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Reality check on aperture, DOF, and Telephoto lenses

Discussion in 'Native Lenses' started by Djarum, Sep 4, 2010.

Top Rated
  1. Djarum

    Djarum Super Moderator Subscribing Member

    3,350
    Dec 15, 2009
    Huntsville, AL, USA
    Jason
    So, over on the other forum there is complaint that the new 40-150 should be faster, say starting at f2.8 or something like that. Looking at the specs, the lens seems really small for what it is. At any rate, the complaint was associated with DOF and the slow aperture. For a telephoto lens, I would agree that we could all use more light, but shallower DOF?

    Some numbers with subject 10 feet away:

    150mm @ f5.6 gives me .22 feet of acceptable focus on :43:
    25mm at @ f2.0 gives me 2.9 feet on :43:

    150mm @ f2.8 gives me 1.32 inches on :43:.

    APSC
    200mm at f5.6 is .15 feet
    FF at
    300mm at f5.6 is less than an inch.

    At less than an inch with a subject, like a bird, 10ft away, would be difficult to shoot, IMHO. Do we really need shallower DOF when using a telephoto lens?
     
    Djarum, Sep 4, 2010
    #1
  2. grebeman

    grebeman Mu-43 All-Pro

    1,202
    Mar 13, 2010
    South Brent, south Devon (UK)
    Barrie
    This puts some of the arguments in perspective, perhaps it's time to show some sense of realism with people's expectations.

    Barrie
     
    grebeman, Sep 4, 2010
    #2
  3. photoSmart42

    photoSmart42 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    628
    Feb 12, 2010
    San Diego, CA
    Who's going to shoot a bird at 10 ft away with a long tele anyway? The larger apertures are very useful when shooting objects far away which is what most tele lenses are used for anyway, in which case your DOF is pretty much irrelevant because it's very deep. So a larger aperture in that situation helps with low-light/fast action situations where you want a higher shutter speed without having to crank up the ISO too much into the noise.

    Having faster tele lenses is a valid point.
     
    photoSmart42, Sep 4, 2010
    #3
  4. Djarum

    Djarum Super Moderator Subscribing Member

    3,350
    Dec 15, 2009
    Huntsville, AL, USA
    Jason
    Not saying it isn't, but I wouldn't consider the DOF decrease in the case of m4/3 an issue.

    And I shoot birds at 10 - 15 ft away all the time with my 40-150. Someone in the apartment complex put up bird feeders last year.
     
    Djarum, Sep 4, 2010
    #4
  5. JoepLX3

    JoepLX3 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    509
    Jun 13, 2010
    Japan
    With a new mouse every hour?

    My application of fast tele lenses would still be people, but a little further away than in case of a 20 mm F1.7...
     
    JoepLX3, Sep 4, 2010
    #5
  6. photoSmart42

    photoSmart42 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    628
    Feb 12, 2010
    San Diego, CA
    Was the complaint regarding the lack of fast tele lenses about DOF, or about available light? I don't see DOF as a big issue for MFT cameras either.
     
    photoSmart42, Sep 4, 2010
    #6
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