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34 questions
Newest Active Bountied Unanswered
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's user avatar
Ken
  • 5,088
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's user avatar
ab.aditya
  • 4,655
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's user avatar
Lazer
  • 4,049
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's user avatar
Arseni Mourzenko
  • 4,390
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's user avatar
William C
  • 641
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's user avatar
kacalapy
  • 7,908
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's user avatar
Hugo
  • 8,288
16 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why aren't lenses designed with extra large apertures for autofocus beyond what's used for imaging?

Historically, designing large-aperture lenses has been difficult because correcting the optical aberrations that arise from large apertures requires complex designs and very large amounts of glass. ...
Chinmay Kanchi's user avatar
Chinmay Kanchi
  • 2,366
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's user avatar
user152435
  • 1,515
14 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do apertures which seem too large to physically fit work? [duplicate]

A 400mm f4.0 lens is supposed to have a maximum aperture diameter of 10cm. Looking at such a lens they don't seem big enough to fit that kind of aperture including all the mechanics for control inside ...
LuLeBe's user avatar
LuLeBe
  • 243
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's user avatar
Sachin Kainth
  • 673
12 votes
4 answers
7k views

Is overall light gathering of a lens only dependant on aperture?

My impression is that the aperture value of a lens determines its light gathering ability, but I'm not sure I understand how it works... When considering light gathering in telescopes, it is ...
asc99c's user avatar
asc99c
  • 223
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's user avatar
Drew
  • 2,465
9 votes
4 answers
1k views

Why do filter sizes vary for lenses of the same focal length?

I have a Nikkor 18-55 kit lens that has a 52mm filter, and recently I was looking that the 17-55 lens has a 77mm filter. Is it because the latter is a better quality lens? I assume a bigger circle ...
Luciano's user avatar
Luciano
  • 393
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's user avatar
fmark
  • 2,641

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