Newbie Question

[elcud35rc]

I have a Olympus 35 RC--hence my name/my first RF-- (42mm f2.8 lens). Nice "little" I might add.

Anyways, I was wondering:

What are the benefits of having a faster lens than mine?

Can I compensate for a "slow" lens be using faster film?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[dostacos]

faster lens allows for lower lighting situations. the same with higher ISO film allows for less light. the down side is faster lens less depth of field, larger ISO tends to have more grain in the film, making the shots less sharp.

I see by your profile that you are behind the Orange curtain, I am just up the 57 fwy if you want to hook up some time and compare some lenses, I have a canonet with a 1.7 as well as a Bessa R with a 50/1.5 we could take similar shots with the different lenses and different ISOs I may have to get a big roll of film and load some cans with 8 or 10 shots 😀

 

[peter_n]

Nice offer there Dan! 🙂

elcud35rc Dan alluded to the depth of field difference. For any given DOF, you can deal with the lighting levels by using faster or slower film. Some films like the chromogenics (Ilford XP2 etc) have enormous exposure latitude and allow you to actually change the ISO on the roll and they come out OK when the neg. is developed (almost like the way a digi works).

Many people just like faster lenses period but others are interested in isolating a shallow plane (eyes for example) and use a very fast lens wide-open to get that effect. Generally the faster lenses are more expensive. 🙁

 

[Frank Granovski]

What are the benefits of having a faster lens than mine? Can I compensate for a "slow" lens be using faster film?

This depends on what type of shooting you do. I've never had a problem with a F2.8 lens. For indoor flash-less B&Ws, I'd use 400 asa film pushed 1 stop with no filter.

 

[elcud35rc]

Would it be correct to say that faster lenses allow for the camera to us slower film is dimmer situations? eg. f2.8=iso 400, f1.7=iso 100

 

[dostacos]

Would it be correct to say that faster lenses allow for the camera to us slower film is dimmer situations? eg. f2.8=iso 400, f1.7=iso 100

yes, that would work, or using the same ISO film allows you to shoot at a lower light handheld, before you must go to a tripod to steady the camera

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Would it be correct to say that faster lenses allow for the camera to us slower film is dimmer situations? eg. f2.8=iso 400, f1.7=iso 100

Well, you have the right idea, but it is more like .eg. f2.8=iso 400, f1.7=iso 160.

f1.4=iso 100.

Wayne

 

[elcud35rc]

Well, you have the right idea, but it is more like .eg. f2.8=iso 400, f1.7=iso 160.

f1.4=iso 100.

Wayne

I just got a rf with a f1.8 lens. If I use iso 100 color print film, how will this affect my low light pictures? Can I just take pictures wide open- at f1.8 and 1/15 or 1/30 shutter speed?

 

[parks5920]

If you don't move and neither does your subject, you'll be fine.

 

[jaapv]

And if you focus carefully... Even at f 1.8 50 mm at, say 2 m ,you don't have enough DOF to get both ears and nosetip as sharp as the eyes.