EXIF and Max Aperture Value & FStop

[GVales]

When I view EXIF data, you can see there are to aperture values, on being the max aperture value and one the Fstop.....which is what and why the 2 values?

[Balrog]

Fstop is the aperture value you took the picture at. Max aperture value is the largest available on your lens.

[GVales]

Ok, but why does the max aperture value report to be 2.8 in the EXIF on my V3 when its not even zoomed at all? It should report 8.0?

Thanks!

[jeff31]

The max aperture for the V3 is f/2.8 larger than f/8 ;)

[Newbie]

As Jeff said small F number mean large aperture, that is because F2.8 = 1/2.8 and F8.0 = 1/8.0
As you know 1/2.8 is larger than 1/8.0

[GVales]

call me stupid...but you lost me!

[jeff31]

Ok, but why does the max aperture value report to be 2.8 in the EXIF on my V3 when its not even zoomed at all? It should report 8.0?

Thanks!
Ok. In the EXIF the max aperture value is not 2.8 but certainly f/2.8 or 1/2.8 (depending of exif reader). That anwsers to your question Gvales ?

[GVales]

It might, but I'm not comprehending it...but no matter right now...I will have to do some reading on apertures I guess to understand you guys fully. Sorry I'm so thick headed!

[Balrog]

Putting it simply - Aperture numbers are on an inverse scale: F2.8 is the largest aperture possible, while F8.0 is the smallest one. Thus when the camera reports Max Aperture, it will say F2.8.

More technical explanation: the f-number is actually the ratio between the focal length of the lens and the diameter of the aperture - so F2.8 (or f/2.8) means the size of the aperture is equal to the focal length divided by 2.8... since the number is a denominator, larger numbers mean smaller openings.

[GVales]

Balrog!....You did it....you brought some understanding to my little nugget! Thanks!

[Balrog]

:) no problem..