40d question

Hi all,

new user of the a proper camera and working my way through various tutorials and the manual to familiarise myself with my new purchase .

i have a question:
when shooting in Av mode i cannot get my aperture below 5.6. During most of the tutorials i have watched they talk about shooting at between 1.4 and 32.

Consequently when taking portraits i can't seem to get much difference in the depth of field .
I have a 17 - 85IS lens . Am i doing something wrong ?

thanks in anticipation of your help ,

Mike

If you are zoomed in 5.6 is wide open, It goes from 4.0 at 17 to 5.6 at 85. not sure where it swaps over though. Try it at 17 MM
Fedxpress

different lenses have different apature values they can reach. To get the lens wider you need a lens capable of it

Thanks guys ,

Think i just wanted to know that my camera wasn't faulty.

So for taking really shallow depth of field portrait photos like i see on here what sort of lens do i need ?

BTW i tried my other lens (70 - 300IS) and get exactly the same lower limit (4.0)

Buy a Nifty Fifty, around a hundred bucks, it is 1.8 this will get you started.
Nice on the budget also.
Fedxpress

yeah the 50 1.8 is a nice inexpensive way to get where you are going.

What they said ^^^

look up lenses and its name should say its widest aperture. For example the 50mm F1.8 and the 70-200 F2.8

gonzogolf wrote in post #9281527
yeah the 50 1.8 is a nice inexpensive way to get where you are going.

The 50 1.8 is good, but if you have the coins in your purse the 85 1.8 is great.

tzalman wrote in post #9281577
The 50 1.8 is good, but if you have the coins in your purse the 85 1.8 is great.

Of course it is. But at 3.5 times the cost or more.

Hi all ,

I understand now ,

thanks for all your help ,

regards,

Mike