EXIF Aperture
The aperture (f-number) your camera lens was set to when the photo was taken. It tells you how wide the lens opening was, which narrows down the camera and lens model.
Quick facts
| Tag ID | 0x829D FNumber, 0x9202 ApertureValue |
|---|---|
| Stored in | IFD0 / ExifIFD |
| Example value | f/1.8, f/2.8, f/5.6 (stored as 1.8, 2.8, 5.6, or as an APEX value such as 1.3) |
| Also known as | f-number, f stop, f-stop, N value, ApertureValue, FNumber |
| Privacy risk | Low risk. Reveals camera capability but not identity. |
What the Aperture tag actually means
The ratio of the lens focal length to the diameter of the entrance pupil. A smaller f-number means a wider opening and more light. Most phones and cameras record it as a decimal f-number, and some also store an APEX "ApertureValue" alongside it.
Why it matters
Combined with the shutter speed, ISO and focal length, the aperture forms a near-unique "exposure fingerprint" of a specific camera and lens combination. It does not identify you on its own, but it narrows the field of devices that could have taken a photo.
What to do about it
Safe to keep. Leave the aperture alone unless you are publishing a large batch of photos and want to minimise device fingerprinting.
Who writes this tag
Cameras and phones with an adjustable aperture. Phones with a fixed aperture still record the value.
Sources and how this was verified
Tag IDs and encodings are taken from the CIPA DC-007-Translation (Exif 3.0) and ISO/IEC 21222-1 specifications. The privacy rating is our own editorial judgement, based on what each field can uniquely identify. Every entry in this reference is checked against real files produced by the cameras, phones and editors we test with.
- CIPA DC-007-Translation 2019 (Exif 3.0) — tag identifiers and IFD structure
- ISO/IEC 21222-1:2015 — data element registration
- Adobe XMP Specification (2024) — XMP packet properties
- IPTC IIM 4.2 — news/photo metadata field numbers
See our editorial and review policyfor how we test, rate and correct these entries. Found an error? Tell us.
Related EXIF tags
How long the sensor was exposed. Stored either as a fraction (1/250) or as an APEX value, and it reveals whether the photo was a sharp daylight shot or a long night exposure.
The sensor sensitivity used to capture the photo. Higher ISO means a brighter image captured with more noise — a strong clue about the lighting conditions and device.
The focal length of the lens in millimetres. On phones this is a computed value that varies with the digital zoom factor.
The specific camera or phone model, such as "iPhone 15 Pro" or "Canon EOS R6 Mark II". Narrower than the make and more identifying.
Aperture FAQ
Common questions about the EXIF aperture tag, its values and its privacy implications.
What does aperture mean in EXIF data?
Aperture is the size of the opening in your camera lens, expressed as an f-number such as f/1.8. A lower f-number means a wider opening that lets in more light. In EXIF it is stored as FNumber (0x829D) and often as an APEX ApertureValue (0x9202).
Is EXIF aperture data a privacy risk?
No. The aperture value is a capture setting, not an identifier. It narrows down which camera might have taken a photo, but it cannot identify a person or a location on its own.
Should I remove aperture data before sharing photos?
Usually not necessary. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO and focal length are all capture settings rather than personal data. Removing them is worthwhile when you are removing GPS and timestamp data anyway and want a fully clean file.
Cite this reference
If you are writing about the EXIF aperture tag, you are welcome to link to this entry. It is maintained, versioned and reviewed on a published schedule.
“EXIF Aperture (0x829D FNumber), freexifdata.com EXIF Tag Reference, reviewed October 20, 2026.”