2CWorld

I'm a newbe. When I'm in Aperture setting, it only allows me to open up the f number from 5.6 to 22. Any lower F number is not highlighted to put into use. Do I need a different camara. I'm using a 18-55m lens to start off with and anyway camera doesn't offer many lens options. I really would like to practice my aperture mode to blurr out my backgrounds, its always an issue for me to have all the clutter in my backgrounds especially when photographing pictures of people and objects of interest. Please help me with this as I am visiting family in April and if I need a more capable camera would like to get one soon. Will be greatful for any input. Thank you. Hope to hear from someone soon. Thankyou. Linda

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'm not familiar with Sony DSLRs, but is there any chance that the lens you are referring to physically only goes down to f/22?
(or up to f/3.5 or f/5.6)
(That would be my first guess.)
Down meaning smaller aperture? or smaller number?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Linda, according to the specifications, your lens has an aperture capability of 3.5 - 5.6. This is depending on the amount of zoom. At 18mm you should be able to open the aperture to 3.5. However, that is not exactly a fast lens. The minimum I'd go with is a 2.8. Faster is even better. I hope this provides some insight to a solution.
--Bob

(Download)

maranatha

Yes that lens only goes f22 & 5.6 if you want to blur image need faster lens like 24 70 2, 8 nothing wrong with camera i have slt 35 only problem faster lenses cost lot more carl zeiss nearly 2000

Woodsman Loc: North of Peterborough Ontario

You might want to play with your camera/lens and depth of field. To get the blur your looking for you might need to be fairly close to your subject. The calculator at this site gives a depth of field of around 2 feet for a subject 10 feet away at 55mm f5.6. That may be able to blur the background a bit for you depending on how far behind the subject the background is. Something to play with perhaps. Just a thought

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

2CWorld

Not understanding imformation given, if I am capable of a curtain f settings, do I need to use the zoom setting on the camara itself. I know these are truely to novice of questions, so bear with me. If I'm understanding right, I may need a faster lens minimum of 2.8 capability. I'm not sure where I'm going wrong in my thinking. Much needed knowledge of understanding a camara is needed, I know. Little more help needed for now. thank you for your time.

2CWorld

Thank you for all the replies

Woodsman Loc: North of Peterborough Ontario

If your talking about the DOF example I gave in simple terms, the wider the aperture the narrower the depth of field (in focus distance). Try zooming in as far as you can go which for your lens would be the 55mm setting on the lens. Then in aperture mode set the camera to the widest aperature (lowest number) you can which at 55mm is likely f5.6. Based on the calculator if your subject is 10 feet away things should be in focus between 9 feet and 11 feet away. So if your background is considerably further away than 11 feet it should be blurred. THis is just an example, you can play with the numbers in the calculator to find a distance and settings which may suit you better. You will notice that if you go wider on the lens say to 18mm that the depth of field or focused area is much wider which would mean less blur. Thats why I suggest trying it at 55mm zoom. This is just how I do it because I wanted a cheap poor mans way of doing it. It works for me.

2CWorld

I'm getting a better understanding of how DOF works. Going to play around with it and see what I get. Thanks for every ones help.

dixiebeachboy

Follow the advise of Woodsman! But for lens available you need to look again, not only do you have Sony alpha. Mount you have the Minolta maxxum lenses that are excellent glass that will fit that camera! Tamron also has a variety of lenses that you can get in the alpha Mount also!

DTran

Your lens is capable of maximum f/3.5 to f/5.6 depending on the zoom setting. If you set the zoom to 55mm then it would only go down to f/5.6. For whatever reason you need a larger aperture than this than you would have to buy a new lens. Buying a new camera will not let you open to a larger aperture (smaller number) with the same lens.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

You have a good camera and lens. F-5.6 is as low as that lens will go. Likewise, F-22 is as high as it will go. You should take a class at your local community college or school. That way you will understand the physics/workings of photography. There are thousands of lenses for your camera. Any A-mount lens will work. Even older ones made by Minolta, Konica-Minolta and other manufacturers like Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina. You can find them on eBay. No , you will not get super blurred backgrounds with any lens at F-5.6 at 18mm. The wider the angle of the lens, the more that will automatically be in focus. It is a physics thing. That is why cel phone photos have almost everything in focus. It is because the lens is a very wide angle lens. On the other side, if you had a 50-200mm zoom, at 200mm very little will be in focus even at F-22. That is still a physics thing. Many consider a people or portrate lens as being in the 75-to 105mm range. It gives the equivelant perspective as the eye sees. Once you learn the basic fundamentals of photography and put them to practice you will be happier with your photos. Go to the library and check out an old volume of "Life Library of Photography," the lens, and the camera. They have very good photo examples and descriptions of what is happening in your camera. Yes those books are about film photography but the principles of the lens, f-stops and shutter speeds is exactly the same as digital photography. You don't need $$$$$ of equipment to get the photos you are looking for. Welcome to UHH.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

The limitation is due to the lens. It cannot be set to an aperture more open than 5.6 when at 55mm.