f/2.8 vs f/4
- Thread starter G12RDH
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OP
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You are exactly the reason i dont post much on here!
I was asking a question in general!!! Is that not allowed?
Didnt expect such a childish response!!!
Many thanks to the other posts this clears up a discussion i was having with somebody at work today and i was unsure of the anwser
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we had this and invested a fair whack finding out and for how we work we had no use for the 50mm 1.4 or 24-70 2.8 and quickly went back to the 24-105 f4, when light does not allow the flash goes on; had zero complaints about our work so I can only judge by that..
as I say this is what works for us and goes against a good 90% of the usual advice..
as I say this is what works for us and goes against a good 90% of the usual advice..
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As said already, it does depend on the available light, obviously the extra stop is useful if the camera used is not too good at higher ISOs.
Another consideration is that shooting an f4 lens wide open might be slightly lower quality IQ wise than shooting an f2.8 lens stopped down to f4. (Based on the principal that most lenses are a bit sharper stopped down a bit rather than wide open)
Whether or not this would be noticeable though, I don't know.Depends on the lens in question.
Obviously I am mainly thinking of indoors, possibly a church, no flash allowed, where you need all the light you can get.
Outside on the other hand, or at the reception, where flash could be used, it is a different matter, f4 might be too much !
Another consideration is that shooting an f4 lens wide open might be slightly lower quality IQ wise than shooting an f2.8 lens stopped down to f4. (Based on the principal that most lenses are a bit sharper stopped down a bit rather than wide open)
Whether or not this would be noticeable though, I don't know.Depends on the lens in question.
Obviously I am mainly thinking of indoors, possibly a church, no flash allowed, where you need all the light you can get.
Outside on the other hand, or at the reception, where flash could be used, it is a different matter, f4 might be too much !
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But where flash isn't allowed (In a church or somewhere for example) then what? 1.8/1.8/2.8 comes into it's own then.
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A lot of US photographers use the 24-105 f4 as their primary wedding lens. In context, the extra stop of noise handling on FF compared to crop is in its favour, as is the shallower DoF of FF. On the minus side, I'd always want all the advantage I could get. So I'd pick a 2.8 lens over an f4 all other things being equal.
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Many thanks for the input
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Yes. Assuming that the look you require for the images doesn't preclude images shot at > f2.8.
All of the comments about ISO and shutter speed are very valid where you are available light compromised, but it is worth mentioning the point that the lens apertures primary purpose is to control depth of field in conjunction with camera to subject distance.
In many instances you want to be able to shoot at f2.8 or faster for the look of the image irrespective of the available light. Notably bridal preps where you are often in a tight space, with lots of distracting items, and details where you want to isolate an item.
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this is correct and by all the advice is why we went the 1.4 - 2.8 route, but of the 30 weddings we did last year (I capped it at 30 as didn't want to dive in too deep) we had no problem with using flash throughout or no flash through the ceremony but okay for formal/signing after and it that situation bumping up the ISO was fine they are more candid B&W type shots for us anyway..
as I say I can only go on what we found and what happened over the course of the year..
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I mainly use a 24-120 f4 VR, like David have gone down the fast primes route but prefer the range of the zoom and the VR has been invaluable at times. Still have a fast prime for extreme isolation & background obliteration but the 24-120 gets by far the most use.