What compact zoom camera has the smallest minumum aperture (highest f-number)?

[ckeek]

Is it true f/1.8 – f/2.5 has the faster lens speed than f/1.8 – f/5.6 because the former has the smaller minimum aperture f/2.5 than the latter f/5.6? If so, what compact zoom camera has the smallest minimum aperture (highest f-number) in the market? Are they Olympus XZ-2 and Pentax MX-1? Is there any other compact zoom camera has the minimum aperture smaller than f/2.5 in the market? I am not talking about the maximum but only minimum aperture (highest f-number) on the compact zoom camera. Thank you for your answer.

 

[John Sheehy]

Thanks for all your replies, especially for thebustos answer. Let me modify the question. Is it true the short maximum apertures range is, the fast lens speed is assuming the camera has the same sensor size, same focal length? If it is true, we should choose the camera with the short maximum apertures range when compare the cameras with the same sensor size and same focal length. Is it correct? By the way, does the fast lens speed mean the fast focusing?

If I interpret your question correctly, yes. It can even go a step further with some interchangable lenses.

These have no "aperture range" but are called constant aperture lenses. This means the aperture will not close during zooming (at least no further than it's rating f2.8 e.g.), it can stayat this at all focallengths.

Sorry for my bluntness, but nothing could be further from the truth. So-called "constant aperture zooms" are actually "constant f-number zooms", and the apertures on these zoom varies MORE than other zooms with the same focal length range.

The Av value is probably at fault here. Cameras use "A" or "Av" to represent the number under the "f/", but those numbers are not the aperture. The aperture is the real focal length (the "f") divided by that number.

This is important because there is a whole way of thinking about photography in which the actual aperture is direct and important in photographic decisions and understanding.

A 400/5.6 lens has a much larger aperture than a 50/1.4 lens. If that sounds weird to someone, that someone is confused. The 400/5.6 will get more light from the subject, in the same light, from the same distance. The AF may work better on the 50/1.4 in low light, but even if the 50/1.4 is mounted on a camera with a sensor with enough pixel density to put more pixels on the subject, the 400/5.6 has less generic noise at the subject level, and greater isolation from the background (shallower depth of field).

Discussion of apertures, IMO, should be left to actual discussion about apertures.

 

[Chris R-UK]

[No message]

 

[John Sheehy]

Chris R-UK wrote:
This is a four year old thread!

So what?

The same truths apply today as four years ago, in this context. The real definition of aperture hasn't changed in 4 years.

We don't need your help, unless the context is something like "what is the latest gear that suits my needs?". You get no gold star for your effort; sorry.