Comment on A Question about Aperture... by meggylou
The Aperture on my Camera can only be used between F3.5 and F8. Is there any way I could extend the performance of the aperture??
I've shot long exposures on a point and shoot that can only go to F/8 as well, although limiting there are possibilities. With an overcast day early in the morning or late in the evening will give you minimal yet usable amounts of light. If you have a *fast* flowing stream rather than a calm one it won't take as long to blur the water properly. And the final solution that others have mentioned is get yourself a neutral density filter, something like this: [link]
(I haven't used Tiffen filters and cannot speak to their quality)
To which millimeter size you want, either get the smallest you can get away with (measure the diameter across the front of your lens) because that will be cheapest. Or keep in mind if you ever want to get a dSLR with that you may want to get a size that will fit your lenses in the feature should you choose to upgrade.
Hope this helps
Hope you get some silky smooth water shots soon!
(I haven't used Tiffen filters and cannot speak to their quality)
To which millimeter size you want, either get the smallest you can get away with (measure the diameter across the front of your lens) because that will be cheapest. Or keep in mind if you ever want to get a dSLR with that you may want to get a size that will fit your lenses in the feature should you choose to upgrade.
Hope this helps
Hope you get some silky smooth water shots soon!
Aperture SCIENCE, that's all you need to know!
Your camera is a Canon PowerShot SX150 IS [link]
The available apertures are F3.4, F3.5, F4.0, F4.5, F5.0, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1, F8.0 see page 67 in the english handbook.
The reason for that is that there is a relation between sensorsize and the maximal usable aperture typical values are Aperture 16-22 for 135mm Aperture 11-13 for APS.-C the relativ small sensor 1/2,3 inch would give you very blurred and unsharp pictures with aperture beyond 8.
This 8 will be nearly the same as an 16-22 at the 135mm format, so you get all of the Depth of field that is possible
The only way if there is to much light is to use a lower ISO-Value ora a a grey filter (i. e. Cokin )
The available apertures are F3.4, F3.5, F4.0, F4.5, F5.0, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1, F8.0 see page 67 in the english handbook.
The reason for that is that there is a relation between sensorsize and the maximal usable aperture typical values are Aperture 16-22 for 135mm Aperture 11-13 for APS.-C the relativ small sensor 1/2,3 inch would give you very blurred and unsharp pictures with aperture beyond 8.
This 8 will be nearly the same as an 16-22 at the 135mm format, so you get all of the Depth of field that is possible
The only way if there is to much light is to use a lower ISO-Value ora a a grey filter (i. e. Cokin
)sorry.. i wrote the wrong thing the other day. it is a canon sx160is
doesn't matter. The sensor is of the same size. I think you will find the same in your handbook of the camera
135mm means ''full frame'' 24*36mm
hmmm, something doesn't sound right here. haha.
well we need more information. what camera are you using? what lens are you using? what camera mode are you shooting in? manual, AP, SP?
well we need more information. what camera are you using? what lens are you using? what camera mode are you shooting in? manual, AP, SP?
Canon sx160is = camera
Well it says on the camera.... canon zoom lens 16 x IS 5.0 - 80.0mm...
Modes... tried all of the above
Well it says on the camera.... canon zoom lens 16 x IS 5.0 - 80.0mm...
Modes... tried all of the above
well I hate to say it but with that type of camera it may just be that you can only shoot between 3.5 - 8 
Aww.. I was gonna try and take photos of streams and stuff looking all silky... Oh well, thanks for caring 
Try going on a very overcast day or pre-dawn or dusk. The low light will give you the shutter speeds you need.
That has nothing to do with aperture. It's shutter speed that gives you that effect. Either shoot in low light or shoot through a ND filter. You want a long exposure, so use a tripod.
Ok thanks a lot
Shoot through a neutral density filter. While you might not be able to find a holder to fit your camera you can always get a square one and rig something up to hold it in front of the lens.
While you might not be able to find a holder to fit your camera you can always get a square one and rig something up to hold it in front of the lens.I have been looking into that.
Thanks!
Thanks!
I have neutral density filters and I just use my hand to hold them in front of the lens. works perfectly fine.
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well you still might be able to. at f8 you only need the camera to be open for 1 second even less to get a silky stream.
Aperture is the size of the hole in your lens that allows light to pass through. The lower the F number the more open the the lens is. The more open the lens is the more light it lets in but also the smaller the depth of field is.
The available aperture settings are dependant on the lens itself and is a reflection of how much the lens can open up and how much it can close down.
If you were to buy a lens with a great capability to open up then you will be able to open it wider than 3.5. For example a 50mm F1.8 can open up to F1.8.
I haven't ever encountered a lens that is limited to not closing down farther than F8 though? Most lenses can close down to about F22. I have used some older lenses but max at about F16 but never as low as F8. What lens are you using? Perhaps there is something wrong with it?
The available aperture settings are dependant on the lens itself and is a reflection of how much the lens can open up and how much it can close down.
If you were to buy a lens with a great capability to open up then you will be able to open it wider than 3.5. For example a 50mm F1.8 can open up to F1.8.
I haven't ever encountered a lens that is limited to not closing down farther than F8 though? Most lenses can close down to about F22. I have used some older lenses but max at about F16 but never as low as F8. What lens are you using? Perhaps there is something wrong with it?
I have one like that, but it's an Anthony and Scoville lens made in 1898. It stops down to f/256 too. Came with the wreckage of an Ansco vest pocket camera. I've been looking for a 6x9 plate camera I can mount it on.
Well I am using a point and shoot camera... a canon sx160is and it only really comes with the one lense. I am not even sure if you can buy new ones for it
Ah, no, you can't change lenses which means you are probably stuck with the aperture range that is built into the camera.
Aw.. Ok. Thanks though