Can somebody explain the Aperture Indication on Lenses?

[tevo]

1. What makes a good macro lens?

2. What makes a good telephoto lens?


GO.

 

[Overread36]

Lens titles/descriptions typically list the maximum aperture(s) that the lens is capable of. In the case of a constant aperture lens that will be one value - such as f4, f2.8 etc... This is the case for all prime lenses (those of a single focal length) and for high-end zoom lenses which will retain the same maximum aperture through their whole focal length range. Variable aperture zoom lenses are ones which have an aperture with reduces as the lens moves through its focal range - for example a 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens will have a maximum aperture of f4 at the 70mm but only f5.6 at the 300mm end of its focal range.

The minimum apertures capable by lenses (ie the biggest f numbers) vary, but are generally only stated in the lenses tech specification, normally found on review sites and, of course, the general spec sheet on the manufacturers website.

 

[analog.universe]

The aperture printed on the lens is always the largest aperture the lens is capable of (i.e. lowest number). On the small end, lenses vary from f/16 to f/22 most of the time. Unless you specifically need a lens capable of very small apertures (for extreme macro, for instance), the small end of the range isn't usually worth worrying about. Lenses with large apertures (also known as fast lenses) allow more light in, and also allows for shallower depths of field, so generally they are more desirable. Fast lenses allow you to use faster shutter speeds for stopping motion, and they also perform better in low light. Some zoom lenses will have an aperture range printed on them, this is the range of maximum apertures. 3.5-5.6 for instance, indicates 3.5 at the wide end, and 5.6 at the longest focal length.

 

[tevo]

Lens titles/descriptions typically list the maximum aperture(s) that the lens is capable of. In the case of a constant aperture lens that will be one value - such as f4, f2.8 etc... This is the case for all prime lenses (those of a single focal length) and for high-end zoom lenses which will retain the same maximum aperture through their whole focal length range. Variable aperture zoom lenses are ones which have an aperture with reduces as the lens moves through its focal range - for example a 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens will have a maximum aperture of f4 at the 70mm but only f5.6 at the 300mm end of its focal range.

The minimum apertures capable by lenses (ie the biggest f numbers) vary, but are generally only stated in the lenses tech specification, normally found on review sites and, of course, the general spec sheet on the manufacturers website.

yeah B&H lists that.. I overlooked it :c Good to know though, thank you!


What makes a good macro lens?

" " " " telephoto lens?

 

[Josh66]

The stated aperture is the maximum (widest) the lens can do. (Zoom lenses will often state two apertures. The larger (smaller f/#) one is the max at the wide end, while the smaller one is the max at the telephoto end.) The minimum will vary from lens to lens, but f/22 is a common minimum aperture. Some lenses will go down to f/32, or maybe f/45. I would have to check to be sure, but I think I only have one lens that can go down to f/32 - the rest stop at f/22. I did have one that went down to f/45, but I gave that away.

I don't know where you shop, but B&H, for example, will state the range in the 'specs' tab on the product page.

I honestly wouldn't worry about the minimum aperture too much...

 

[Josh66]

NEVERMIND. Found it.

New intention of thread:

1. What makes a good macro lens?

2. What makes a good telephoto lens?


GO.

Macro lenses -

Really, I don't know of any "bad" true 1:1 macro lenses ... that's not to say there aren't any though. That's the first thing I would look for - make sure it can do 1:1 or better. 1:1 = "Life Size". The object you are photographing will be 'life size' on the sensor (so, much larger than life size on the print).

True macro lenses are also generally very good at controlling distortion and CA.

Working distance is another factor to consider... Keep in mind that the minimum focusing distance is measured from the film/sensor plane. (All distances are always measured from the sensor. The sensor plane should be marked on your body. Look for a circle with a line through it - that's the film/sensor plane (the line).) If the minimum focusing distance is 12 inches, and the lens is 5 inches long, it would be able to focus on something roughly 6 inches from the end of the lens.


edit

"Better" than 1:1 would be 2:1 or 3:1 - something like that. 1:2 would only be half of life size.

 

[analog.universe]

Depending on your needs and budget, you can get a good macro lens that is a good telephoto lens. Sigma 150mm 2.8 OS? I don't know nikon lenses, but canon has a nice 180mm 3.5 macro, I'm sure Nikon has something to compete.

 

[Josh66]

I have the Canon 100mm macro, and it is a nice focal length for portraits and such - but it IS a macro lens, and because of that, most of the focus travel is in the 1:1 to 1:2 range. The focus ring goes from 3 feet to infinity VERY fast. This can make focusing at 'portrait distances' difficult in anything but the best lighting. While macro lenses can focus out to infinity, they are optimized for close focusing.

It works in a pinch, but a regular telephoto is much better for that, IMO.

 

[tevo]

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Zoom Lens 2197 B&H
Worth the money?

 

[tevo]

http://www.sanjosecamera.com/spec_sheet.html?catalog[product_guids][0]=d06d1f14-4a42-4ff7-bdb1-4d515d5b2bc8

or

http://www.sanjosecamera.com/spec_sheet.html?catalog[product_guids][0]=36540f14-fcab-4aad-a1f6-1eae3e2833ee

Decent?

 

[Ballistics]

You can change the thread title in advanced settings

 

[Josh66]

You can change the thread title in advanced settings

As far as I can remember, that can only be do a short time from the creation of the thread (unless things have changed) - it may be too late for that...

Since Overread has posted in this thread (and will see it in his User CP), maybe he can change it (I think he can, anyway...).

 

[Ballistics]

You can change the thread title in advanced settings

As far as I can remember, that can only be do a short time from the creation of the thread (unless things have changed) - it may be too late for that...

Since Overread has posted in this thread (and will see it in his User CP), maybe he can change it (I think he can, anyway...).

I just checked on a 6 week old thread I started. The option is still there.

 

[Josh66]

I just tried it, and it only changed the bold text in the title of the OP - not the title that appears in the forum index. ...Unless I'm doing it wrong or something.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You can change the thread title in advanced settings

Ya can't.