F8 and be there....
Ansel Adams said that long ago and I was wondering if that has changed since digital has come into being.
I have another question......
What does it mean?
I understand it has to do with aperture and depth of field but how eludes me.
Mac
Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.
bmike101 wrote:
Ansel Adams said that long ago and I was wondering if that has changed since digital has come into being.
I have another question......
What does it mean?
I understand it has to do with aperture and depth of field but how eludes me.
Actually it was said by photojournalist Arthur “Weegee” Fellig, not Ansel Adams.
bmike101 wrote:
Ansel Adams said that long ago and I was wondering if that has changed since digital has come into being.
I have another question......
What does it mean?
I understand it has to do with aperture and depth of field but how eludes me.
Ansel Adams is associated with f64, which provided lots of depth of field for his 8x10 view camera. f8 on that camera wouldn't have much DOF at all. For photojournalist Weegee (who said it) it makes a lot more sense, meaning the exact exposure isn't as important as being in the right place at the right time.
bmike101 wrote:
Ansel Adams said that long ago and I was wondering if that has changed since digital has come into being.
I have another question......
What does it mean?
I understand it has to do with aperture and depth of field but how eludes me.
I don't think Adams ever said that. For him f/8 would be too large an aperture.
`
bmike101 wrote:
..................
question......
What does it mean?
I understand it has to do with aperture
and depth of field but how eludes me.
You're trying too hard. It has no
technical meaning. It's 4 words,
and it's ALL right there: Set f/8
and show up. No need to think
of all the BS that generates a 5
page thread about which lens to
take to Shanghai or Kathmandu.
Just get the shot.
It's perfect for "street", but not
intended for landscape, still life,
or such. I spoze you can mod it
for "street": "f/8 and watch" :-)
`
Mac
Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.
User ID wrote:
`
You're trying too hard. It has no
technical meaning. It's 4 words,
and it's ALL right there: Set f/8
and show up. No need to think
of all the BS that generates a 5
page thread about which lens to
take to Shanghai or Kathmandu.
Just get the shot.
`
I think I use it the next time someone asks "what lens should I use".
User ID wrote:
You're trying too hard. It has no technical meaning....Just get the shot...
The technical aspect is discussed in the link goofynewfie provided. But the article also stresses that the "be there" aspect includes "Shoot what’s interesting." Amen!
so according to the article it is designed for 35mm lenses and is a nightmare when you use a zoom lens. So is it any use to arbitrarily set it to F8 with a zoom lens?
bmike101 wrote:
so according to the article it is designed for 35mm lenses and is a nightmare when you use a zoom lens. So is it any use to arbitrarily set it to F8 with a zoom lens?
Use whatever F-stop is appropriate for your shot, shooting prime or zoom.
--
It is referring to one of the cornerstones of photography.
If you use f8 X ASA = Shutter Speed you would always get a properly exposed photo when shooting in daylight.
e.g. f8 x 100 would always give you a usable photo using ASA-100 film.
ASA is the film speed. We now call it ISO.
In those days you had 3 choices, ASA-64, ASA-100, and ASA-400 with ASA-100 being the most used film.
Dale
`
Modern gear does present some problems:
Focusing scales are vague, inaccurate, or
just absent. Compacts are often defaulted
ergonomically to auto-everything so that
manual use is awkward, etc etc.
A cheap APSC live view compact that uses
adapted manual lenses is a good solution.
There were some dinky little off brand 28s
for film SLRs. Adapted to something like a
e-series Sony you have a really cheap "f/8
and be there" rig :-)
`
bmike101 wrote:
so according to the article it is designed for 35mm lenses and is a nightmare when you use a zoom lens. So is it any use to arbitrarily set it to F8 with a zoom lens?
As a place to arbitrarily set the aperture just in case there's a fleeting foto op that requires your grabbing the camera and shooting quickly, or in case you're forgetful and don't want to leave at a more "extreme" end, then f/8 - along with 1/250 second shutter speed and auto ISO - is as good a place as any.
Otherwise, as Bill_de says, choose what's "appropriate" for what you want to achieve with your image. Depth of field (whether shallow or deep) should be a major consideration for nearly every composition and subject.
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