aperture ring: what's the point?

**LeoTaylor** · 02-22-2007, 08:05 PM

I bought my wife a ist-D body when it first came out, I had been waiting for a DSLR that could use our collection of K-1000 lenses. I took a few shots (lens on "A") to verify everything worked. When I came home from work she was quite distraught. She tried several lenses and could not depress the shutter. Once I found the poorly documented option to allow shutter when not on "A" I don't think she has used anything but manual aperture.

I bought my K100D with the usual 18-55 mm and until then never knew there were lenses without a ring.

Leo Taylor

Tom Brown · 02-22-2007, 08:59 PM

I learned photography in the very early 1970s and, in manual mode, that ring had a direct connection to the aperture diaphragm providing a brilliant feedback on what happened when you turned the ring. The Spotmatic F was the first camera I used that featured full aperture metering but I didn't come into possession of one of those until a few years after I got into it.

Sometimes I wonder if people getting into the hobby now are less able to comprehend shutter speed and aperture like we did in the old days when it was obvious. Back in the day, once in a while you'd get to an event and your meter battery would be dead. No problem... you'd just use someone else's readings and carry on or you could fudge it with F11/125 for outdoor shots on a sunny day. That, of course, was with ASA100 film. If you were a bit low on light, you could push the processing a bit when you developed the materials in the darkroom you set up in your bathroom.

Everything was so directly connected back then, it was a beautiful way to learn the subtleties of the hobby.

I loved those days but I don't miss them. Our modern cameras with electronically controlled aperture, shutter, and ISO are a dream to work with. My K100D feels like a treat to use.

These days, we argue and ponder things that are so subtle, I wonder if we've forgotten how huge the leaps were back in the days of early developments. Even something that seems important like spot metering pales in comparison to the benefits gained by early advances like behind the lens metering. It seems to me, future improvements are going to be increasingly incremental and subtle. Any modern camera is nothing short of amazing.

My first camera was an Asahiflex rangefinder. I used a hand held light meter that was given to me by a family member because I couldn't have afforded to buy one back then. It sure feels great to be back in the Pentax family.

It's also feels great to not have brown stains on my fingernails from having my hands splashing through fixer.

egordon99 · 02-23-2007, 07:47 AM

Yep, many folks getting into this hobby now have no idea about the Shutter speed-aperture-ISO relationship. I always recommend reading "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson to folks who want to learn about exposure.

Now it's always second nature for me to be aware of what my aperture is (I'm usually in Av) and to keep an eye on my metered shutter speed. If it get's too slow, I can either open up the aperture or raise the ISO accordingly (or grab the flash :-) )

nosnoop · 02-23-2007, 09:56 AM

I grew up with K and M mount lenses, but I don't miss the aperture ring one bit.

I am happier with dial control aperture. To switch from Av to Tv or P mode using the aperture ring, and going in and out of "A" position is a hassle. I can do it much quicker with K10D control system.

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02-22-2007, 08:05 PM	#31
LeoTaylor Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Connecticut Photos: Gallery Posts: 679	I bought my wife a ist-D body when it first came out, I had been waiting for a DSLR that could use our collection of K-1000 lenses. I took a few shots (lens on "A") to verify everything worked. When I came home from work she was quite distraught. She tried several lenses and could not depress the shutter. Once I found the poorly documented option to allow shutter when not on "A" I don't think she has used anything but manual aperture. I bought my K100D with the usual 18-55 mm and until then never knew there were lenses without a ring. Leo Taylor

02-22-2007, 08:59 PM	#32
Tom Brown Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 106	I learned photography in the very early 1970s and, in manual mode, that ring had a direct connection to the aperture diaphragm providing a brilliant feedback on what happened when you turned the ring. The Spotmatic F was the first camera I used that featured full aperture metering but I didn't come into possession of one of those until a few years after I got into it. Sometimes I wonder if people getting into the hobby now are less able to comprehend shutter speed and aperture like we did in the old days when it was obvious. Back in the day, once in a while you'd get to an event and your meter battery would be dead. No problem... you'd just use someone else's readings and carry on or you could fudge it with F11/125 for outdoor shots on a sunny day. That, of course, was with ASA100 film. If you were a bit low on light, you could push the processing a bit when you developed the materials in the darkroom you set up in your bathroom. Everything was so directly connected back then, it was a beautiful way to learn the subtleties of the hobby. I loved those days but I don't miss them. Our modern cameras with electronically controlled aperture, shutter, and ISO are a dream to work with. My K100D feels like a treat to use. These days, we argue and ponder things that are so subtle, I wonder if we've forgotten how huge the leaps were back in the days of early developments. Even something that seems important like spot metering pales in comparison to the benefits gained by early advances like behind the lens metering. It seems to me, future improvements are going to be increasingly incremental and subtle. Any modern camera is nothing short of amazing. My first camera was an Asahiflex rangefinder. I used a hand held light meter that was given to me by a family member because I couldn't have afforded to buy one back then. It sure feels great to be back in the Pentax family. It's also feels great to not have brown stains on my fingernails from having my hands splashing through fixer.

02-23-2007, 07:47 AM	#33
egordon99 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 1,561	Yep, many folks getting into this hobby now have no idea about the Shutter speed-aperture-ISO relationship. I always recommend reading "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson to folks who want to learn about exposure. Now it's always second nature for me to be aware of what my aperture is (I'm usually in Av) and to keep an eye on my metered shutter speed. If it get's too slow, I can either open up the aperture or raise the ISO accordingly (or grab the flash :-) )

02-23-2007, 09:56 AM	#34
nosnoop Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,299	I grew up with K and M mount lenses, but I don't miss the aperture ring one bit. I am happier with dial control aperture. To switch from Av to Tv or P mode using the aperture ring, and going in and out of "A" position is a hassle. I can do it much quicker with K10D control system.