Which setting controls the amount of light passing through the lens and striking the charge-coupled device?

The setting that controls the amount of light passing through the lens and striking the charge-coupled device is referred to as the f/stop. The f/stop is a measurement that represents the size of the aperture, or the opening within the lens, which allows light to enter. A lower f/stop number indicates a larger aperture, permitting more light to hit the sensor, while a higher f/stop number signifies a smaller aperture, allowing less light through. This is crucial for exposure settings in photography, as it directly affects the brightness of the image and determines depth of field.

While shutter speed, ISO, and exposure are all important elements in the exposure triangle of photography, they serve different functions. Shutter speed controls how long the sensor is exposed to light, ISO adjusts the sensor's sensitivity to light, and exposure is the overall measure of how bright or dark an image appears, influenced by a combination of shutter speed, aperture (f/stop), and ISO settings. However, the specific control over the quantity of light entering the camera lens is primarily governed by the f/stop setting.