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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy use fast lenses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s much more clearly defined are the benefits of fast lenses \u2013 and they\u2019re exceptionally useful. Below, we\u2019ve outlined each of them in turn and how they apply across all sorts of different photographic disciplines, from portraiture and landscaping, to sports and documentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More light means easier exposures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The larger the aperture, the more light can be recorded during an exposure. Therefore, fast lenses \u2013 whether zooms or primes \u2013 allow comparatively higher shutter speeds. Say you\u2019re shooting with a 35mm F1.4 lens, and at the same focal length on a \u2018slow\u2019 zoom with a setting of F4. The fast prime will record three stops more light, so the shutter speed could be 1\/250 sec instead of 1\/30 sec. Or you could use an ISO of 200 instead of 1600.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What that allows is the ability to freeze subject movement and offset camera shake, both of which can lead to sharper images. Combine a fast lens with higher ISO settings and it also means you can continue to work handheld in low-light conditions, where you might otherwise need a tripod. Add the tripod, and you can even shoot very low-light scenes, such as starry skies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the primary concern of a lens\u2019s aperture is to let more or less light into the camera, maybe the most obvious draw of fast lenses is their ability to give a shallow depth-of-field. Using settings like F1.0, F1.2 or F1.4 on prime lenses can allow superb subject separation. So, models that can open up that much are regularly used by pro portrait and wedding photographers, as well as documentary and still life. It\u2019s the same with apertures like F2.8 on a zoom lens, where users can pick out sports, action, and wildlife subjects with greater clarity, against often confusing or cluttered backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we\u2019ve already mentioned, fast lenses allow more light into the camera, which is also a benefit when focusing. When locking on to the subject, a lens uses its widest setting, even if the exposure is set to a smaller aperture than that. The greater amount of light this gives means focusing is faster and, in some cases, more accurate, so the camera is less likely to hunt, especially in low-light conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding lenses with wider apertures to your kit also means they\u2019re easier to use with teleconverters. For instance, fit the XF1.4X TC WR<\/a> to an XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR<\/a> lens, and as well as extending the focal range, you\u2019ll lose a stop of light as usual. This makes it an effective 70-196mm F4 lens \u2013 but that\u2019s still OK for sports and action, as well as fast focusing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are drawbacks to fast lenses, but ultimately, they\u2019re minor and manageable. For starters, even though FUJIFILM X Series lenses are designed to be as portable as possible, the larger the maximum aperture, the bigger and heavier a lens is likely to be, compared to a similar focal length with a smaller maximum aperture. Also, very fast lenses won\u2019t tend to close down as much as slower models \u2013\u00a0for instance, an F1.4 lens\u2019s minimum aperture is likely to be F16, rather than F22 or F32, so you\u2019ll have less control at that end of the scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re going to use your new fast lens wide open, you\u2019ll also need to choose your focus mode and point more carefully, as depth-of-field will be reduced compared to smaller apertures. To make the most of the widest settings in very bright light, a neutral density filter is a good idea, or use your camera\u2019s electronic shutter \u2013 to push beyond the maximum mechanical speed. This is because the aperture lets in so much light, the shutter speed and ISO can\u2019t shift far enough to compensate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are plenty of great fast lenses in the X Series range, covering all focal lengths \u2013 from ultra wide-angle to long telephoto. And with zooms and primes, you can pick what best suits your style and subjects. Here are some to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Japanese](\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/LEARNING-CENTRE-FAST-LENSES-2.jpg?width=862&height=575\")
\nWider apertures allow a shallower depth-of-field<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Young](\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/LEARNING-CENTRE-FAST-LENSES-3.jpg?width=862&height=1149\")
\nFast lenses allow improved focusing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Tiny](\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/LEARNING-CENTRE-FAST-LENSES-4.jpg?width=862&height=575\")
\nAre there downsides to fast lenses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pick your fast lens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n