How do strike a balance between opening the aperture in low light and keeping a decent depth of field?

Answer 1

A few options here (assuming you mean 'decent depth of field' = more depth of field):

Use a flash, so you don't have to shoot wide open

Use a wider angle lens and then crop the photo - you can see the impact of the focal length on depth of field here:

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Use an image stablized lens or camera body so you can shoot at lower shutter speeds which will give you more flexibility on desired aperture (e.g. Canon EF 70-200 F2.8 IS)

Answer 2

In low light when you need a small aperture, then something else has to give. Either a longer shutter speed (Only if you have a stationary subject) or else you have to raise the ISO sensitivity on a digital camera. You can't really do this on a film camera.

It also doesn't hurt to spend an obscene amount of money on very good lenses as well (assuming you have SLR) as the better the lens the more light it will capture.

Answer 3

There is definitely a tradeoff here. The wider the apeture of a camera the shorter the depth of field. The only other ways to compensate is1.) to adjust the exposure for the amount of light.You may have to use a tripod to steady the camera at shutter speeds below 1/125th Or, 2.) you can get a higher ASA rating of film if you are using a film camera . If you have gone as far as you can get in the way of exposure and film, you can "push" the negative in the development of film; but you have to know what you are doing, or get a photo lab to do special instructions.

Answer 4

Use a tripod, use longer exposure and small aperture.

For instance: 1/4sec@f:22 if the light permits, but use an exposure meter and base in 1/4sec. or even 1/2 sec. to find the aperture.

Answer 5

moving further away from the subject will increase depth of field, and you could crop later, but you will ofcourse lose some quality this way. another way is just to use a higher ISO and shoot at a smaller aperture, programs such as noise ninja may be able to remove noise/grain that results.

Answer 6

For night photography I often use a 15-30 sec exposure with f11
of course with a tripod. I gives me great results.


Regards!

Answer 7

If you really want to OPEN the aperture and want a good deapth of field, you should use a wide angle lense with f:4.5 or 5.6.Then you will feel that. If you want to open your lens in f.1.4 and a good deapth of field means it's a foolish imagination. It is impossible.

Answer 8

Try using a longer exposure time and a hand held meter.

Answer 9

longer exposure is the way to go.... for more light not large aparature. Are you shooting a still (static) object. Use a tripod.