Friday 12 July 2019

Does the diameter of the aperture increase with increases in the focal length with constant F-number(F-stops)?




What I have learned from the definition of F-number is that; The F-number (sometimes also called focal ratio, f-ratio, f-stop, or relative aperture) of a lens is the ratio of its focal length divided by the diameter of the aperture. And F-numbers are expressed as f/1, f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22, f/32 etc. Hence F-number (F-stop) depends on two variables; that are diameter of aperture and focal length of the lens.


Aperture diameter/size is one of the component which governs the amount of light that enters to the camera. As far as I known, at different F-stops values (f/1, f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22, f/32) the amount of light allowed to enter the camera is fixed and are with either 1/2 or 1/3 stop increment. This concept is very easy to understand, in case of prime lenses (with a fixed focal length and variable aperture), where F-stop is inversely proportional to the aperture diameter. For lower F-number (F-stop) the aperture would be bigger allowing more light and for higher Hence F-number (F-stop) the aperture would be smaller allowing less light in to the camera.


F-numbers (F-stops) have been evolved to allow a definite/fixed amount of light in to the camera (As far as I known). In case of zoom lens (with variable aperture and variable focal length), I am not able to understand the what would be the relationship between F-stop and the diameter/area of aperture at different focal length. I have two related questions


1 . In case of zoom lens, for example, Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 (with variable aperture and variable focal length). At any particular F-number(F-stop), for example at f/5.6 , does the diameter of the aperture increase with increases in the focal length? I mean, Is the diameter of the aperture at 18mm and f/5.6 would be smaller than that of at 135 mm and f/5.6?



  1. In the above case (i.e. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ), What is amount of light that would enter the camera at 18mm and f/5.6 compared to that of at 135 mm and f/5.6? Will the amount of lights be same or different?




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