lenses - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

10/01/2005 04:26:45 PM · #1

hey im just getting into photography and have started doing it with a simple nikon point and shoot camera, but will be able to afford a dslr next weekend. i think i have decided on either the cannon digital rebel or the nikon d70.

Anyways my question is about lenses. I have been reading lots of books and magazines and websites(including this one) about photography but i cant understand what the f2.8-4.8 or whatever means can anyone explain this im sure its a really simple question but i just cant figure it out and maybe someone here can give me a simple answer thanks for you help.

pgatt

Canon EOS-5D

10/01/2005 04:36:54 PM · #2

As far as I know, it's basically how far the opening (aperture) on the lens can open. The smaller the number the more light it lets in and therefore the better it can be in low or available light photography. edit to add: The number listed with the lens is the widest aperture that the lens can do. Lenses with say 2.8-4.8 on them are 2.8 at the wide end and 4.8 at the zoom end as the minimum aperture.

Message edited by author 2005-10-01 16:42:50.

Uusilehto

Canon EOS-1D

Carl Zeiss 35mm f2.4 Jena/Flektogon MC

10/01/2005 04:38:59 PM · #3

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture
An article about aperture on Wikipedia.

10/01/2005 04:40:48 PM · #4

Originally posted by pgatt:

thanks thats kinda what i thought just wasnt sure

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

10/01/2005 04:42:17 PM · #5

also i was wondering if they make a lense that can do macro and a little bit of tele.

my dad gave me his old cannon ae-1 and some lenses and one of them is perfect in that way im just not sure if it will work with a digital camera. any thoughts on this?

pgatt

Canon EOS-5D

10/01/2005 04:43:47 PM · #6

list any details of the lens and maybe a photo if you can - someone here will usually be able to recognise it!

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/01/2005 04:44:55 PM · #7

When using a zoom lens you have a short focal length ie. 28mm and a long focal length ie. 135mm. The aperture settings would be f2.8 at 28mm and f4.8 at 135mm. The f-stops of the lens are the widest(most open) aperture available. The smaller the f-stop number the more open the lens.

With the lens fully open at (for example) f2.8, the more light gets to the screen, so the lens gives a faster shutter speed when used in Auto mode or programme mode. There is a price to pay when using maximum aperture setting, the depth of field is reduced (what is in focus).

This is a very brief explanation.

Steve

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/01/2005 04:47:49 PM · #8

Originally posted by pgatt:

list any details of the lens and maybe a photo if you can - someone here will usually be able to recognise it!

ill post a pic later cuz i left my camera in my buddies car

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

10/01/2005 04:49:38 PM · #9

Originally posted by chris_23:

There are quite a few zoom lenses that also have a macro function.

It is likely that most of the lenses your dad has will not work with a digital camera, although a lot do work, but only with manual focus.

Need more details of lens to say anymore.

Steve

Ozzie

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

10/01/2005 05:19:45 PM · #10

Originally posted by chris_23:

Originally posted by pgatt:
list any details of the lens and maybe a photo if you can - someone here will usually be able to recognise it!

ill post a pic later cuz i left my camera in my buddies car

Left it in the car??? Not a good idea if you are in a hot place!

Uusilehto

Canon EOS-1D

Carl Zeiss 35mm f2.4 Jena/Flektogon MC

10/01/2005 05:32:14 PM · #11

Originally posted by Formerlee:

Originally posted by chris_23:
also i was wondering if they make a lense that can do macro and a little bit of tele.

my dad gave me his old cannon ae-1 and some lenses and one of them is perfect in that way im just not sure if it will work with a digital camera. any thoughts on this?

There are quite a few zoom lenses that also have a macro function.

It is likely that most of the lenses your dad has will not work with a digital camera, although a lot do work, but only with manual focus.

Need more details of lens to say anymore.

Steve

The canon AE-1 uses the FD mount. The length between the film plane and the rear element is smaller in the FD mount, than in the EF mount, thus needing an optical adapter. You should expect to pay somewhere around $35-150 for it. I would probably go for a more expensive one in this case. It's no use having sharp FD lenses, if you're going to be adapting them through crappy optics.

Oh, and it is possible to adapt an FD lens to an EF body without optics, but focusing to infinity will most probably be lost. You will be able to focus normally to about 20 metres or so (depending on focal length). In this case, the adapter would act as a thin extension tube, shortening the minimum focus distance.

Message edited by author 2005-10-01 17:35:24.

10/02/2005 04:28:34 AM · #12

well heres my lenses can anyone tell me if they are compatible

//photobucket.com/albums/y260/red_deer_freerider/?action=view¤t=lenses.jpg

riot

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Helios 40-1 85mm f/1.5

10/02/2005 08:06:26 AM · #13

Originally posted by chris_23:

well heres my lenses can anyone tell me if they are compatible

//photobucket.com/albums/y260/red_deer_freerider/?action=view¤t=lenses.jpg

Those are FD mount bayonet type lenses. As Uusilehto explained, they will require an expensive adapter to work on a canon EF mount (and god knows about a nikon). You'd be better off buying lenses that have the correct mount second hand on ebay.