Why does the same f-number give the same exposure at different focal lengths?
Asked 8/12/2016
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If a 50mm lens and a 200mm lens are both set to the same f-number, why does the sensor receive the same exposure even though the longer lens has a much larger entrance pupil? I understand that f-number is focal length divided by entrance pupil diameter, but I’m trying to understand the physics: if the 200mm lens gathers more total light, why doesn’t the sensor get a brighter image?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Illuminance is "the amount of luminous flux per unit area."
Suppose the 100mm lens was aimed at a large wall, and suppose distance was so that the lens sees a 10 x 10 foot area of that wall, reflecting illuminance back to the camera. OK, so this is a square, but it is about the subject, not the sensor (area matters, shape does not).
Then the 200mm lens would see a 5 x 5 foot area of same wall, half as wide and 1/4 as much area, and so 1/4 as much illuminance.
However, then the 2x diameter (4x area) of f/4 aperture of 200 mm will let 4x the light though at same f/4, therefore f/4 is f/4 exposure, regardless of focal length. 4 x 1/4 = 1 (same).
This is why we use the system called f/stops with the funny numbers, so f/4 will be f/4 and have meaning to us.
FWIW, not asked yet, but about the same argument is the reason that camera distance from the subject does not affect the exposure. The mountain is the same Sunny 16 daylight exposure regardless if we are on it, or 25 miles away. The Sun is special (at 93 million miles), but this also applies to subjects not illuminated by the Sun).
When the subject is seen by the camera at greater distance, that lighted object area also appears smaller. When ten times more distant, the subject dimensions are only 1/10 size, which is 1/10 x 1/10 = 1/100 the area. Inverse square law says the light is 1/100 as bright at 10 times distance. So 1/100 the light in 1/100 the area is the same apparent intensity, per unit of area. It exactly balances out, same exposure. Distance from camera does not affect exposure. Distance from a flash does matter.
Originally by user38978. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user38978
9y ago
0
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Because exposure depends on light per unit area at the image plane, not total light gathered by the whole lens.
At the same f-number, a longer lens does have a larger entrance pupil, so it collects more total light. But it also magnifies the scene more, spreading that light over a proportionally larger image area.
Example: compared with a 100mm lens, a 200mm lens at the same f-number sees a narrower field of view. It captures light from roughly one-quarter the subject area, while its larger entrance pupil passes about four times as much light. Those effects balance. The image formed is also larger, so the light is distributed over more sensor area in the same proportion.
So for a scene of the same luminance, the irradiance/illuminance at the sensor is the same for any focal length at the same f-number (ignoring lens transmission losses, vignetting, etc.).
Also, what matters is the entrance pupil as seen through the lens, not just the physical diaphragm opening. That is why f-number is a useful exposure scale: f/4 is f/4 regardless of focal length.
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