Tagged Questions
2
votes
0answers
29 views
How to fix stuck aperture?
I have a Micro-Nikkor 55 mm 1:2.8 lens. The aperture appears to be stuck. Is it worth trying to repair the lens? Are there any good guides for disassembling the lens? Thanks
3
votes
4answers
283 views
How is it possible to have shallow depth of field with a small aperture? (The tele-macro paradox.)
Some longer tele lenses have a macro mode that allows for really shallow depth of field that have a lot of background melting when using relatively narrow apertures; like f/4.5-6. I have tried and ...
3
votes
2answers
108 views
What's the difference between real and effective aperture?
I understand that the simple idea that f-stop is focal length divided by aperture really applies to a simple single-glass lens, not the compound lens systems used to provide good image quality in ...
3
votes
1answer
242 views
How do I properly understand what f-stop is? [duplicate]
I don't quite understand why most lenses seem to have approximately the same diameter aperture regardless of focal length.
F-stop is, by definition, a ratio of focal length to diameter, so a 20mm ...
15
votes
2answers
399 views
Does a specific f number across all lenses denote same amount of light?
When we say a light source emits 1500 lumens of light, it does not really matter if the light source is incandescent, CFL, diode etc. Similarly, when I say f/1.8 can I assume that all lenses pass the ...
4
votes
2answers
314 views
Why does higher aperture (less light) make an image sharper?
Why does higher aperture, less light, make an image sharper? Or rather make everything in focus? And how does this lead to lenses having a sweet spot in sharpness?
1
vote
1answer
162 views
Aperture not stopping down on Tamron lens
I have an EF-mount Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens that seems to have developed a problem. On all focal lengths from 70mm to approx. 200mm, the lens works flawlessly. When the zoom ring goes above 200mm, ...
3
votes
9answers
689 views
Why would a serious photographer buy a lens slower than f/2.8?
It seems to me that the general idea is that, once you start getting to become a decent photographer and are really moving beyond your kit lenses, you shouldn't be looking at anything slower then ...
2
votes
1answer
160 views
Why do the Nikon V1 lens' websites seem to give different f-stops than the lenses? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can aperture be f/11 on a lens with an aperture range designation of 3.5-5.5?
I am a recent (and so far quite pleased) owner of a Nikon V1. I am in the process of ...
15
votes
2answers
532 views
Do rounded edges on aperture blades improve image sharpness, and how?
In the description for the XF lenses for its new X-Pro system, Fujifilm crows:
The [XF lenses] all offer precise control over depth-of-field and deliver excellent out-of-focus bokeh thanks to the ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
What is T-number / T-stop?
Usually, when discussing aperture of a lens, F-stop and F-number are used for quantifying. But some photographers, and especially videographers, also mention T-stop. The concept and numbering used ...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Why does an aperture crop the image when you look through a lens itself but not when you look through the viewfinder?
I have been studying lenses for two days now and the aperture is very confusing.
Based on the question here it appears that the aperture should not crop the image at all but when I look through a lens ...
6
votes
2answers
341 views
What is the effective aperture of two stacked lenses for macro?
Is there a way to calculate the aperture of two lenses stacked together for macro? In my specific case, I have 90mm f/2.8 and 18mm 1/3.5 lenses.
3
votes
5answers
2k views
In what kind of scenes does it make sense to use f/1.4 aperture?
I have been told that it is difficult to focus with an aperture of f/1.4.
So, in which kind of scenes does it actually make sense to use the f/1.4?
In portraits they say that it is important to keep ...
1
vote
1answer
378 views
Why does the max aperture change when use Nikon 60mm AF-D Micro on D90 camera?
I have found that my Nikon 60mm Micro AF-D changes aperture from 2.8 to 3.2 when used with a D90. I have tried both A and M mode. Is it by design? Why?
I intend to buy Nikon 50mm 1.4 AF-D, but it ...
3
votes
1answer
348 views
Does maximum aperture change with focus distance with the Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens?
This site says
The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens loses 1/2 stop at 1:5, 1 stop
at 1:3, 1.5 stops at 1:1.5 and 2 stops at 1:1 (lifesize).
Can anyone confirm that at 1:5 magnification, ...
7
votes
3answers
327 views
What is the limiting factor in lens construction when it comes to f-stop values?
This widely praised Nikon 105mm macro lens has a maximum f-stop value of 2.8. I've held it in my hands, it's a big lens. Meanwhile, this 50mm Nikon lens can go up to f/1.2, despite being 25% cheaper ...
3
votes
4answers
385 views
What is the technical name of the lens which has a fixed aperture but zooms?
What is the technical name for a lens which has the same maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range?
12
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do wide angle prime lenses have relatively small apertures?
