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A lens's aperture is the opening through which light passes when you take a picture. Most lenses allow you to adjust the aperture from shot to shot, with the size of the opening controlled by a set of sliding blades inside the lens. The larger the aperture, the more light the lens allows in.
Sony photography expert Ben Pilling explains how to get professional-looking shots by changing the lens aperture.
Each lens has a maximum aperture. A lens with a large maximum aperture has two important benefits: shooting requires less light, and you can generate a shallower depth of field in your pictures.
What are f-numbers?
Aperture is measured as an f-number, which is the ratio of the lens's focal length to the size of the aperture. There are two main things to remember:
1) A lower f-number means a larger aperture (more light). For example, a prime lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 would be considered "fast", and able to shoot in even fairly dim conditions without a flash.
2) The normal scale is (largest to smallest):
f/1
f/1.4
f/2
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
f/11
f/16
f/22
f/32
Each f-number on this scale lets in about twice as much light as the next. For example, in terms of brightness, the difference between f/2 and f/2.8 is the same as the difference between f/16 and f/22.
Shooting in low light conditions
The amount of light that reaches your camera's sensor for a picture depends on two things: aperture and shutter speed. In other words, it's about how large the opening in your lens is (aperture) and how long it is open for (shutter speed).
Because it can let more light in, a lens with a wider maximum aperture enables you to shoot in darker conditions before you need to start thinking about using a flash; it also gives you a wider range of available shutter speeds for any given level of light.
Shallower depth of field
A lens with a large maximum aperture also has the ability to create a shallow depth of field. That means you can blur the background and foreground, making your in-focus subject stand out clearly and giving your picture a more professional look.
Upgrading your standard kit lens to a higher quality lens will usually give you a wider maximum aperture, as well as other benefits like improved optics.
Adding a dedicated telephoto, wide angle or macro lens to your camera can really help to take your picture to the next level. But what are the differences between each lens type?
A telephoto lens with a long focal length brings distant objects closer to fill the frame - great for sports or wildlife pictures.
A wide angle lens with a short focal length can help you to shoot in confined spaces or fit an entire landscape into your shot.
Macro lenses come in a range of focal lengths, and are designed for close-up photography and capturing fine detail. They are often used in nature photography.
Learn how specialised lenses can transform your close-up, landscape or sports photography.
What's the difference between telephoto and wide angle?
On a full frame digital camera or traditional 35mm film camera, a telephoto lens might have a focal length of 85mm or more, while lenses below around 35mm begin to be considered "wide angle".
In between is a range of "normal" lenses from 35mm to about 70mm, which give roughly the same viewing angle as the human eye. ("Normal" is also sometimes used specifically to describe a 50mm lens.)
Telephoto lenses
A telephoto or "long" lens brings faraway subjects closer, enabling you to fill the frame even at a distance. Your standard kit lens may be able to zoom to the low end of the telephoto range, which is good for portraits, but to really capture distant objects you'll want to use a dedicated telephoto lens.
Wide angle lenses
A wide angle or "short" lens enables you to get more into your shot, whether that's a whole landscape scene or a group of people in an indoor setting where the space is limited.
Wide angle lenses also exaggerate perspective, which can be great for bringing drama to a landscape shot.
Macro lenses
A macro lens is designed for close-up photography and capturing fine detail. Macro lenses come in a wide range of focal lengths: their distinguishing feature is the ability to focus in on an object that is very close to the lens.
Macro lenses tend to have a shallow depth of field, making your subject really stand out from its surroundings.
As its name suggests, a zoom lens can "zoom in" by changing its focal length, giving you a wider or narrower field of view without having to move towards or away from your subject. This means you can take a variety of different shots without having to change the lens on your camera.
A prime lens is a lens with a fixed focal length, so it can't change the field of view: if you want your subject to appear closer, you have to move closer to it. A popular prime lens choice is 50mm, which can be used in a wide range of situations; but depending on the kind of photography you want to do, you might also choose a telephoto or wide angle prime lens.
Zoom, fixed focal length of super-zoom? Sony expert Ben explains the benefits of different lens types and how to choose between them.
Why choose a prime lens?
So why would you choose a prime lens over a zoom lens? There are a few main reasons.
Why choose a zoom lens?
The advantage of a zoom lens is its flexibility and versatility. A superzoom that goes from 80mm to 200m, for example, can offer you a great choice of long-distance or portrait shots. A shorter zoom whose focal length goes from wide angle to portrait can be a great "walking around lens", giving you the chance to capture opportunistic shots in a range of situations without carrying different lenses that need to be changed.
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