What is written on the lens?
Please look at this lens - what do the numbers on the lens barrel mean?
Lens aperture is the value of the lens aperture when it is fully open
For the lens in the photo just above, the lens aperture is 2.6. And what the number is less those Lens aperture is larger. Paradox?
There is no paradox here... when we say MAXIMUM APERTURE, this means that it is completely open and we mean the size of the aperture opening, and not its designation by a number. And the number indicating the aperture at its maximum opening will be minimal because in reality it is the denominator of the natural fraction (if you noticed, 1: 2.8 is written on the lens frame - these two dots are a mathematical division sign, often there is so little space on the frame, that the division sign and unit are simply not written
Why is it important to know the lens aperture when choosing a camera?
When choosing a camera with a removable (=replaceable) lens, you can buy a fast lens and replace the existing one. But if you are going to buy a camera with a fixed lens (for example, a compact camera), it is very important to find a suitable camera model with a fast lens - with an aperture of at least 2.8. Because the larger the lens aperture opens, the more freedom you will have, the freer you will feel in non-standard lighting conditions.
In addition, the depth of field depends on the lens aperture. In turn, it depends on your photos.
Many compact cameras They have a very limited choice of aperture, and as a result, a large depth of field. Moreover, some super-compact models of digital cameras and almost all cameras do not have smartphones and phones - in such cameras, instead of a classic aperture (an adjustable hole in the partition between the lens lenses), a special filter is used, the transparency of which is regulated by the camera electronics. With such a camera it is generally impossible to influence the depth of field. I can’t say that this is good or bad. It all depends on
If you don't want to bother with camera settings and you like to just point the camera at the subject and press the shutter button, you won't even notice the difference. If you like to experiment a lot, shooting in different, often not ideal lighting conditions, the 2 or 3 available aperture values can greatly limit your capabilities.
When choosing a lens for your digital camera Photographers often find that for the same focal length or range of focal lengths (if we're talking about about zoom lenses) optics can have different aperture ratios. At the same time, sellers often advise purchasing more expensive optics, citing the high aperture ratio, as if it can solve all problems when shooting. But is this really so, and what fast lenses can the photographic equipment market offer us today?
Advantages and disadvantages of high-aperture optics
Aperture refers to the throughput of the lens, that is, the maximum possible amount of light that will pass through the optics and hit the camera matrix. Accordingly, the higher the aperture ratio of the lens, the more light will pass through it. What does this mean in practice?
Firstly, in different lighting conditions, when shooting handheld or photographing moving objects, you can use a faster shutter speed. Secondly, fast optics allow you to shoot at lower ISO sensitivity values, thereby minimizing the amount of digital noise. Thirdly, fast lenses provide faster autofocus, which is especially important, for example, in reportage photography. Fourth, a wide maximum aperture allows the photographer to limit the depth of field of the imaged space. Fifth, thanks to the high aperture ratio, which ensures high brightness of the image in the viewfinder, the photographer can confidently control the sharpness and composition of the image. Finally, when photographing at apertures close to maximum, you can get pleasant, beautiful blurred background.
Thus, high-aperture optics have enough advantages. But there are also disadvantages. First of all, these are larger overall dimensions, since ensuring a large maximum aperture requires the use of lenses of larger diameter and additional optical elements designed to help eliminate chromatic aberrations and distortions. As a result, the design of a fast lens becomes more complicated compared to non-fast optics at the same focal length.
Fast internal focusing lenses are slightly shorter in length. In this case, during the focusing process, small optical elements move inside the lens, while the larger front elements remain stationary. When focusing the lens internally, there is virtually no rotation of the front element of the optics. Plus, autofocus speed increases, and the balance of the fast lens design generally improves.
The second disadvantage of high-aperture optics is closely intertwined with the first. Since the design of such lenses uses larger optical elements, it is much more difficult for specialists to produce and correct such optics. As a result, the cost of optics increases. The high price is perhaps the main disadvantage of high-aperture optics from the point of view of any photography lover or enthusiast photographer.
On the other hand, as a rule, fast lenses are created using the most modern technical solutions and the highest quality materials, which means that by paying a higher price for optics, the photographer gets something more than just a higher aperture. With the right approach, a fast lens can provide significant benefits in image quality, which is of particular importance, in particular, for professional photographers.
