Photography Week - 02 June 2022

38 Pages·2022·26.9 MB·English

T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T-S E L L I N G D I G I T A L P H O T O M A G A Z I N E
2-8 JUNE ISSUE 506
I NS P I R AT ION I D E A S I N-DEP T H R E V I E W S
CANON UNVEILS THE
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MEET THE NEW APS-C
MIRRORLESS STARS
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W E L C O M E
J O I N T H E C L U B . . .
Welcome to the world’s essential shooting and editing
No.1 weekly digital techniques, and in-depth reviews
photography magazine. of the latest camera kit.
If you’re already a But that’s not the whole story.
reader, thanks for your continued Photography Week is more than
support and involvement; if you’re a magazine – it’s a community
new to Photography Week, you’ve of like-minded people who are
come to the right place! In addition passionate about photography.
to expert advice, brilliant tips and (cid:137)(cid:325)(cid:420)(cid:269)(cid:229)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:436)(cid:325)(cid:300)(cid:436)(cid:229)(cid:218)(cid:216)(cid:3)(cid:291)(cid:410)(cid:376)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:325)(cid:300)(cid:300)(cid:325)(cid:437)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:313)(cid:444)(cid:3)
step-by-step tutorials, every issue of the links below and share your
features interactive galleries of shots and comments.
brilliant photos, how-to videos on Jeff Meyer, Editor
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C O N T E N T S

FIND OUT WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE
N E WS
CANON ANNOUNCES
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APS-C mirrorless duo are
powerful and affordable
FE AT U R E
ALL ABOUT OPTICS
Learn how to choose the right
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FE AT U R E chai Our pick of the best reader
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©
I N S P I R AT I O N
P H OTO S I N S P I R AT I O N
WAR WEARY
Haunting shot of Afghan soldier
wins prestigious photo contest
C R A S H CO U R S E
CATCH SOME RAYS
Create moody light beams using
a flashgun and a smoke machine
P H OTO S H O P
P H OTO S H O P
PUT A FACE INTO SPACE
Create out-of-this-world
composites with Nasa photos
C R A S H CO U R S E
JUS T
G E AR
39¢/ 39p
RICOH THETA X
PER I S SUE!

Ricoh blazed a trail for
360 cameras with the WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE
original Theta almost a
SEE THE SUBSCRIPTION
decade ago, but can the
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N E W S
W H A T ’ S H O T
THE WEEK’S TOP HEADLINES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
T H E E O S R 7 A N D R 1 0 A R E
C A N O N ’ S N E W A P S - C S TA R S
Affordable mirrorless models boast top AF tech and super-fast burst speeds
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The EOS R7 is being positioned as Canon’s new APS-C flagship, and arrives alongside the EOS R10.
anon has unveiled the EOS R7 and is Canon’s first APS-C camera to shoot at 15fps mechanically and 30fps
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and EOS R10, the first APS-C feature in-body image stabilisation, with the electronic shutter – which even
cameras in its mirrorless which is good for up to eight stops of outdoes the R3, which can only shoot at
EOS R series. The new cameras are compensation, depending on the lens 12fps mechanically.
designed to be affordable all-rounders, you’re using. It also features Canon’s While it’s a 7-series camera, the
with the R7 becoming Canon’s new cutting-edge Dual Pixel CMOS AF II (cid:127)(cid:384)(cid:420)(cid:284)(cid:376)(cid:313)(cid:369)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:3)(cid:218)(cid:284)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:207)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:350)(cid:300)(cid:177)(cid:207)(cid:229)(cid:309)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:325)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)
flagship APS-C model, while the R10 system, as seen in the EOS R5, EOS much loved Canon EOS 7D Mark II.
