I've been reading up on this, but I haven't found anywhere that explains what a 'fast lens' is.

I've a free day today... (so few bank holidays!!) so i'm off with the girl to play with the camera. Take some shots playing with aperture size and the like. I'm shooting in M (for manual?) mode as I found it was the only way I could shoot at high shutter speed without blacking out the picture. I've since found out I should probably have put the white blance from Auto to shade and tried not to use ISO 1200. Learning all the time

Thanks guys, I'll post my next milestone...

A 'fast lens' is a lens with an large aperture (small number). f/2.8 is considered fast, dont know if f/4 is.

Essentially a fast lens lets more light in so you can have fast shutter speeds for the same ambient conditions.

Be aware that the lower the f/ the shallower thefocus plane.

Honestly, I have never used Manual mode, too difficult.

"A" Mode (aperture priority) - tou decide on aperture, camera decides on best shutter - use this if you want to control the depth of the focal plane.

"S" Mode (shutter priority) - you decide on shutter, camera decides on best aperture - use this if you want to 'freeze' motion or get a longer exposure for better colour depth.

"P" Mode (Programmed) - you decide on a balanced shutter/aperture setting.

Some cameras have "auto-iso" which adds a further degree of decision for the camera to make. 

Manual mode is just too complex for my liking.

Also try using sRGB colour mode for more vivid colours.

Yeah good advice, I'm getting better shots by letting the camera control some of the workings. M is a bit too ambitious for the time being but I'm begining to understand her more now.

The fruit bowl is tanning on one side from the flash now though.

Hey Guys,

A Fast lens is great when you are in deep woodland where you strugle for light buts lets face it thats not always the case. You can create some awesome shots shooting at a slow shutter and trailing the flash without having to buy a real fast lens.

Check out my website for a few mt biking shots if you like which can be located here...

http://www.photolakedistrict.co.uk/biking_action_photo.html

Cheers

Jase 

All down to the lens:

Ernest Leitz

Carl Zeiss

Currently I own a myriad of cameras haselblad to prakticas and box brownies...the ones i use most frequently are..

Olympus (om4ti)

and a 1920's Zeiss (after having the bellows refurbished)

I have a cheapoo Nikon digital slr and the works D1 but neither compare to the old schools in terms of build or photographic quality. I even love the prakticas odd coloration when using films like velvia.

 Can you honestly see any modern day camera taking photos 30 years or 88 years later?

I've not read this thread but jumped in...I shall go back and read it all. However, I would say if you're in the lookout for 'the daddy' you're going to be buying a D1 and a set of prime lenses. But you'd not be asking a £5000 question on a bike forum...