What does a lens spec like “maximum aperture f/2.0–f/5.9” mean on a compact camera?
Asked 1/14/2014
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I’m comparing compact cameras such as the Canon S95, S110, and S120. Specs list the lens as having a maximum aperture range like f/2.0–f/4.9 or f/2.0–f/5.9, but on my S95 I can also set smaller apertures such as f/8. Why is the maximum aperture shown as a range instead of a single number, and how should I compare these specs between cameras?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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The lower the number after the F, the more light gets into the camera. More light means - you can get away with shorter exposure times. - you have lower depth-of-field (which is a good thing in portrait shots)
The ranges given for the lenses are the values for the wide angle and the tele setting of the lens.
Generally you want the numbers to be as low as possible, because this is the MAXIMUM aperture. You can close the aperture to something like F/22 or F/30 with all the lenses.
Remember: the reason why bigger numbers mean less aperture is that this really is a ratio. F divided by 2.0 or something.
Originally by user25389. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user25389
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
“Maximum aperture” means the widest the lens can open, not every aperture you can select. On a zoom lens, that maximum often changes with focal length, so manufacturers list a range.
For example, f/2.0–f/5.9 means:
- at the wide-angle end, the lens can open as wide as f/2.0
- at the telephoto end, the widest it can open is only f/5.9
You can still stop the lens down to smaller apertures such as f/8; those are minimum openings, not maximum ones.
When comparing cameras, lower f-numbers are better for letting in more light and allowing faster shutter speeds. The most useful comparison is to check the maximum aperture at the focal lengths you expect to use most. A lens that stays at a lower f-number as you zoom in is generally more capable in low light and for shallower depth of field.
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