aperture? which value?

[Pav]

Hi guys,

quick question, my sony lens, 8 - 70mm, says it has a range of 3.5 to 5.6.

But in the actual display of the viewfinder, the f stop runs from 3.5 up to much higher numbers, i believe up to 15 - 20?

Why is this, or am i being an idiot? (new to photography by the way).

many thanks

 

[andrewc]

It refers to the widest aperture available at both ends of the zoom.

at 8mm f3.5 will be the widest
at 70mm f5.6 will be the widest

Primes and constant aperture lenses only mention one aperture

 

[Marc]

That range is the maximum aperture dependant on the focal length. In this case it is f3.5 at 18mm and f5.6 at 70mm.

Edit: Damn, too slow!

 

[Lenswork]

Hi Pav, the apertures 3.5-5.6 relate to the aperture at the extreme ends of the lens focal length. At 8 it is 3.5 and at 70mm it is 5.6. These are the maximum( widest) apertures that the lens will operate at when at these extremes. But the lens aperture will stop down (bigger number) at any focal length of the lens.
Hope this helps.

edit damn really really slow

 

[jgs001]

The aperture values printed are the maximum values across the zoom range at each focal length. So at 8mm it's f3.5, and at 70mm it's f5.6. The lens will stop down as far as it's able to go.

 

[stylgeo]

Should I just add the same reply or is this toooooo slow

PS: I think you meant 18-70mm

 

[garymercer]

I was just about to say that 8mm would be a wicked Wide Angle...

To keep on topic...... ^^^^ As has been said above

 

[Pav]

thanks very much for the help guys, thats cleared that up!