is aimed at beginners, and amateurs (cid:127)(cid:389)(cid:420)(cid:177)(cid:313)(cid:218)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:350)(cid:371)(cid:325)(cid:252)(cid:229)(cid:376)(cid:376)(cid:284)(cid:325)(cid:313)(cid:177)(cid:300)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:107)(cid:132)(cid:3)(cid:127)(cid:400)(cid:216)(cid:3) Rather, it’s a combination of the 7D and
looking to move to mirrorless. complete with people, animal and the EOS 90D, leveraging the 1.6x crop
The EOS R7 features headline- vehicle subject recognition. factor and 32.5MP sensor to provide
grabbing specs including a 32.5MP The EOS R7 is actually faster than formidable performance, particularly for
sensor and 30fps burst shooting, both the EOS R5 and R6, being able to wildlife shooters looking to ‘get closer’
N E W S
THE WEEK’S TOP HEADLINES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
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The camera features a joystick and
a control wheel – the latter of which
is redesigned and located in a new
position, now surrounding the joystick
to the right of the 2.36 million-dot
electronic viewfinder. The vari-angle
screen is the same as the one on the R6,
and the camera has weather sealing on
a par with the 90D.
The R7 is a powerful option for video,
too, offering uncropped 4K 60p, 4K 30p
oversampled from 7K, and 1080p 120p,
with a claimed 60 minutes shooting
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C-Log is included, along with a The Canon EOS R10.
microphone and headphone jack, 4K
timelapse, and a switch to flick between Canon EOS R10 recognise human, animal and vehicle
stills and video. The R7 is also equipped The EOS R10, meanwhile has taken subjects, is able to find focus down to
for live streaming, and packs two UHS-II Canon watchers by surprise with its -4EV, and features the AF case studies
SD card slots. specs. At its heart is a 24.MP APS-C seen on higher-end EOS cameras.
For the first time in an EOS camera, sensor, which, like the EOS R7’s sensor While it doesn’t have a control
the R7 includes a Panoramic mode that is powered by the same Dual Pixel AF wheel, the EOS R10 has a joystick
creates a horizontal or vertical pano CMOS II system as seen in Canon’s full- for quickly moving focus points and
image, along with a Panning assist frame R-series cameras. It can shoot navigating menus. It features a built-in
mode (for panning shots) and Raw Burst at 15fps using its mechanical shutter pop-up flash above the 2.36 million-dot
mode, which can buffer 0.5 seconds of or 23fps electronically – both of which electronic viewfinder, while the vari-
stills when the shutter is half-pressed, outgun the R5 and R6. angle screen is the same as that found
so that you never miss a moment. Like the R7, the autofocus system can on the Canon EOS RP.
The R10 can capture 4K 60p video,
albeit with a 64% crop factor, 4K 30p
oversampled from 6K, and 1080p up
to 120p, all with around 60 minutes
of recording before heating limits are
reached. The camera has a single UHS-
II SD card slot, a dedicated microphone
jack, and accepts the same LP-E17E
battery as the EOS 250D and 850D.
The EOS R7 will be available from
June 23 priced at £1,349.99 / $1,499
body-only, or £1,699.99 / $1,899 with
the new Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-
6.3 IS STM lens. The EOS R10 will be
available from July for £899.99 / $979
body-only, £999.99 / $1,099 with the
new Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS
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The EOS R7 features a control wheel with joystick. RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM.
F E A T (cid:142) R E
KNOW YOUR KIT
Modern lenses are a powerhouse
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they work is key to making informed
buying decisions, and getting the best
results from the kit you already own
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UNDERSTAND YOUR LENSES
Get to grips with the tech and terminology of the optics on your
wishlist to ensure you pick the best ones for your photography
enses form the backbone of competence and versatility of optics As with all areas of photography
L
any camera system. Looking will dictate the buyer’s success for gear, not all of these features will be
back through the history of many years. critical for your particular genre of
photography, with some notable With such engineering precision imaging. Some technology is built
exceptions, it’s often the lens mount comes a multitude of confusing into the optical design of many new-
which becomes legendary rather terms and intimidating choices. Even generation lenses, so is not optional,
than individual camera models. The as an experienced professional while other specifications are user-
technology and the cross-compatibility photographer, it’s possible to fall out selectable based on the price range.
of a lens system outlives the specific of step with the current offerings from In this guide to pro-level lenses, we
cameras on which they may have the lens manufacturers. New features, break down the common tech in each
briefly been paired. The availability hidden functionality and a plethora category, to help you find the best-
of lens options is commonly a central of suffixes in the model names can value models for your photography
aspect driving the decision to invest sometimes make selecting the perfect requirements, and get more from the
in a camera model, as the variety, lens for your photography a challenge. optics you already own.
