Today's dumb question about aperture.

[jwbryson1]

So let's say you have a variable aperture lens such as the Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6. Let's assume you have your imaged framed and you want to shoot in aperture priority mode, and you set your aperture to 4.0. But as you zoom in or out on the subject, the aperture will change because it's variable.

So, what aperture do you end up with: (1) the one you selected in AP mode or (2) the one you get when the lens automatically adjusts as you zoom in and out?

 

[sm4him]

The one the lens adjusts to as you zoom--I just tried it.

 

[fjrabon]

yeah, otherwise you would have found the loophole to magically turn all variable aperture lenses into constant lenses.
After you pass the minimum f/stop it will then just use the lowest f stop available to the lens at that focal length.

 

[Robin_Usagani]

thats why people hate lenses without constant aperture.

 

[shadowlands]

If you set it at f4.0 and zoom out to 180mm or 200mm, etc... it will move it to f5.6.

 

[jwbryson1]

As I assumed, but my gear is at home so I can't check for myself. I post these things when they pop into my head and I can't check for myself.

 

[DavidNM]

Yep - if you're in aperture priority and you set at 4.0 while at the 18mm range, as you zoom out the minimum aperture will take effect - and at full zoom the minimum setting will be 5.6. As said before - that's why people love the single aperture zoom lenses.