Selection of high-aperture optics
It should be noted that the very concept of high aperture is, in general, quite relative. For example, the difference in lenses with a maximum aperture of f/1.2, 1.4 or 1.8 is often difficult to perceive in practice. By the way, it is known that one of the fastest lenses was developed in the mid-60s for the NASA space program in order to photograph the dark side of the Moon. It was a CarlZeissPlanar 50mm with f/0.7 aperture.
Beginners often chase the lens with the highest aperture and, of course, sellers are happy to sell them such optics, because they cost many times more. But is it worth paying extra for a lens with f/1.4 or f/1.2 aperture if you don’t shoot at maximum aperture very often? This is the first question you should ask yourself when choosing high-aperture optics. Today on the photographic equipment market you can find a fairly wide range of fast lenses - both fixed focal length optics and zoom lenses. There are several interesting models.
Sigma 30 mmf/1.4 EXDCHSM
This fast f/1.4 lens is designed for cropped DSLR cameras with APS-C sensor format. It has a rugged body, a 45-degree viewing angle and a traditional optical design consisting of seven elements in seven groups. The design uses two optical elements made of low dispersion glass (SpecialLowDispersion), which eliminates chromatic aberrations.
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens features an eight-blade diaphragm and ultrasonic motor (HSM) for faster, virtually silent focusing. The advantages of this lens include good color rendition and a pleasant, unusual pattern. At the same time, it requires precise focus adjustment in the camera and is characterized by a drop in sharpness in the corners of the frame.
Fast lens with a focal length of 50 mm, taking into account the crop factor, it can be used in various shooting situations - in portrait, landscape or genre photography. Thanks to its circular nine-blade aperture, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens can beautifully blur out-of-focus areas. The optical design includes eight elements in six groups, including a molded aspherical lens that effectively suppresses chromatic aberration.
The likelihood of glare is minimized due to the use of multi-layer coating of optical elements. It also helps provide higher contrast in photographic images. The minimum focusing distance is only 45 cm. The optics also include an ultrasonic autofocus drive HSM. It is noteworthy that the fast Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens can be used with both digital SLRs and film cameras.
The Canon lineup includes the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM prime lens with a standard 46-degree field of view and an ultrasonic focus drive (USM) with constant manual focus adjustment. This lens is versatile in use and compact in size. The optical design, consisting of seven elements in six groups, uses highly refractive elements to produce sharp, detailed images even when the aperture is wide open. An eight-blade diaphragm with a nearly circular aperture creates even, smooth blur in out-of-focus areas of the image. Fast Canon lens The EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is suitable for lovers of landscapes and portraits, as well as those who specialize in reportage photography.
This is a professional lens aimed at portrait photography. It has the widest aperture in Canon's EF lens lineup, allowing you to fully control depth of field and shoot in low light without the need for flash or long shutter speeds. A wide aperture with a circular aperture allows you to evenly blur out-of-focus areas and focus the viewer's attention on the foreground. The ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) ensures fast and quiet focusing on the subject. There is also electronic manual focusing capability here.
The lens is designed with eight elements in seven groups, using a large variable-curvature aspherical lens and a movable element to provide greater clarity and contrast to in-focus areas of the image. The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lens can transmit distance information to the E-TTL II flash system for more accurate exposure metering.
Another fast lens from Canon's professional L series with a large aperture, 35mm focal length and a wide viewing angle of 63 degrees. This optic features an internal floating focusing mechanism and a rugged, reliable design that is protected from moisture and dust. The EF 35mm f/1.4L USM lens features an eight-blade aperture and ultrasonic focus drive for lightning-fast focusing. The optical design includes eleven elements in nine groups, including a large aspherical element for scatter-corrected images and edge-to-edge sharpness. The minimum focusing distance is only 30 centimeters. .
AF-S Nikkor35mmf/1.4G
AF-SNikkor 35mmf/1.4G is a professional wide-angle lens with a focal length of 35 mm and high aperture from Nikon’s proprietary line. It was developed specifically for use with the Japanese company’s FX format digital SLR cameras. The lens design consists of ten elements in seven groups, including one aspherical element to provide higher image sharpness and contrast. Thanks to a special NanoCrystal coating, unpleasant glare and halos are eliminated. Using a nine-blade aperture, the lens creates pleasant, soft bokeh. The AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G optics are good because they have a durable, waterproof magnesium alloy body and high quality assembly, which allows it to be used in the harshest operating conditions.