F E A T (cid:142) R E
UNDERSTAND WIDE-ANGLE LENSES
Make your choice of optics for landscapes, interiors and architecture
COMMON WIDE-ANGLE FEATURES
n many ways, it’s wide-angle
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lenses that have seen the most
diversification in the industry
PETAL HOOD
over the past few decades. The Many ultra-wide
introduction of digital photography lenses feature a
built-in petal-
pushed the boundaries of optical
shaped lens hood
technology out of necessity, and the
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first widely-available digital models
featured sensor chips smaller than
full-frame, meaning that existing
film-era wide-angle lenses no longer
provided a truly wide field of view.
New designs had to be introduced
that compensated for the crop factor
of APS-C and smaller sensor types.
FRONT ELEMENT
These digital-only lenses couldn’t be
The optical design
fitted to film cameras or full-frame often produces
DSLRs however, producing two bulbous front glass
which precludes
streams of optic which could not be
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easily crossed over.
Today, with the emergence of
mirrorless cameras, things have
FOCUS WINDOW
become even more complex,
Absent on many
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newer mirrorless
addition to this, optical technologies lenses, a distance
have become even more diverse, scale is for
referencing focus
incorporating special coatings,
position.
multiple focus drives, and image
stabilisers with several modes.
If you’re in the market for a new
wide-angle, it can therefore be REAR FILTER
ATTACHMENT
difficult to know exactly which lenses
Some wide-angle
are ideally suited to your camera
models have an
system and usual focus genre. Let’s alternative mount
explore the key features of most (cid:252)(cid:325)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:218)(cid:229)(cid:218)(cid:284)(cid:207)(cid:177)(cid:395)(cid:229)(cid:218)(cid:3)(cid:256)(cid:300)(cid:395)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:376)(cid:355)(cid:3)
modern wide and ultra-wide lenses.
ASPHERICAL ELEMENTS
What are aspherical lenses and why are they important?
The conventional way of producing
NORMAL LENS ASPHERIC LENS
optical lenses is to grind a piece
of glass into a convex or concave
shape, which forms part of a sphere.
This creates quality issues, however,
as not all light is focused tightly.
Aspherical lenses, as the name
suggests, feature an edge that
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are more complex and expensive
to produce, but resolve images
with greater edge detail and fewer
aberrations. Look for lenses with
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spherical lens by an aspherical element
F E A T (cid:142) R E
UNDERSTAND WIDE-ANGLE LENSES
CONTINUED
TRULY WIDE
APS-C format cameras apply
a 1.5x or 1.6x crop factor, while
MFT models crop by 2x
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UP CLOSE
REAR FILTER SLOT
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(cid:177)(cid:300)(cid:300)(cid:325)(cid:437)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:325)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:371)(cid:177)(cid:309)(cid:229)(cid:283)(cid:256)(cid:300)(cid:300)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:269)(cid:3)(cid:436)(cid:284)(cid:229)(cid:437)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:252)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:325)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:269)(cid:371)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:313)(cid:218)(cid:376) Think ahead for filter changes
(cid:142)(cid:300)(cid:395)(cid:371)(cid:177)(cid:283)(cid:437)(cid:284)(cid:218)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:300)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:376)(cid:229)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:252)(cid:395)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:280)(cid:177)(cid:436)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:3)(cid:256)(cid:300)(cid:395)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:309)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:313)(cid:395)(cid:3)
near the rear element, due to the large size and
shape of the forward glass. These require extra
planning, due to the additional time it takes
