Photography

Questions tagged [fast-lenses]

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25
votes
4answers
6k 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?
70
votes
12answers
83k views

Is there a noticeable difference between 1.8 and 1.4 prime lenses?

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 ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views

What is the benefit of a wide-aperture lens if you stop it down?

As an example, say you have two lenses: 300mm f/2.8 being used at f/8 300mm f/4 being used at f/8 My understanding is that by definition the amount of light coming through the aperture means that ...
8
votes
3answers
3k views

What causes these green dots in my image?

I just received a 35mm f/1.8 DX lens for my Nikon D50 for Christmas, and took some shots where the lights on the tree were the main source of illumination. Almost all of them exhibit very prominent ...
25
votes
5answers
7k views

What is special about lenses with f-number < 1?

Talking about fast lenses, Wikipedia mentions Nikon TV-Nikkor 35mm f/0.9-Fastest Nikon lens ever made Why don't, for example, f/0.5 lenses exist? Is there some special construction that comes ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views

Is it normal for a fast prime to exhibit purple fringing in middle of the image?

I have just bought a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D prime lens. I took this picture (leg of my glasses frame on a mouse, and a LED desk lamp is on top of it) : f1.8, 1/80s, ISO 200 The purple fringing is right ...
10
votes
3answers
4k views

Are the Canon 15-85mm + 50mm f/1.8 adequate substitutes for the 17-55mm f/2.8?

The EF-S 15-85mm lens is a relatively recent lens, and I haven't seen too many recommendations on it thus far. However, most of the reviews have been very positive and the lens is said to be optically ...
8
votes
4answers
10k views

Is it difficult to focus on 1.4F prime lens, and if it is how to counter that?

Does difficulty in focusing have anything to do with 1.4F (Nikon G)? Will it be still difficult if I use manual focus? Is auto focus too slow? Is there a way to counter it? This example photo (from ...
23
votes
7answers
11k views

For sports photography, should I use image stabilization or a faster lens?

For sports, I know that a faster lens would usually be considered more important than image stabilization, but what if, after selecting your shutter speed, your camera is picking apertures that don't ...