Aperture is the opening in the diaphragm of a camera lens.
18
votes
4answers
2k views
Why do compact digital cameras not have the aperture range of DSLRs?
Why is it that on compact digital cameras the aperture never seems to go any smaller than about F8 ? Even on high-end compacts such as the Cannon G10 or Panasonic LX5. Is there some practical or ...
14
votes
4answers
5k views
Why is the aperture ring removed from new Nikon lenses?
Maybe I'm wrong, but I notice that Nikon's newer lenses don't have an aperture ring. For example, an older AF 35 mm f/2D is now replaced by AF-S DX 35 mm f/1.8G, or AF 50 mm f/1.8D is replaced by a ...
0
votes
2answers
335 views
True or False: A two full F/stop change to either side of the starting F/stop will either double or half the amount of light from the original F/stop
Explain.
A two full F/stop change to either side of the starting F/stop will either double or half the amount of light from the original F/stop.
7
votes
0answers
233 views
depth of field varies with distance?
I am wondering if there is a difference in the depth of field if I stand near the subject or far from it with the same aperture (like f1.4) ?
Thanks for responses
3
votes
2answers
3k views
What are the best settings for black and white film portrait photography?
trying to do some "daily shots" thing, and I was wondering what's the best setting for black and white portraits in areas that are well-lit and sometimes not (fastfoods, restaurants, malls)
I want to ...
6
votes
4answers
475 views
Is depth of field and bokeh influenced by distance to the subject?
I know that the aperture size has a direct effect on the depth of field.
However, what about distance to the subject? Let's say I took two pictures, one at 24mm and one at 70mm, using the same lens ...
4
votes
6answers
287 views
Recommendation for low-priced faster fixed-focal-length lens for Nikon D50
I'm looking for a lens for portraits and closeups (leaves, branches, icicles) that would be fast enough to get a blurred background. Any suggestions? I'd like to get something for $200 or less.
...
5
votes
7answers
6k views
Why is my Nikon 50mm f/1.8 giving me an fEE error?
I have a AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8. When I have the aperture setting on the lens to 22 I can take photos. But when I change the dial to anything other than 22(lowest f/stop) then I get a flashing fEE ...
32
votes
6answers
3k views
What is a “diffraction limit”?
I've seen the term used, but what is a "diffraction limit", when should I worry about it, and what undesirable effects are a result of it ?
4
votes
1answer
560 views
Why Must I Lock The Aperture On My AF Lens On My Nikon D40
I am using the Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF lens on my D40 and the photographs look excellent - I have to manual focus, but this suits me just fine for the portrait shots I'm taking.
The problem is that to use ...
12
votes
3answers
965 views
Do the same camera settings lead to the same exposure across different sensor sizes?
Let's say I have a micro-4/3rd camera and a full frame camera, both set to 1/60 at f/2.8, taking a picture of the same scene in the same lighting. Will the exposure be the same across both cameras ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
How do different aperture and shutter settings affect a photo with the same overall exposure?
Ok, here's my doubt. Suppose I want to get a certain exposure for an image. Keeping the ISO constant, there are two tentative possibilities here:
Put the camera at f 1.4 (say) and at 1/1600 shutter ...
27
votes
5answers
4k views
How do constant aperture lenses work?
Cheaper zoom lenses usually are faster at the wide end and slower at the long end (for example, the $150 Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6). More expensive constant-aperture zoom lenses have the same ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
What is the fastest lens available for a DSLR?
I've seen references to f1.2 lenses. I was wondering are there any faster lenses available for a DSLR mount.
18
votes
8answers
1k views
What's the benefit of a tiny aperture?
In this answer to another question Rob Clement wrote:
Think background first. What story do you want to tell? Epic background, big mountains. Looking to deliver a sense of grandeur with your ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
What aperture should I use to photograph people and why?
What f/# do you use to photograph people, and why? I know this varies from shot to shot.
Let's suppose that you are photographing either a single person or a couple, that it it outside on a somewhat ...
10
votes
8answers
2k views
Will using a lens at max aperture (“wide open”) result in poor images?
I’m looking to add a second lens to my kit lens I got with my Nikon d7000.
