f stops (Page 2): And you’re wrong...

BebuLamar

Joe Blow wrote:

Not to overly quibble, however, ... br br Full st... (show quote)

And you’re wrong

BebuLamar

Joe Blow wrote:

Not to overly quibble, however, ... br br Full st... (show quote)

And you’re wrong

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

OK.................this explains much to me, a person who does not completely understood f/stops. Higher f/stop number = less depth of field. Smaller f/stop number = more depth of field. Am I thinking correctly here?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

OK.................this explains much to me, a person who does not completely understood f/stops. Higher f/stop number = less depth of field. Smaller f/stop number = more depth of field. Am I thinking correctly here?

Unfortunately, no: f/22 provides greater depth of field (more in focus from front to rear) than f/4.

Forget about ratios and size of the holes. Try real-world tests on your own cameras and lenses 'til it becomes second nature. One simple way is to use aperture priority. Let the camera choose ISO and shutter speed as you take photos with differing apertures of the same subject from same viewpoint during same session.

Wait a minute! You wrote in your intro, "30+ years’ experience using Nikon equipment almost exclusively..." Are you punking us??

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Linda From Maine wrote:

Unfortunately, no: f/22 provides greater depth of field (more in focus from front to rear) than f/4.

Forget about ratios and size of the holes. Try real-world tests on your own cameras and lenses 'til it becomes second nature. One simple way is to use aperture priority. Let the camera choose ISO and shutter speed as you take photos with differing apertures of the same subject from same viewpoint during same session.

Will do. I guess that this is why macro lenses have lower f/stops like 1:2.8 etc.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

Will do. I guess that this is why macro lenses have lower f/stops like 1:2.8 etc.

I edited my comments after I read that you have 30 years' photography experience. Come on, man, you obviously already understand the properties of macro lenses; why are you delberately attempting to confuse people?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

smeggy wrote:

I am confused and maybe someone can explain this to me.
If a lens or camera has f stops listed at F/3.5-6.3 why can I shoot at f /11? What is the difference?
Thanks,
mary

OK Mary, this is your answer. Most all zoom lenses have variable minimum F stops. Lets say your zoom is a 28-200 just for the sake of argument. Usually the lens is faster as the wide end and slower at the long end, in this example your lens minimum F stop (or fastest F stop available at 28 mm is f3.5, and as you zoom out to 200 your lens gets slower so at 200 your lenses minimum F stop would be F6.3.
Now your lens can stop down to f11 , f16, and maybe f22. Those F stops are available to you at any time at any focal length. If you are in Aperture Priority, you can choose any F stop you want (within reason). If you shoot in auto mode the F stop will be chosen by the camera. And on auto the choice of F stop depends on what ISO your using and what shutter speed your using.
All of this may sound confusing but basically the F3.5-6.3 are your lenses minimum F opening and you will be able to shoot at whatever HIGHER F stop you want. (Your instruction manual will help you out)
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

This is a design feature found only on zoom lenses to keep them lighter. For example, an 18-300mm zoom will use the smallest number as its widest aperture at 18mm and the other number for its widest aperture at 300mm. It can let in more light on the wide end than it can on the telephoto end. All zoom focal lengths can stop down to the largest F stop number shown for that lens. The widest aperture - smallest number - is variable depending on the selected focal length.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Think that there is something sdrawkcab.....you think?

RWR wrote:

Not so. The smaller the f/stop, the smaller the opening. The smaller the f/ number, the larger the opening.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

smeggy wrote:

I am confused and maybe someone can explain this to me.
If a lens or camera has f stops listed at F/3.5-6.3 why can I shoot at f /11? What is the difference?
Thanks,
mary

The lower the number, the wider the diaphragm is open. The higher the number, the smaller the diaphragm is open. So, f/11 is a smaller opening that lets in less light then f/3.5 or f/6.3 which are larger openings that let in more light.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

And just to confuse things a bit more, f<pick a number> is not the same size aperture for every lens.
--Bob

smeggy wrote:

I am confused and maybe someone can explain this to me.
If a lens or camera has f stops listed at F/3.5-6.3 why can I shoot at f /11? What is the difference?
Thanks,
mary

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Mary, do you have some basic photographic knowledge? A lens could be f5.6 or f1.4, that makes no difference if you want to shoot at f11. It is as simple as setting the lens to f11, with the aperture ring if it is a manual lens or electronically in your camera.
By the way f stops is a term used to mean openings in the lens. The difference between lets say f6.3 and f11 it the extra depth of field gained using the smaller lens opening, in this case f11.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

OK.................this explains much to me, a person who does not completely understood f/stops. Higher f/stop number = less depth of field. Smaller f/stop number = more depth of field. Am I thinking correctly here?

No - backwards. Higher f number = smaller aperture = greater depth of field. Lower f number = larger aperture = shallower depth of field.

Englert

Wow, very nicely stated. Thank you

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

Will do. I guess that this is why macro lenses have lower f/stops like 1:2.8 etc.