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(cid:137)(cid:280)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:297)(cid:420)(cid:177)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:177)(cid:218)(cid:3)(cid:376)(cid:325)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:177)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:444)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:3)(cid:207)(cid:177)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:218)(cid:371)(cid:325)(cid:350)(cid:3)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:3)(cid:256)(cid:300)(cid:395)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:444)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:3)
will need while in a dust-free environment and
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CHECK COMPATIBILITY
The multitude of lens mounts is confusing
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nothing new, but the introduction of new
mounts, in addition to super-zoom and
ultra-wide lenses, in the latter category
have complicated matters. At one time,
it was possible to identify compatibility
based on focal length (you’d never have
found a 10x full-frame zoom), but lenses
such as the latest mirrorless 24-240mm
models have changed this. Always check
the detailed specs of a lens to ensure that
the image circle is large enough for your
sensor. All Canon RF lenses have full-
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frame compatibility but there are some DX ne
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type Nikkor Z optics. APS-C Sony lenses er
et
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F E A T (cid:142) R E
STANDARD PRIMES
Select a lens that renders backgrounds as well as it does your subject
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
The importance of bokeh
quality is a subjective point.
While we judge lenses
against each other based on
these characteristics,
real-world importance
depends on creative outlook
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he term ‘standard lens’ has 17-85mm or 24-70mm common. For
T
FOCUS WINDOW ACCURACY
become vague in recent years, (cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:284)(cid:376)(cid:420)(cid:269)(cid:410)(cid:284)(cid:218)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:252)(cid:325)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:216)(cid:3)(cid:437)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:207)(cid:177)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:269)(cid:371)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:350)(cid:3)
possibly due to misuse by lenses spanning the focal range Treat a focus window as just
retailers and in marketing material. From of 45mm to 85mm in the standard a quick reference
a technical perspective, a standard optic category, as these fill the gap between
Many photographers still think of the
is one which offers a similar field of view upper wide-angle and short telephoto. focus window as an essential lens
to the human eye. In full-frame terms, These focal lengths are ideally feature. While it is certainly a useful
quick reference, many scales are not
this would be around the 50mm range suited to environmental portraiture,
precisely calibrated and lack DOF
approximately, so the actual figure can due to wider apertures being common
markings. Always check the focus
be adjusted for crop factors. However, on these models. Other essential
visually in an image review.
the term is sometimes confused with features to look out for are anti-flare
‘kit’ lens – a model commonly bundled lens coatings and full-time manual
with a camera as a first optic to use out focusing. The former is necessary field produced by low f/stop values
of the box. (cid:218)(cid:410)(cid:229)(cid:420)(cid:395)(cid:325)(cid:3)(cid:437)(cid:284)(cid:218)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:350)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:395)(cid:410)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:376)(cid:229)(cid:395)(cid:395)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:269)(cid:376)(cid:3) means it’s useful to be able to override
The range of such kit lenses does generating significant flare where autofocus at any time, to make fine
overlap with the standard focal lengths, strong light sources are present. adjustments without taking your eye
with focal lengths of around 18-55mm, Meanwhile, the shallow depth of from the camera to turn off AF.
