What aperture can lens really do?

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

02/07/2005 09:03:35 PM · #2

22 - 32 is the most common for a min ap. I've heard rediculous numbers higher than 90 before though. bhphotovideo has that info under the specifications of the lens too.

Message edited by author 2005-02-07 21:05:56.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

02/07/2005 09:04:11 PM · #3

Most lenses will go to f/22. Some will go to f/27, some will go to f/32, and some will go to f/45. Some, but not many, will go smaller yet.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/07/2005 09:09:12 PM · #4

can someone explain this better since i don't know anything about this at all.

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/07/2005 09:10:23 PM · #5

So with different lenses on my camera, will it automatically give me the option to close it up more or less depending on the lens?

kyebosh

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

02/07/2005 09:10:34 PM · #6

Originally posted by Discraft:

can someone explain this better since i don't know anything about this at all.

usually you look at the widest a lens can open. But here we're talking about how narrow it can make that hole diameter. Super small amounts of light. Usually a lens with more blades can do bigger numbers. Anything else you need to know?

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

02/07/2005 09:12:08 PM · #7

ok maybe i don't really get this about the aperture with the lens... If i use the canon 18-55mm what is the recommended aperture and why?

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

02/07/2005 09:15:13 PM · #8

Originally posted by Discraft:

ok maybe i don't really get this about the aperture with the lens... If i use the canon 18-55mm what is the recommended aperture and why?

There is no 'recommended' aperture. You select an aperture for several different reasons. You use aperture to control your depth of field for a photo and/or to get a suitable shutter speed for your shot.

jaredldr

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/07/2005 09:15:44 PM · #9

Originally posted by Discraft:

ok maybe i don't really get this about the aperture with the lens... If i use the canon 18-55mm what is the recommended aperture and why?

That depends on the depth of field you want to achieve. Small f-number (large aperture) means small DOF. Large f-number (small aperture) large DOF.

beat by 31secs...touche =)

Message edited by author 2005-02-07 21:16:46.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/07/2005 09:16:55 PM · #10

oh ok so that is what i thought about aperture... guess this was all more complicated... that i new already thanks a lot...

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

02/07/2005 09:23:08 PM · #11

We all are fairly familiar with the fact that at largest aperture (smallest number) a lens will not performa as well as it does "stopped down." What's not as well known is that small apertures (large numbers) also degrade performance, for a different reason (diffraction).
Each lens has it's own "sweet spot" where performance is best. Typically, that's between f/5.6 and f/11. At apertures smaller than f/16 (e.g. f/22, f/32) you will typically see softening of the image. Note that this pertains to 35mm lenses and cameras, and also roughly to 1.6x crop DSLRs. Medium and large-format cameras have different "sweet spots" based on their configuration.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/07/2005 09:26:15 PM · #12

In studio its really difficult to keep those f numbers high, say like f8... since lighting is so low, i say this because i use halogen lights, maybe with umbrelas and flashes it's diferent.
I have been trying higher f numbers to see the diference but this diference is minimal right?

Message edited by author 2005-02-07 21:27:05.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

02/07/2005 10:37:16 PM · #13

Originally posted by Discraft:

Depends entirely on the lens. Really good, fast glass can be stellar at apertures as large as f/2.8, even f/2. I have a Zeiss 75mm lens that is razor sharp at f/2. Zooms, on the other hand, in general need to be stopped down to f/4 or slower to approach "sharp." Even the vaunted 24-70 f/2.8L is a little soft at f/2.8, not perfectly crisp until f/4. Consumer zooms might mot be really sharp until f/8. The difference is often quite noticeable, not minimal at all.
You're absolutely correct that strobes make all the difference. Not only do you get much more light, but you get it in a short burst that pretty much eliminates subject motion as a problem.

scottwilson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8

02/07/2005 10:41:59 PM · #14

Originally posted by MakAttack:

So with different lenses on my camera, will it automatically give me the option to close it up more or less depending on the lens?

I don't think anyone got to your question here, yes your camera will read from the lens the range of f number that it can be set to and the camera will only give those as options, even changing as you zoom in and out since the range of f-number will change depending on the FL you are set to.