In contrast, smaller apertures will only let in half the amount of light than the larger aperture.įor example, an f/2.0 f-stop will allow 800 lumens into the sensor, while the f/2.8 only lets half of the original amount (400 lumens) touch the sensor.īut what is the best setting for macro photography when you want a vivid background? In this situation, your saving grace is bracketing and stacking.īy now you may wonder, is the f-stop and aperture the same thing? Are Aperture and F-Stop the Same Thing? Then divide 200 by 4 (4 because it’s the max aperture), and you’ll get 50 as a result.Ī larger aperture will allow more light to enter the lens and provide greater exposure. If you have a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 lens fully zoomed in, the aperture blades’ diameter will be 200mm. The answer is it stands for focal length.

In contrast, when he/she recommends a smaller aperture, use the f/8, f/16, and so on.īut… What does the “F” even mean? What Does the F Stand For in F-Stop? The next time your mentor asks you to use a larger aperture, you should set your f-stop to f/1.4 to f/2.8. This metaphor perfectly explains why the smaller f-stop numbers (1, 2, 3, and 4) translates into a larger aperture and vice versa. When you cut the pizza into a half (½), you will have a larger portion than cutting it into one eighth (⅛), right? To put it in practice, the f-stop of f/22 is equivalent to 1/22, F/1.4 is the same as 1/1.4. Yet, the hint has been in front of us the whole time. We have all been confused with the smaller and larger aperture concept. So, how do you “count” the f-stop? And what’s the meaning of “larger” and “smaller” f-stops/f-number? Smaller and Larger F-Stop

F stop and iso