*confused from conflicting information someone clear this up!

[Lmphotos]

Ok for large wide group shots (15 people or more standing side by side) I have read always use a large apeture f9 or greater. But, then I was watching a tutorial on light and this guy due to low light situation in a church used 2.8!!! He just stepped back so he could get them in focus. Since I don't have that many people to practice on whats the deal does that work? What's the best way?

 

[pgriz]

It's all about the depth-of-field related to aperture, focal length and distance. On a Canon crop camera, using a 50mm lens at f/2.8, your DOF at 10 feet is about 1 ft. At 20 feet, it's about 5 feet. So if the entire group could fit within a 5-ft. "depth", he could get them all in focus at a distance of 20 feet and f/2.8.

 

[12sndsgood]

to add to that. low light situation and a church if he had been at F/9 he may have possibly came out with a black photograph. he likely had to be at F/2.8 to get enough light to get the shot. so to compensate he got further back from the group to help increase his deapth of field.

 

[ClickAddict]

f/2.8 is a larger aperture than f/9. So he was shooting at f/9 or greater as per your previous suggestions.

 

[Overread14 2]

Remember:

LARGE aperture = SMALL f number

f2.8 is a large aperture letting in lots of light - but its a small f number
f9 is a smaller aperture letting in less light - but is a bigger f number

 

[cgipson1]

LmPhotos... It doesn't really matter what aperture you are at, as long as you have adequate DOF to cover the subjects.. and that the aperture needed will allow good exposure (in conjunction with the ISO and Shutter speed)

you may find this useful Online Depth of Field Calculator

 

[hydroshock]

^^ what they said....and maybe incorporate a flash as well?

 

[BrianV]

The focal length of the lens is also important. A 24mm lens at F2.8 has much more DOF than a 50 at F2.8. Same is true for a Zoom: much more DOF at the wide-end.

 

[KmH]

Actually a 24 mm lens at f/2.8 and a 50 mm lens at f/2.8 have pretty much the same DoF, if the subject is kept the same size in the image frame.

With the 50 mm lens the point of focus will be twice as far away to maintain subject size in the image frame.

 

[curtyoungblood]

f/2.8 is a larger aperture than f/9. So he was shooting at f/9 or greater as per your previous suggestions.

Don't let them confuse you about this though. Your thinking is right, it is just your terminology that is wrong. A smaller aperture (or a larger number) does create more of a depth of field.

 

[runnah]

If I had known photography involved so much math, I would have taken up basket weaving instead.

 

[KmH]

With practice, you can just do the math in your head.

 

[runnah]

With practice, you can just do the math in your head.

Oh ok, what am I some kind of super genius?! I had a hard time figuring out a 18% tip the other day, let alone complex spacial equations!

 

[Lmphotos]

f/2.8 is a larger aperture than f/9. So he was shooting at f/9 or greater as per your previous suggestions.

Don't let them confuse you about this though. Your thinking is right, it is just your terminology that is wrong. A smaller aperture (or a larger number) does create more of a depth of field.

yes I have it right in my head just did not come out right it is like gauges and french one is correct one is ass backwards!

 

[bandaidmd]

Oh ok, what am I some kind of super genius?! I had a hard time figuring out a 18% tip the other day, let alone complex spacial equations![/QUOTE]

HAHA If you got good service tip 20% ,the maths easier.