Photo How To

When it’s time to upgrade one’s gear, many savvy photographers begin by buying better lenses, rather than investing in a new camera. After all, it’s the quality off the glass that ultimately determines the quality of the images.

One of the many benefits of premium optics is that they typically feature faster maximum apertures. This provides more versatility when shooting under low-light conditions, and enables you to accentuate a subject by blurring a busy background. And these advantages hold true for wide-angle, mid-range, and telephoto lenses.

Yet, despite the benefits of fast lenses, it’s not always best to shoot at maximum aperture. In fact, as he explains in the video below, pro Matt Granger insists, “Stop shooting wide open.” Why? Well for starters, you’ll achieve greater contrast and sharpness by stopping down your lens. And you’ll also improve your images by reducing (or eliminating) vignetting and flare.

Granger isn’t trying to dissuade you from buying faster lenses, because his point holds true for all lenses. So even if you close down an f/2.8 lens to f/4, you’re still better off than stopping down an f/4 lens to f/5.6 while retaining superior quality.

In just eight minutes, Granger employs four lenses to demonstrate these and other benefits of avoiding maximum aperture, while shooting portraits of a pretty model. So take a look and we think you may be surprised.

You can find more helpful tips on Granger’s YouTube channel, and in a recent video we posted where he explains why he just sold all his beloved Nikon gear and decided to switch systems.