{"id":13759,"date":"2023-03-14T13:24:51","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/?p=13759"},"modified":"2024-04-08T21:45:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T21:45:44","slug":"why-constant-aperture-zoom-lenses-are-the-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/why-constant-aperture-zoom-lenses-are-the-best","title":{"rendered":"Why constant-aperture ZOOM Lenses are the best"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The main difference between a constant aperture lens like an f\/2.8 zoom and a variable aperture lens like an f\/3.5-5.6 zoom is how the aperture changes as you zoom in and out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A constant aperture lens maintains the same aperture throughout its zoom range, meaning that regardless of the focal length you set, the aperture remains the same. For example, an f\/2.8 lens will have a maximum aperture of f\/2.8 throughout its entire zoom range. The 70-200 can be F2.8<\/a> at 70 and 200mm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, a variable aperture lens changes its aperture as you zoom<\/a> in and out, meaning that the maximum aperture changes depending on the focal length you set. For example, an f\/3.5-5.6 lens will have a maximum aperture of f\/3.5 at its widest zoom setting, but as you zoom in, the maximum aperture will decrease to f\/5.6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advantage of a constant aperture lens is that you can maintain a consistent exposure and depth of field<\/a> as you zoom in and out. This can be particularly useful in low-light situations where you need a wide aperture to let in more light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The price difference…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The disadvantage of a constant aperture lens is the price – it tends to be more expensive than a variable aperture lens, due to the complexity of the lens design required to maintain a constant aperture throughout the zoom range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weight difference…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The advantage of a variable aperture lens is it requires less complex lens design, so it can also be lighter and more compact than a constant aperture lens. Better for travel perhaps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The practical difference…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The disadvantage of a variable aperture lens is that as you zoom in, the aperture decreases, which can make it more challenging to maintain a consistent exposure and depth of field. This can be particularly problematic in low-light situations where you need a wider aperture to let in more light. Additionally, a variable aperture can make it more difficult to achieve a pleasing bokeh effect (the blurred background), as the aperture changes with the zoom range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s never straightforward forward is it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better quality but heavier and more expensive, versus lower quality but portable and cheaper. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The main difference between a constant aperture lens like an f\/2.8 zoom and a variable aperture lens like an f\/3.5-5.6 zoom is how the aperture changes as you zoom in and out. A constant aperture lens maintains the same aperture throughout its zoom range, meaning that regardless of the focal length you set, the aperture […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_22977785_22977785":"","facebook_10157410341118549_123005067715685":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,17,9,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-musings","category-photography","category-training"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera.jpg",1000,750,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera.jpg",1000,750,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera.jpg",1000,750,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera.jpg",1000,750,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1000-camera.jpg",1000,750,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"McFade","author_link":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/author\/admin"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The main difference between a constant aperture lens like an f\/2.8 zoom and a variable aperture lens like an f\/3.5-5.6 zoom is how the aperture changes as you zoom in and out. A constant aperture lens maintains the same aperture throughout its zoom range, meaning that regardless of the focal length you set, the aperture…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13759"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140971,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13759\/revisions\/140971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}