Covering power refers to the area that a camera lens can illuminate with even exposure and sharpness. A lens's covering power should be larger than the film or sensor format to prevent vignetting or light fall-off at the edges of the image. Lenses with greater covering power are especially important when using cameras with movements, such as view cameras, where tilts, shifts, or swings are applied. Ensuring sufficient covering power helps maintain uniform image quality, sharpness, and consistent exposure across the entire frame.