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f-stops????
Oct 4, 2011 14:02:53 #
I have a canon rebel digital xt. I have gone to utube and have read on the subject but am so confused. Are your fstops in a manual mode only? If I am shooting full auto then I have no control on fstops is that correct? Ps pics are for enjoyment.
Oct 4, 2011 14:35:06 #
Tracie wrote:
I have a canon rebel digital xt. I have gone to utube and have read on the subject but am so confused. Are your fstops in a manual mode only? If I am shooting full auto then I have no control on fstops is that correct? Ps pics are for enjoyment.
Look at the human eye. When there's bright light your pupil closes down because it doesn't require that much light to see. That's F/22 or higher on a camera lens. Now think of the human eye in a dark room. You're eye needs a bigger opening to let more light in to see. That's F/1.4, or F/2.8 with a camera lens, wide open. In Auto-Exposure the camera's brain is still changing the F-stops or lens openings of the camera lens depending on what your camera's meter determines it needs for proper exposure. Unless you're shooting something with a lot of fast motion such as sports I'd recommend using Aperture priority on your digital camera. This allows you to control the lens opening(F-stop/Aperture) and the camera will select the shutter speed.
Oct 4, 2011 15:00:00 #
So if i use a cloudy day for a portrait i would need F 1.4 or F/2.8 and if I have more light I would use F/22 or higher?
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Oct 4, 2011 15:08:22 #
You got the general idea, the sweet spot for most lenses is around f/8 in good light. Make adjustments for your need starting about there.
Oct 4, 2011 15:11:13 #
Tracie wrote:
So if i use a cloudy day for a portrait i would need F 1.4 or F/2.8 and if I have more light I would use F/22 or higher?
A cloudy day with shade on the person's face would require more light than having sunlight on their face. A low F-stop like F/1.4 or F/2.8 is desirable if you wish to control the Depth OF Field(area in sharp focus). The lower the F-stop the shallower the area that remains in focus. Example of a very shallow depth of field below: notice only the front most flower is sharply focused. This is an example of using a low F-stop like F/1.4-2.0. At F/22 everything would be in focus but that would require a lot more light. Photographers strive for bokeh(the shallow depth of field).
Exhibit A
Oct 4, 2011 15:11:32 #
Oct 4, 2011 15:17:15 #
Tracie wrote:
what is a mast lens? I just got the canon 50mm f/1.4 (same start?)
I haven't a clue what you're talking about with mast lens.
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Oct 4, 2011 15:17:55 #
mast lenses is a typo it should be most lenses. i was tempted to make a smart alec comment about it being a lens to see sailing ships with, but then i didn't. second i really love the emotion that is evident in these photos that i assume is your family. the second shot with the poetry and the texas a+m helmet was to me very poignoit. I assume you are aggie fans so let me welcome you to the land of the SEC. Y'all better bring your a game cause this is some serious football played down here.
Oct 4, 2011 15:23:18 #
Tracie wrote:
So if i use a cloudy day for a portrait i would need F 1.4 or F/2.8 and if I have more light I would use F/22 or higher?
generally speaking, yes. though i would not recommend going past f/16 or f/18. even in bright light, you'll rarely need to stop down that far, and at f/22 you'll start getting into a phenomenon called 'diffraction limiting'. it's all very esoteric, but what it does is cause images shot at extremely small apertures to lose some of their clarity and sharpness. the 'sweet spot' for most DSLRs is around f/8-f/11, and i try to avoid shooting at anything smaller than f/16 unless i really have to in order to achieve a very slow shutter speed.
Oct 4, 2011 15:26:29 #
"Photographers strive for bokeh(the shallow depth of field)."
sometimes. in shooting things like portraits, or flowers, having the backdrop blurred helps isolate and draw attention to the main subject. but for other kinds of photos, such as landscapes or wildlife, too much bokeh is undesirable. i do most of my landscape shooting at something between f/8 and f/16 to maximize the DOF.
sometimes. in shooting things like portraits, or flowers, having the backdrop blurred helps isolate and draw attention to the main subject. but for other kinds of photos, such as landscapes or wildlife, too much bokeh is undesirable. i do most of my landscape shooting at something between f/8 and f/16 to maximize the DOF.
Oct 4, 2011 15:28:44 #
SQUIRL033 wrote:
"Photographers strive for bokeh(the shallow depth of field)."
sometimes. in shooting things like portraits, or flowers, having the backdrop blurred helps isolate and draw attention to the main subject. but for other kinds of photos, such as landscapes or wildlife, too much bokeh is undesirable. i do most of my landscape shooting at something between f/8 and f/16 to maximize the DOF.
sometimes. in shooting things like portraits, or flowers, having the backdrop blurred helps isolate and draw attention to the main subject. but for other kinds of photos, such as landscapes or wildlife, too much bokeh is undesirable. i do most of my landscape shooting at something between f/8 and f/16 to maximize the DOF.
You are absolutely correct. I should have been more specific.
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Oct 4, 2011 15:31:21 #
Most MOST lenses! I made a typo, found it and fixed it. A "mast" lens must be a nautical term. :lol:
BTW, you are doing pretty darn good for someone who does not yet understand f-stops.
I would say you choose a perfect f-stop for the third photo of the little boy. His eyes are in perfect focus. The tips of his ears are just starting to go out of focus. The background is out of focus and does not distract from the face, a very nice portrait. I also like the lighting.
BTW, you are doing pretty darn good for someone who does not yet understand f-stops.
I would say you choose a perfect f-stop for the third photo of the little boy. His eyes are in perfect focus. The tips of his ears are just starting to go out of focus. The background is out of focus and does not distract from the face, a very nice portrait. I also like the lighting.
Oct 4, 2011 15:34:02 #
Thank you, and yes it is my family. Not really an Aggie fan it was a christmas gift (only team left) we dont watch much collage football. Cowboys is about the only football we watch.
Oct 4, 2011 19:05:08 #
Oct 5, 2011 06:11:16 #
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