Sony 50mmf/1.4
Fast Sony lens for branded digital SLR cameras with A mount. This is an excellent portrait lens with excellent resolution across the entire frame and high image clarity. Its design consists of seven elements in six groups. The 50mm focal length combined with a wide aperture allows this lens to be used for portrait photography and photographing in low light conditions. The circular blade aperture makes it possible to obtain beautifully blurred backgrounds. The Sony 50mm f/1.4 lens is compact in size and relatively light in weight (220 grams).
Fast optics are, of course, great, but don’t forget that high-quality lenses with wide apertures are not cheap. The high aperture allows you to shoot at faster shutter speeds and lower ISOs in a variety of lighting conditions. However, when choosing a lens, think about how often you will actually need the widest aperture when shooting. If you do not often use wide apertures, then perhaps you should not chase a high aperture, but rather pay attention to other lens parameters.
Surely, if you bought a lens, you have heard the concept more than once: lens aperture. Most likely, it was the aperture that played the key role when choosing a particular lens, and of course the seller tried to sell you a more expensive lens precisely referring to this mystical parameter - aperture, as if it would solve all your problems;)
First, let's figure out what lens aperture is and what it is used with. Simply put, the aperture ratio is throughput lens, i.e. aperture shows the maximum possible amount of light passing through the lens and hitting the sensor digital camera. The larger the aperture of the lens, the more light can pass through it, the greater the possibilities when shooting in poor lighting without using a flash or tripod.
Lens aperture depends on the following parameters:
- diaphragm
- focal length
- quality of optics
We won’t delve into physics, I’ll just say that the ratio of the maximum open diameter to the focal length will be your aperture ratio (the so-called geometric aperture ratio of the lens). It is this aperture that optical manufacturers indicate on their lenses; you have probably seen the following signatures - 1:1.2, 1:1.4, 1:1.8, 1:2.8, 1:5.6 and so on. Naturally, the greater this ratio, the greater the lens aperture. Therefore, fast lenses are considered to be those with a ratio of 1:2.8, 1:1.8, 1:1.4 or more.
For the record, the fastest lens in the world was made in 1966 for NASA, which used it to photograph the dark side of the moon. It's called the Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/0.7 and its aperture ratio is 1:0.7; only ten such lenses were produced.
Every photographer, whether a beginner or a professional, knows that the fastest lenses are portrait lenses with a fixed focal length. And of course, every self-respecting photographer has such a lens in his arsenal. Another advantage of fast primes is that they are relatively inexpensive, for example when compared with fast zoom lenses, but no less high quality.
Fast lenses are ideal for portrait photography because they provide low aperture, which is very important for.
Which portrait lens to choose, with aperture 1.2, 1.4 or 1.8?
There is the fact that beginners want to buy a faster lens, and of course sellers are happy to sell them this lens, which costs several times more. The only question is whether you need to overpay for an f/1.4 aperture if you practically never use it!
?Then I took another photo, in which everything is fine: the face is in focus and the background is blurred, but the aperture was already f/2.8.
I messed up a lot of shots before I realized that f/1.2 should be used only if there is not enough light to shoot, and then this doesn’t always help, it’s easier to increase it, especially if you have . Sometimes, even with a 50mm prime lens with an f/2.8 aperture, you can miss and many details will be out of focus, so I always play it safe, especially when photographing models; in good lighting, I use an aperture of no less than f/3.2.
As you can see, the depth of field is quite noticeable.
Having decided to choose a new lens for your SLR camera, it is worth deciding what parameters it should have. Among the important points that significantly influence the quality of the result is the lens aperture. What is the aperture of a photographic lens, what problems does it help solve, what optics are classified as aperture and other questions later in the article.
What is lens aperture
The amount of light entering the camera matrix depends on how fast the lens the photographer uses. Aperture (denoted by the letter f) shows how powerful a stream of light will reach the target. After all, the glass or plastic from which lenses are made is not completely transparent and part of the light flux is scattered on the way to the matrix. Light is refracted in different directions, some of it is absorbed by lenses.
