Fast Lens

A professional photographer from Outdoor Photography (a magazine) recently stated his opinion on the necessity of a fast lens. He explained that a fast lens is required in the 35mm film SLR era because a photographer usually has a standard ISO film in his SLR camera and there may be situation when the light condition is low and a large aperture is required but he has only a low ISO film in his camera. A faster lens will at least improve the quality of the picture (without flash) when light is dim. He further explained that with the current DSLR environment when ISO can be changed easily, then the fast lens may not be necessary. As long as the depth of field created through the smallest f stop in the lens meets the photographer creative objective, then it is perfectly alright to go for a cheaper but slower lens. Other than ISO, there are other alternative to a fast lens, they are use of tripod, software alteration and image stabilizer which improve the sharpness and depth of field of the picture.