F E A T (cid:142) R E
STANDARD PRIMES
CONTINUED
ALL ABOUT BOKEH
Inspect the background quality before buying a
wide-aperture lens
(cid:137)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:300)(cid:177)(cid:218)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:207)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:313)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:284)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:313)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:252)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:325)(cid:376)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:300)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:376)(cid:350)(cid:229)(cid:207)(cid:284)(cid:256)(cid:207)(cid:177)(cid:395)(cid:284)(cid:325)(cid:313)(cid:376)(cid:3)
that’s heavily touted, but the real-world importance of
which is sometimes unclear. The number of blades an
(cid:177)(cid:350)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:395)(cid:410)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:218)(cid:284)(cid:177)(cid:350)(cid:280)(cid:371)(cid:177)(cid:269)(cid:309)(cid:3)(cid:280)(cid:177)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:257)(cid:410)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:207)(cid:229)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:376)(cid:395)(cid:444)(cid:300)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:252)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:410)(cid:395)(cid:283)
of-focus areas in a shot. A nine-bladed type produces
noticeably rounder, creamier bokeh than a six- or seven-
(cid:198)(cid:300)(cid:177)(cid:218)(cid:229)(cid:218)(cid:3)(cid:410)(cid:313)(cid:284)(cid:395)(cid:216)(cid:3)(cid:437)(cid:284)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:218)(cid:284)(cid:253)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:207)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:229)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:269)(cid:3)(cid:229)(cid:376)(cid:350)(cid:229)(cid:207)(cid:284)(cid:177)(cid:300)(cid:300)(cid:444)(cid:3)(cid:436)(cid:284)(cid:376)(cid:284)(cid:198)(cid:300)(cid:229)(cid:3)
d
in portrait images. The optical corrections for bokeh ye
S
hi
(cid:177)(cid:198)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:371)(cid:177)(cid:395)(cid:284)(cid:325)(cid:313)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:300)(cid:376)(cid:325)(cid:3)(cid:436)(cid:177)(cid:371)(cid:444)(cid:3)(cid:284)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:229)(cid:253)(cid:229)(cid:207)(cid:395)(cid:284)(cid:436)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:229)(cid:376)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:229)(cid:395)(cid:437)(cid:229)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:325)(cid:350)(cid:395)(cid:284)(cid:207)(cid:376)(cid:355)(cid:3) o
M
©
Let’s look at some of the key bokeh characteristics to
HIGHLIGHT SHAPE
keep an eye out for.
A seven-blade aperture produces background highlights which are
noticeably more polygonal, with straighter lines outlining the blades
themselves. For portraiture, a nine-blade model is recommended, as
bokeh will be highly visible.
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o
s h
na ec
on Ata er Fen
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CATS-EYE DISTORTION ONION RING BOKEH
Beyond aperture shape, some lenses render highlights more High-resolution sensors demand superior lens design. Imperfections
elliptically towards the frame edges. This is because light enters from in the smoothness of the glass are reproduced as bokeh featuring
more angles when you’re shooting at low f/stops. This is minimised concentric circles, which can be distracting. The latest pro optics
in superior optics. compensate for this better.
LENS BRIGHTNESS
F/2 F/1.4
What’s the real-world advantage
of f/1.4 over f/2?
The main listed features found for
standard prime lenses tend to include
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design of a prime enables wider f/stops
than zooms, without accumulating weight
and size. However, there’s often a large
(cid:350)(cid:371)(cid:284)(cid:207)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:218)(cid:284)(cid:253)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:207)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:229)(cid:395)(cid:437)(cid:229)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:313)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:120)(cid:406)(cid:3)(cid:300)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:177)(cid:313)(cid:218)(cid:3)
an f/1.4. So does the extra stop make a real
(cid:218)(cid:284)(cid:253)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:207)(cid:229)(cid:361)(cid:3)(cid:101)(cid:395)(cid:3)(cid:252)(cid:120)(cid:334)(cid:355)(cid:265)(cid:3)(cid:395)(cid:280)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:371)(cid:284)(cid:269)(cid:280)(cid:395)(cid:229)(cid:371)(cid:3)(cid:300)(cid:229)(cid:313)(cid:376)(cid:3)(cid:437)(cid:284)(cid:300)(cid:300)(cid:3)
admit twice as much light as the f/2 model,
so if you were able to shoot at 1/125 sec at
f/2, the f/1.4 lens would enable 1/250 sec
and maybe keep your ISO in the native
h
c
range in low light. While more expensive, ne
e
F
f/1.4 is a good investment, although depth er
et
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