Lens speed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lens speed is a qualitative concept related to the relative aperture diameter, or f-number of a photographic lens. The "speed" of a given lens refers to its maximum aperture.
A lens with a larger maximum aperture (that is, a smaller minimum f-number) is a fast lens because it delivers more light intensity (illuminance) to the focal plane, allowing a faster shutter speed. Conversely, a smaller maximum aperture (larger maximum f-number) is "slow" because it delivers less light intensity and requires a slower shutter speed.
A lens may be referred to as "fast" or "slow" depending on its maximum aperture compared to a lens of similar focal length. Lens speed is given by the minimum relative aperture (f-number) or numerical aperture and is a useful qualitative way to compare similar lenses.
Lens speed is important in taking pictures in dim light, or with long telephoto lenses. For controlling depth of field, especially in portrait photography (Waldren 2004), lens speed is a key variable in combination with other variables such as focal length and camera format size.
Lenses may also be referred to as being "faster" or "slower" than one another using this same methodology. A lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 is faster than one with an aperture of f/5.6, though neither is especially fast. Conversely a lens with an aperture of f/1.8 is slower than a lens with an aperture of f/1.2, though both are fast lenses.
The range of lenses considered "fast" has evolved to lower f-numbers over the years, due to advances in lens design, optical manufacturing, and quality of glass and optical coatings. For example, the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica states that "...[Lenses] are also sometimes classified according to their rapidity, as expressed by their effective apertures, into extra rapid, with apertures larger than f/6; rapid, with apertures from f/6 to f/8; slow, with apertures less than f/11." (Here, interpretation of "apertures less than f/11" requires literal interpretation as aperture diameters less than focal length divided by 11, equivalent to saying "f-numbers greater than 11.")
With 35 mm cameras, the fastest lenses are typically in the "normal lens" range near 50 mm. Longer telephoto designs and wide-angle retrofocus designs tend to be slower. Also, "prime" (fixed focal length) lenses generally tend to be faster than zoom lenses (Long 2004).
Lens speed also tends to correlate with the price and/or quality of the lens. This is because lenses with larger maximum apertures require greater care with regard to design, precision of manufacture, special coatings and quality of glass. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, as there are several high-quality fast lenses available that are relatively inexpensive, particularly in normal lens focal lengths.
[edit] Fast lenses
Some of the fastest camera lenses ever made are:
- Carl Zeiss 50mm f/0.70 (Limited production lens built for the NASA space program, used on 35mm movie cameras by Stanley Kubrick for a candlelit scene in Barry Lyndon)
- Rodenstock TV-Heligon 50mm f/0.75
- Canon 50mm f/0.95 (Available in TV and Canon 7 Rangefinder Version)
- Schneider Kreuznach 50mm f/0.95 'Xenon' (Available with C mount)
- Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.0 (Leica M mount, the fastest lens in production for 35mm cameras)
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.0 (for Canon autofocus SLR, now out of production)
- Nikkor 50mm f/1.1 (for Nikon rangefinder cameras)
- Teikoku Kogaku Zunow 5cm f/1.1 (for Nikon rangefinder cameras)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Waldren, Margaret (and others) Advanced Digital Photography 2004 Media Publishing
- Kingslake, Rudolf A History of the Photographic Lens 1989 Academic Press
- Long, Ben Complete Digital Photography 2004 Charles River Media
- Smith, Warren Modern Lens Design 2005 McGraw-Hill