The wider it is, the more light it can let in. Aperture is indicated based on the diameter of the maximum open aperture and the distance to the subject. The smaller this ratio, the higher the aperture ratio.
The amount of light hitting the matrix depends on:
- depth of field of the image;
- the ability to create a high-quality photo even with insufficient light.
Depth of field
Fast lenses allow you to highlight only the main objects with greater sharpness. For example, when shooting portraits. The number of objects in sharpness is determined. The surrounding background is beautifully blurred, creating a so-called blur around the subject. This allows you to get rid of unnecessary details and hide an unattractive background. Such shots in many cases look much more impressive.
Quality even in low light
If there is insufficient lighting, the photographer can change 3 basic settings in the camera: , and the light sensitivity of the optics (). In this case, the shutter speed can be changed only to certain values, so as not to get . High sensitivity values can degrade the quality of the frame, as digital noise. What remains is the use of aperture, that is, the maximum opening of the aperture. This indicator will not degrade the quality of the image and will help out in this situation.
What optics are considered fast?
Fast lenses are also called fast and light. This type of optics includes models in which the maximum open aperture (f) starts from 2.8. For example, Sigma 17-50mm F2.8. The aperture can open even wider, as in the Nikon 50mm F1.4G portrait primes.
There are also super-fast lenses. For example, Nikon 50mm F1.2 MF.
At the same time, beginners should take into account that it is better not to open the aperture to the maximum indicated on the optics. For example, with the specified f1.4, the working aperture starts from about f1.8 and even f 2.0. And at f1.4, even the main object in the frame may not be entirely clear.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cameras equipped with high-aperture optics offer many advantages and some disadvantages.
Advantages
Among the advantages:
- High quality and brightness of photographs;
- The ability to get bright and effective shots even with a lack of light;
- Shooting at short shutter speeds “handheld” in any lighting;
- The speed of operation of some types, which is especially helpful when using light filters;
- Beautiful bokeh, allowing you to take artistic portraits even in the absence of a suitable background;
- The ability to create original photographs. For example, when shooting a portrait, focus on the eyes and leave the rest of the face blurred;
- Shoot at low sensitivity (ISO) without fear that the frame will be spoiled by digital noise;
- A light and bright image in the viewfinder, which makes it easier to find a convenient angle and focus. Especially if you focus manually. You don’t have to squint too much, straining your vision.
Flaws
- The main disadvantage of high-aperture glasses is their high cost. Especially when it comes to zoom lenses - that is, optics with variable . Fast primes, such as the Nikon 50mm F1.4G, are cheaper. But then you will have to get an additional lens, because a fixed distance is not suitable for all types of shooting. It's great for portraits, but won't do well for reportage. Especially if the objects being photographed are at a great distance from the camera. In this case, you can’t do without zoom;
- Another disadvantage is the strong blurring of surrounding objects when shooting at maximum aperture values. Especially when, according to the photographer’s idea, several objects should be sharp at once, and shooting conditions, for example, lighting, do not allow closing the aperture too much to increase the depth of field.
When a fast lens is needed
Amateurs who shoot only everyday scenes and do not strive to develop in the art of photography can easily get by with cheaper optics and the aperture ratio is not so important. For professionals, cameras with fast lenses come in handy in the following situations:
- When photographing sports events or wild animals. In this case, it is important to set the shutter speed as quickly as possible so that those moving with high speed objects were not blurred.
- For taking professional shots in the evening or at night. In such conditions, you cannot do without a good lens aperture. Fast lenses help you capture and use even dimly lit objects.
- To compensate for the low photosensitivity of the camera matrix. The aperture ratio can compensate for this shortcoming of the camera.
- For creating high-quality photo reports in rooms with insufficient lighting. For example, in nightclubs, restaurants, fashion shows or dance competitions.
Enlightenment and aperture are different concepts
Which fast lens to choose
In general, high-aperture optics are divided into 2 types: prime lenses and zoom lenses.
Primes are great for studio shooting, where you can easily change the distance to the subject while moving around the room. But the model is static. Fixed lenses have good picture quality. They have fewer optical elements in their design, which reduces distortion.
Beginners most often choose optics with a fixed focal length from 50 to 55 mm, with an aperture ratio of 2.8 to 1.4. Such lenses are also called “fifty kopecks”. They can be found in the lines of all the most famous photographic equipment manufacturers. These parameters are quite sufficient if the photographer has no desire to engage in subject or night photography.
