photography#recommended-kit): A dependable hybrid body, fast telephoto, round-head flash, clean audio, fast card, and small carry setup for long days with no second chances.
  - Camera: Sony a7 IV
  - Telephoto: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
  - Flash: Godox V1
  - Audio: DJI Mic 2
  - Memory: SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC 128GB

## Key Facts

- 160 photography and gear guides are published across Learn, Gear, and Genres.
- 254 sourced location records cover permit, public-space, drone, and panorama rules.
- 6 interactive photography tools are live.
- Rules pages link their supporting sources and show a last-verified date.
- Gear recommendations compare manufacturer specifications, available owner feedback, and established expert sources.

## Optional

- [Full site directory](https://apertureauthority.com/llms-full.txt): complete directory of published articles, locations, and tools.

## Contact

- Website: https://apertureauthority.com
- Email: hello@apertureauthority.com