What does the f/3.5-5.6 marking mean on a Nikon 18-200mm lens?
Asked 12/17/2011
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My Nikon lens is labeled 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G. I understand the focal length and the G designation, but I’m confused about the aperture marking. The specs also list much smaller apertures like f/22. Does f/3.5-5.6 refer to the minimum or maximum aperture, and why are there two numbers?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
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It means that as you zoom the max aperture increases from f3.5 at 18mm to f5.6 at 200mm
Originally by user4316. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4316
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The f/3.5-5.6 marking refers to the lens’s maximum aperture, not its minimum aperture.
Because this is a variable-aperture zoom lens, the widest aperture changes as you zoom:
- at 18mm, the widest aperture is f/3.5
- at 200mm, the widest aperture is f/5.6
So the two numbers show the maximum aperture range across the zoom range. The smallest available aperture is a different spec, often something like f/22 or f/36 depending on focal length.
In short: lens labels usually highlight focal length and maximum aperture. On a zoom lens with two aperture numbers, it means the lens gets “slower” as you zoom in.
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