In second place in popularity are prime lenses with focal lengths of 30 and 35 mm. They are wide-angle and suitable for a wide range of tasks. But at the same time, they slightly distort the perspective, which has an unfavorable effect on portrait photography.
Those who specialize in close-up portraits prefer prime lenses with focal lengths of 85 and 135 mm. And the longer the focal length of the optics, the greater the bokeh effect.
Among variable focal length glasses, the most popular are models with a focal length of 17-55 mm. By adding optics with a distance of 70-200 to them, you can confidently shoot high-quality reports. Provided, of course, you have reportage shooting skills.
Aperture – important parameter in the lens. It helps you take high-quality pictures even in difficult conditions, for example, when there is insufficient light. However, high-aperture optics are not cheap, and in the case of prime lenses, you will most likely need more than one - with different focal lengths. Therefore, a beginner can first try his hand at cheaper models. In the future, it will become clear whether you need a fast lens or whether ordinary kit (complete) optics can cope with the tasks.
In simple terms, a camera's aperture is the device through which light enters the camera's sensor. The diaphragm consists of so-called “petals”, the number of which can vary from three to twenty pieces. Depending on the light intensity, the petals reduce or increase the diameter of the light-transmitting hole. The principle of their action is similar to the pupil: in dim light it expands, in bright light it contracts.
To better understand the principles of calculating lens characteristics (including aperture values), you need to know what the focal length of the lens is.
Lens focal length
Focal length– this is the distance between the camera matrix and the main optical plane of the lens, provided it is focused to infinity. This indicator determines the viewing angle achieved by a particular lens. The larger the focal length, the smaller the viewing angle. The specifications usually indicate the minimum and maximum focal lengths that the lens provides. It is usually measured in millimeters.
The ratio of focal length to aperture size is called f-number. This is what determines the aperture value. The smaller this indicator, the larger the hole, and the more light penetrates the camera matrix. It is worth considering that the aperture value is often indicated as a fraction denominator, without specifying the focal length.
Possible f-number values are described by a special aperture scale, which is a sequence of numbers:
1 – 1.4 – 2 – 2.8 – 4 – 5.6 – 8 – 11 – 16 – 22 and so on.
The essence of the scale is that narrowing the lens aperture by half leads to a fourfold decrease in the amount of light entering the matrix. Doubling the focal length has a similar effect. The aperture scale is often placed on the lens barrel for the convenience of the photographer.
Lenses with the smallest f-numbers (f/1.2 – f/1.8) transmit the maximum amount of light. Such lenses are called fast lenses.
Lens aperture
Aperture- this is the degree to which the camera lens attenuates the light flux, or, in other words, the ability of the lens to convey the real brightness of the object. The higher the aperture, the better the quality of photographs taken in poor lighting conditions without the use of a tripod or flash. In addition, fast lenses allow you to take photographs with the fastest possible shutter speed.
The aperture value is determined by the maximum open aperture value. Together with the focal length, it is usually indicated on the rim of the lens. So, for example, the inscription 7-21/2.0-2.8 means that with a focal length of 7 millimeters, the aperture ratio is 2.0. Accordingly, with a focal length of 21 millimeters – 2.8.
When choosing a lens, it is worth considering that the maximum open aperture is used very rarely. At the same time, the price of fast lenses is significantly higher. For most buyers, there is no point in overpaying for a 1:1.2 ratio; it is enough to buy more a budget option with aperture ratio 1:1.8.
Relative hole
The reciprocal of the aperture number is called relative hole. The relative aperture size determines how many times the focal length of the lens exceeds the diameter of its aperture. On the lens barrel, this indicator usually appears as a 1:2 fraction. These numbers mean that the hole diameter is half the focal length.
In various sources, the concepts of aperture value, relative aperture size and aperture itself are often described in scientific, obscure language. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a camera and not to get confused in the characteristics of the lens, it is worth remembering the dependencies that exist between them.
Thus, aperture is a constant property of optics that cannot be changed or adjusted. It should be remembered that aperture has no relation to the current aperture value. As mentioned above, its value is equal to the aperture value in the maximum open position.
Relative aperture, unlike aperture, is a variable value. You can adjust it using the aperture.
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