Here’s a quick little idea to ponder:

If you have an f/2.8 zoom, and you want a REALLY sharp photo, you have to stop down to f/5.6 or so, right?  F/8 if it’s a “third-party” lens?

The problem is, one of the best tools for making a great portrait is usually a very blurry background, and by f/8 you can kiss that sweet bokeh background goodbye, unless you’ve got a 600mm lens or something…

That’s why I love f/1.8 and f/1.4 primes.  (And f/1.2 primes if you’re a Canon shooter…)  Sure, the main reason to buy them is so that you can shoot at f/1.8 or f/1.4 in ultra-low light.  But ALSO, one of the coolest things about fast-apeture primes is the fact that stopping down a couple stops puts you at f/2.8 or so, and say helloooo to insane sharpness!

My 50mm f/1.4 lens that I have is about as sharp at f/2.0 as any other lens I’ve ever seen at f/5.6 or f/8.

Just something to think about!

21 days and counting,

-Matt-