I have read several reviews on both the 35 and 50 mm lenses made by Nikon in particular that said using either lens at the ...
25
votes
7answers
3k views
When to use shutter priority instead of aperture priority?
Under what circumstances would you use aperture priority vs. shutter priority and vice-versa?
I typically don’t use shutter priority (ever) and favor aperture priority to try to get a max aperture ...
4
votes
2answers
253 views
Is “slow” focusing/shutter release normal on a “fast” lens?
I just received a 35mm prime lens for Christmas (Nikkor 35mm f/1.8) and it is painfully slow to take pictures at times. Sometimes the shutter release is almost instantaneous, like with my other (kit ...
-5
votes
5answers
2k views
How can I get bokeh with an aperture of 3.5 as my max?
I am trying to get DOF portraits of my daughter with my Nikon d7000, as per my previous post.
I have zoomed in to 100mm or so and tried to get a large aperture but as I zoom, the camera decreases f# ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
Does a bigger aperture create better photos?
I have observed that the wider the aperture, the more expensive the lenses are. However, I would like to know whether it really makes a difference in your photos or not?
15
votes
4answers
2k views
Why is the depth-of-field preview in the optical viewfinder of my Canon 500D inaccurate?
I have noticed that in my Canon 500D, the depth-of-field preview in the optical viewfinder is inaccurate with large aperture settings.
If I press the DoF preview button, there is very little ...
10
votes
4answers
433 views
Focusing on moving target with large aperature?
I have read about difficulties getting focusing right when using a large aperature (because of depth-of-field issues).
If I am using a fast prime wide open (say F1.4 or F1.8) to shoot a target in ...
5
votes
7answers
948 views
Is there any way to stop down the aperture of a Canon PowerShot SD780 IS?
I have a Canon PowerShot SD780 IS point-and-shoot which I use as my carry-around-everywhere camera when I don't want to drag my SLR about. This tiny little camera works great and takes fabulous ...
17
votes
4answers
2k views
How do you find out the “sweet spot” of a lens?
I've tried googling this, but have never found a satisfactory answer.
I've heard the term "sweet spot" thrown around by some photographers to mean the f-stop of a lens which results in the highest ...
9
votes
3answers
369 views
Are fast lenses only fast when shot wide open?
Given two lenses with different max apertures but the same size image circle (say, full frame on a Nikon FX DLSR camera) and taking shots at the exact shutter speed and focal length under the same ...
26
votes
4answers
1k views
How does aperture work without “cropping” the image hitting the sensor?
I've been teaching myself the various settings in cameras and now have a much fuller understanding of how to use my camera effectively, but one thing is still bugging me.
When the aperture size is ...
12
votes
6answers
461 views
Does lens speed still increase meaningfully when the physical aperture is larger than the sensor size?
This question came to me this morning, thinking about 50mm lenses. I have the Pentax 50mm f/1.7 (manual) and it's a very nice lens, but would be considered (relatively) slow on 35mm film, and many ...
10
votes
1answer
226 views
What are the limits of extension tubes?
Given lighting is not a problem, can you hit a limit where you have too much extension tubes (a very long tube) and the quality of the image will suffer? For example a diffraction limit will be hit ...
38
votes
2answers
12k views
What does f-stop mean?
What does f-stop mean? Is it the same thing when people say "2 stops" for example?
5
votes
6answers
6k views
What are some common ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings for street photography?
I recently purchased a Panasonic GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens. It's by far the nicest camera I've ever owned and I'm really excited to learn the basics of digital photography (primarily street ...
31
votes
10answers
1k views
What are some tips for shooting in low light?
I own a Canon 450D with just the standard lens kit that comes with it (poor so won't be buy a new lens for a while) and one thing I tend to struggle with is shotting in lower light conditions, indoors ...
29
votes
7answers
6k views
What is aperture, and how does it affect my photographs?
How does aperture affect my photographs?
Why should I care about the aperture with which a photo was taken?
47
votes
11answers
11k views
Is there a noticeable difference between 1.8 and 1.4 prime lens?
I have been shopping around for a prime lens for my Nikon d50. I noticed that the 1.8 is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the 1.4 AF-S. What will I gain for that cost difference? Is it really ...
