Frequent 'aperture+lens-design' Questions - Photography Stack Exchange

46 votes

7 answers

14k views

How do constant aperture zoom lenses work?

Cheaper zoom lenses usually are faster at the wide end and slower at the long end (for example, the $150 Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6). More expensive constant-aperture zoom lenses have the same ...

Ken

5,088

asked Jan 21, 2011 at 0:37

22 votes

2 answers

5k views

Why do zoom lenses and compact cameras have varied maximum aperture across the zoom range?

Why does a camera's maximum (allowed) aperture get smaller when you increase its zoom?

William C

641

asked Jul 11, 2011 at 6:42

15 votes

3 answers

2k views

How do zoom lenses restrict their widest aperture at the telephoto end?

Does the aperture ring lock the apertures beyond, say 5.6 at length lens's telephoto end? Does the lens introduce an obstacle to the aperture ring so the lens can't be opened anymore beyond the ...

user152435

1,515

asked Jan 8, 2016 at 3:51

12 votes

6 answers

8k views

What are the theoretical minimum and maximum apertures?

Is there such a thing as a maximum aperture that a lens can be open to? What about a minimum aperture that it can be closed to? Do these concepts even make any sense? Is there a lens with the ...

Sachin Kainth

673

asked Aug 27, 2013 at 21:42

31 votes

3 answers

9k views

Why do wide angle prime lenses have relatively small apertures?

I've noticed that many of the wide angle prime lenses (at least for Canon) have somewhat smaller apertures than their normal or telephoto counterparts. E.g. the regular Canon 24mm prime is f/2.8 while ...

ab.aditya

4,655

asked Nov 24, 2011 at 8:43

3 votes

2 answers

4k views

What's the difference between real and effective aperture?

I understand that the simple idea that f-stop is focal length divided by aperture really applies to a simple single-glass lens, not the compound lens systems used to provide good image quality in ...

mattdm

143k

asked Apr 9, 2013 at 11:47

9 votes

3 answers

6k views

What are the advantages of a lens having a fixed maximum aperture?

What are the advantages of a lens having a Fixed Maximum Aperture? Previous answers have indicated that "pros tend to want constant apertures in zoom lenses". While in general lenses with a fixed ...

fmark

2,641

asked Jun 12, 2011 at 7:10

18 votes

8 answers

9k views

Will using a lens at max aperture ("wide open") result in poor images?

I’m looking to add a second lens to my kit lens I got with my Nikon D7000. I have read several reviews on both the 35 and 50 mm lenses made by Nikon in particular that said using either lens at the ...

kacalapy

7,908

asked Dec 30, 2010 at 4:46

18 votes

2 answers

3k views

In what way does the lens mount limit the maximum possible aperture of a lens?

In many answers to questions about different aspects of really large aperture lenses it's pointed out that the lens mount sets a hard limit on the maximum possible aperture of the lenses to that ...

Hugo

8,288

asked Aug 20, 2014 at 7:35

26 votes

5 answers

8k views

What is special about lenses with f-number < 1?

Talking about fast lenses, Wikipedia mentions Nikon TV-Nikkor 35mm f/0.9-Fastest Nikon lens ever made Why don't, for example, f/0.5 lenses exist? Is there some special construction that comes ...

Lazer

4,049

asked May 16, 2011 at 1:56

24 votes

4 answers

23k views

Why is the aperture ring removed from new Nikon lenses?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I notice that Nikon's newer lenses don't have an aperture ring. For example, an older AF 35 mm f/2D is now replaced by AF-S DX 35 mm f/1.8G, or AF 50 mm f/1.8D is replaced by a ...

Arseni Mourzenko

4,390

asked Feb 18, 2011 at 19:07

11 votes

3 answers

900 views

What is the limiting factor in lens construction when it comes to f-stop values?

This widely praised Nikon 105mm macro lens has a maximum f-stop value of 2.8. I've held it in my hands, it's a big lens. Meanwhile, this 50mm Nikon lens can go up to f/1.2, despite being 25% cheaper ...

Drew

2,465

asked Jan 26, 2012 at 9:53

6 votes

2 answers

1k views

What's the base f-stop when counting an ideal f-stop for lens?

I've read a lot around this site that an ideal quality of the lens is achieved when using f-stop roughly 2 stops slower than the fastest value of the lens. Firstly, I'm not exactly sure what "2 stops"...

Frantisek

2,683

asked Jul 2, 2011 at 21:23

4 votes

2 answers

808 views

What is the maximum aperture consistent with the Nikon F-mount?

In a related thread, it's been debated whether there is a hard limitation to maximum possible lens aperture; it seems there is none. However, using the example of the nikon F mount, this technical ...

Nomaru

196

asked Sep 4, 2014 at 10:05

3 votes

2 answers

323 views

Is there a difference in sharpness between aperture stops?

Is there a notable difference in sharpness between aperture stops of a lens? If so, where can I find that information for my Canon 550d Kit lenses?

Adam Matan

1,147

asked Jul 16, 2012 at 16:52

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All Questions

How do constant aperture zoom lenses work?

Why do zoom lenses and compact cameras have varied maximum aperture across the zoom range?

How do zoom lenses restrict their widest aperture at the telephoto end?

What are the theoretical minimum and maximum apertures?

Why do wide angle prime lenses have relatively small apertures?

What's the difference between real and effective aperture?

What are the advantages of a lens having a fixed maximum aperture?

Will using a lens at max aperture ("wide open") result in poor images?

In what way does the lens mount limit the maximum possible aperture of a lens?

What is special about lenses with f-number < 1?

Why is the aperture ring removed from new Nikon lenses?

What is the limiting factor in lens construction when it comes to f-stop values?

What's the base f-stop when counting an ideal f-stop for lens?

What is the maximum aperture consistent with the Nikon F-mount?

Is there a difference in sharpness between aperture stops?

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