I am very new at this. just learning. Is there a particular aperature that you should usually use? how do i know what to set the aperature at? and do you always use a filter? again, how do you know which one to use? I have been experimenting but wanted to know, is there a general rule to this? thanks!!

-- ellen (naloijr@aol.com), August 22, 2001

Answers

Response to aperature

Ellen, I think the best advice and what most on this forum will say is to purchase a beginning photography text or enroll in a basic photography course at a local community college. Questions like you are asking are just a small fraction of what you need to know. There are dozens of books out there but I recommend Photography by Upton and Upton. This is a college level book that I used in the late 80s and It has been updated several times. It does an excellent job explaining all aspects of photography including information on digital. A class is the best route because you will learn the answer to all your questions as well as in most cases have access to a darkroom to process and print.

-- Jim Chinn (Jim1341@dellepro.com), August 23, 2001.

Response to aperature

Any decent public library will have several shelves of photography books. I'd suggest you might go and find several on basic B&W photography. A course would also be a great way to get started. As you progress in learning, you will find that there is no single right answer to questions. People are doing all types of things with all different types of equipment and materials and getting results that please them. One man's IMHO.

-- Gene Crumpler (hassieguy@att.net), August 23, 2001.

Response to aperature

My first reaction is to agree with the other posts and suggest some photo books. OTOH, when I learned to do this stuff over 30 years ago, I usually tried things out long before reading about them. Sometimes the books will make more sense when you've got just a tiny bit of experience. Then you can say "Oh, so that's how it's supposed to work!" It depends on how you like to learn. Set the aperture about midway. Start with a #2 filter. Look at the results. Work on getting the exposure time right, then decide if the contrast needs to be higher or lower. That's when you'll change the filter.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), August 23, 2001.

Response to aperature

Hey, thanks everyone!

-- ellen (naloijr@aol.com), August 23, 2001.

Response to aperature

Hi you may want to read the Q posted a few before by me as the responses are quite informative and ammusing stephie

-- stephie driver (stephie9000@hotmail.com), August 23, 2001.

Response to aperature

Most enlarging lenses have an optimum aperture when carefully analyzed. Too large and some lens flaws are uncorrected. Too small and your resolution becomes limited by diffraction effects. However, I've never been able to see the differences in my (somewhat casual) printing efforts.

I think you should look for the aperture that gives you about a 10-30 second exposure time. Too short and it's hard to burn and dodge because you can't work fast enough. Too long and it's boring. Also, paper does (reportedly, I haven't tested it myself) show reciprocity failure above 70 seconds.

-- Don Karon (kc6d@arrl.net), August 23, 2001.