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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Possibly a Dumb Question...
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10/08/2002 03:16:59 PM · #1
I've been doing photography long enough that I'm somewhat ashamed of myself for not knowing this... but this has been nagging me for a while now :)

When looking at lenses, they always give you a focal range and an f stop number in the description... such as this lens I'm in the process of buying:

Nikon - 24-120MM F/3.5-5.6 D AF Lens

Ok, I fully get the 24-120mm part, but what is the significance of the f/3.5-5.6 here? I mean, when you're taking pictures with this lens, it's not as though you can only shoot a picture at one designated f-stop, right?

So what is a "good" number to be looking for here? Is a wide f-stop desireable for this, or a small one... or doesn't it matter? Please enlighten me... I'm sure this is much more simple than my brain is making it :)
10/08/2002 03:22:10 PM · #2
The F3.5 is the max aperture at 24mm and the F5.6 is the max aperture at the 120mm focal length...
10/08/2002 03:24:00 PM · #3
BTW- that's a pretty decent lens... the only problem you could have with it is shooting in low light situations... Lenses like this that have larger aperture capabilities are quite pricey :)
10/08/2002 03:29:18 PM · #4
Ah... that makes perfect sense. I guess the way the lenses are advertised, it almost implies to me that "the only aperatures available while using this lens are those between 3.5 and 5.6."

Many thanks for clearing that up! I just ordered a Nikon D100 and I wanted to get a higher end lens to go along with it. So I'll be spending the next few days pacing while I wait for the UPS dude :)
10/08/2002 03:32:04 PM · #5
Originally posted by alansfreed:
Ah... that makes perfect sense. I guess the way the lenses are advertised, it almost implies to me that "the only aperatures available while using this lens are those between 3.5 and 5.6."

Many thanks for clearing that up! I just ordered a Nikon D100 and I wanted to get a higher end lens to go along with it. So I'll be spending the next few days pacing while I wait for the UPS dude :)


Let me know how you like that camera... I have been considering one for myself. I already have some lenses that will work on that one. I'm curious as to what kind of quality macro work it will do without a macro lens... I'm considering a 105mm Macro lens now for my nikon SLR if I can make myself turn loose of $600... ugh...
10/08/2002 03:42:01 PM · #6
Let me know how you like that camera...

I'll certainly show you some results as soon as the puppy comes in! I had played with my brother's D1X with my 70-300mm lens a month or so ago, and I was impressed with the macro capabilities. I am sure I'll be toying with that capability a lot... so you can expect to see a lot of my shots of flowers, bugs, lint, cat hair and whatever other crap I can find around the house :)
10/08/2002 04:23:14 PM · #7
what you want to get is the lowest f-number possible - that's what says how "fast" the lens is --- a lens that shoots at f1.4 will allow much faster shutter speeds than an f3.5 --- but there's a catch --- in your ordinary photo store catalog, check out the price difference on standard 50mm lenses - for example, you can pick up a canon 50mm f1.8 for about $100 or you can go whole hog for the 50mm f1.0 for $2100

on zoom lenses, the range shown is the widest (lowest/fastest) aperture for the limits of the zoom
10/08/2002 04:29:21 PM · #8
Originally posted by spiderman:
what you want to get is the lowest f-number possible...

Thanks -- that's also very helpful!
10/08/2002 04:54:12 PM · #9
you should also know that when shooting your pics, the lower the f-number, the less Depth-Of-Field (see forums for Q&A's and tutorials on DOF) you get --- meaning the narrower band of focus you'll have within the picture --- the subject will be in focus but the foreground and background will not --- the higher the f-number, the larger that band in front and behind will be --- which in turn will require slower shutter speeds ----- augh, the circle is turning ....
10/08/2002 06:03:31 PM · #10
Originally posted by spiderman:
what you want to get is the lowest f-number possible - that's what
says how "fast" the lens is --- a lens that shoots at f1.4 will allow
much faster shutter speeds than an f3.5 --- but there's a catch ---
in your ordinary photo store catalog, check out the price difference
on standard 50mm lenses - for example, you can pick up a
canon 50mm f1.8 for about $100 or you can go whole
hog for the 50mm f1.0 for $2100


While what you say is true, that generally the faster the lens, the
more you'll pay for it, I think you are also mixing up in there the
different qualities of lens. Most manufacturers make expensive, 'pro'
glass and also cheaper consumer glass - for canon at least, the expensive
pro lenses have an 'L' designation.

So a fast, L lens will cost more than most cameras, while a slow consumer
one will be pretty cheap.


10/08/2002 06:12:18 PM · #11
For what it's worth, see if you can try out the lens on your camera. I was lucky enough to visit a camera store a few years ago where the owner really cared about the customer. I was buying a Canon T90 and had a hand full of EXPENSIVE Canon lenses. He looked at me and asked me if I had a moment. When I told him I did he attached a Canon 50mm lens and had me walk around inside the store and out looking through the viewfinder. He then put an aftermarket lens on the camera and asked me what I thought. I found the lens to superior to the the Canon in color and edge distortion. He smiled and saved me hundreds. While cost sometimes equates to quality it does not always. Take the time to know your lenses and you can get quite good deals for a decent price.
Oops, the two cents in the meter is gone. . .


* This message has been edited by the author on 10/8/2002 6:11:09 PM.
10/08/2002 06:27:30 PM · #12
Originally posted by JohnSetzler :
The F3.5 is the max aperture at 24mm and the F5.6 is the max aperture at the 120mm focal length...


You may need to get some basic photo books...anyways the simplest way is to look at it is two different ways of letting light through the lens onto the film...time expressed by f/stop by parts of a second. and opening size of opening or aperture which was created in a way so people would be able to recognize them 2.8 a large opening and 22 a small opening

10/08/2002 06:29:46 PM · #13
Originally posted by alansfreed:
I've been doing photography long enough that I'm somewhat ashamed of myself for not knowing this... but this has been nagging me for a while now :)

When looking at lenses, they always give you a focal range and an f stop number in the description... such as this lens I'm in the process of buying:
The lower the f stop ie f/1.8 is for example a good lense because of the amount of light it allows in through the lens
Nikon - 24-120MM F/3.5-5.6 D AF Lens

Ok, I fully get the 24-120mm part, but what is the significance of the f/3.5-5.6 here? I mean, when you're taking pictures with this lens, it's not as though you can only shoot a picture at one designated f-stop, right?

So what is a "good" number to be looking for here? Is a wide f-stop desireable for this, or a small one... or doesn't it matter? Please enlighten me... I'm sure this is much more simple than my brain is making it :)


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