After having felt my photos had grown dull and not really interesting for a while I finally just realized that it was because I've let my aperture run uncontrolled. This means I'll most likely be keeping my aperture as low as possible (4-5.6 on my "new" tele lens (canon 70-300IS) which I'm using until we become close friends). Do you all feel this way about Aperture? I mean: You want it somewhere between (1.6 do they come lower) 4 and 8 for everyday shooting? Especially the tele has made me really aware (again) of tight aperture. What's your favorite aperture?
Depends on the lens and what I'm shooting. Unless absolutely necessary, my 10-22 will barely see an aperture wider than f/16, maybe f/11 now and again. That's 'cause I'm invariably using it for wide oft landscape shots and want as wide a focal plane as possible. On my other lenses it just depends on what I'm shooting. I like having the option of going wide when I need it (24-70 f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4) - and fortunate enough they're good enough lenses to perform well at those apertures - but I seldom use them this open. I'm normally between f/4 and f/11 I'd say. As for active use of aperture though; I wasn't aware my camera had any modes other than M and Av. I use Tv for sports and maybe nature when shooting fast birds, but I'm definitely an M and Av kinda guy.
I have seen lenses with constant apertures at .95. Canon currently produces an 85 f/1.2 and a 50 f/1.2, which are the widest apertures of the Canon line in production today. Wide apertures like these are great, but not the best for all situations. Sure they are great for portraits and sports, but the more narrow the DOF becomes, the more accurate your FP must be, and for action sports it can be very difficult to get the shot you want because of this. Wide apertures also generate beautiful creamy bokeh...the wider the better. As for a favorite, I don't think there is such a thing. Most used, maybe. It all depends on the subject or scene and what exactly you are trying to accomplish. If your shooting a landscape, its best not to use f/2.8 as your aperture; portraits OTOH is where f/2.8 serves very well. Aperture does two things...controls DOF and dictates how much light is let in, which is like a crutch for shutter speed (the wider the aperture, the faster the shutter speed). In the end it comes down to what aperture the image calls for, not what aperture you like best.
I tend to use what will work best with the shot I have in mind, although for motorsport shots I'll use Tv mode and take whatever aperture the camera sets.
I tend to shoot wider open, but it depends on the subject, the lighting, the effect I'm going for, and a dozen other things. I certainly have no favorite number.
Spot on. I do exactly the same (And If you shoot motorsport and don't do this, you need your head checking)
I guess I need some head checking then ...Sometimes I even forget Tv is even an option. Generally when it comes to stopping action I just stick with manual settings. Otherwise Av is where its at.
Do you ever find your shots aren't exposed properly then? If you wack it in Tv, you get to chose how fast - the camera does all the exposure for you - its great
Every now and then a shot will be slightly off, but I am pretty quick on the draw with manual settings. I feel much more secure having full control over settings that way I have full control over results. I used it back when I first started shooting digital, but find myself overlooking it these days. -Matt
I guess if its what your used to it, keep at it. If anything I think its more likely i'm doing something wrong than you.
Hey, what ever works for you as long as the image is made the way you want it made...the means of how you got to that point are negligible
Nice shot, shadowed fury I dunno - for me, I use a fairly wide-open aperture regularly - but I also shoot a lot of inside shots so I get used to it. Since I have a 350 and autofocus is a little slow for low light, I find my camera lands on totally manual right down to focusing. It's training me to be faster on the ring, that's for sure. As Hwu and Vers say - it's not about what's your favorite, it's about what the shot calls for. And I'm another one who forgets that Tv mode exists... But I'd probably end up with a lot of missed shots at a race or something. Then I'd figure it out..
Its a concept well worth exploring, using whatever depth of field you have at wider apertures with a tele to emphasize the main subject is a good habit to get into. So yes - do it
Bokeh whore here, so it's almost always wide open. Sometimes it's unavoidable though, I was shooting a fashion show on wednesday with a 70-200 f/2.8 and 50 f/1.4, but was still struggling below ISO 800.