I've noticed that many of the wide angle prime lenses (at least for Canon) have somewhat smaller apertures than their normal or telephoto counterparts. E.g. the regular Canon 24mm prime is f/2.8 while ...
6
votes
6answers
1k views
Is it important that the Canon 1DX isn't specified to autofocus with lenses slower than f/5.6? [closed]
Seeking the lens market AND the related info WRT Canon 1D X, I found some things which seems concerning:
1st, a note from Canon's Chuck Westerfall (see here) saying:
“AF is unavailable on the ...
1
vote
0answers
218 views
Nikkor 50mm F1.4D vs. Nikkor 50mm F1.8D [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a noticeable difference between 1.8 and 1.4 prime lens?
I am a new to DSLR cameras and I just recently got my Nikon D5100 camera. I am now considering buying a ...
2
votes
4answers
249 views
Why does my camera's meter suggest the same exposure time for lenses with different apertures?
On the same camera body (Canon 1Ds MkII) at the same ISO setting (400) and with no filters attached, two different lenses give the same exposure time (0.4s) at very different apertures. The lenses and ...
4
votes
2answers
603 views
Why f/22 is the highest possible setting for the aperture diaphragm?
My first DSLR camera was Canon EOS 350D. Now I've got an upgrade to Nikon D90. Both were/are with the kit lens.
Whenever I'm taking a picture with biggest zoom (55mm on Canon, 105mm on Nikon) the ...
-1
votes
1answer
600 views
What does the F number in a lens name mean? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What does the f-stop printed on the lens refer to?
I understand that for a DSLR you can modify the aperture(the F number) to allow more or less light to enter the ...
-1
votes
2answers
414 views
How do I decide the best aperture to use with my Canon 18-200mm lens and 50D?
I am using a Canon 50D with the 18-200mm lens it came with. Some of my pictures turn out un-sharp, even taking metering and Auto Focus points into consideration. I wonder if this is caused by my ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do zoom lenses and compact cameras have varied maximum aperture across the zoom range?
Why does a camera's maximum (allowed) aperture get smaller when you increase its zoom?
4
votes
2answers
573 views
What's the base f-stop when counting an ideal f-stop for lens?
I've read a lot around this site that an ideal quality of the lens is achieved when using f-stop roughly 2 stops slower than the fastest value of the lens.
Firstly, I'm not exactly sure what "2 ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
What is a “fast” lens?
I've been reading lots of camera reviews lately and have ran across several references to "fast" lenses.
What exactly is a fast lens and what are its advantages compared to other lenses?
4
votes
2answers
662 views
AF-D vs AF-G: is the aperture ring necessary?
I just purchased a Nikon D7000 with an 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 AF-S lens. I'm also looking at purchasing a lens around the 200-300mm focal length range, and I found the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 AF lens. As far as I ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the advantages of a lens having a fixed maximum aperture?
What are the advantages of a lens having a Fixed Maximum Aperture? Previous answers have indicated that "pros tend to want constant apertures in zoom lenses".
While in general lenses with a fixed ...
15
votes
5answers
697 views
How do I find the aperture that produces the highest-quality images for a given lens?
I'm not talking about large aperture (f/1.8, f/2.8...), rather, about small apertures (f/18, f/20, f/23...). I read somewhere (actually I think it was on this site, but I don't exactly remember which ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Will a lens with a low aperture value give me better portrait photos?
I want to take pictures of people from 5-20 feet away. I attend lots of group events and am free to walk around and snap photos.
I just purchased a Canon t3i and it comes with a 18-55mm kit lens. The ...
11
votes
4answers
421 views
Is there a noticable difference in sharpness between a 1.8 lens and a 2.8 of similar design?
I recently bought a second-hand Carl Zeiss Jena PANCOLAR MC 1.8/50mm Lens off eBay (still waiting for it to arrive though) and am going to mount it to my Canon 7D via a M42 adaptor. I primarily shoot ...
13
votes
6answers
1k views
Can a smaller sensor's “crop factor” be used to calculate the exact increase in depth of field?
If APS-C and similar crop-sensor digital cameras have a focal length multiplying effect such that a 50mm lens has an apparent focal length closer to the field of view of an 80mm on a full frame ...
11
votes
5answers
910 views
How can aperture be f/11 on a lens with an aperture range designation of 3.5-5.5?
I made a series of outdoor shots with Nikon D5000, with the 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR kit lens.
On some shots, I see in the EXIF info f/11, and in another shot, f/9.
How can that be, that the f-number ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
What is the meaning of “stopped down”?
Was reading this answer (emphasis mine):
It also tells us that the lens was stopped down, as if it were wide open there would be no corners to cause diffraction, regardless of the number of ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 ...
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?
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 ...
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 ...
