Is f/2 enough for night photography?

I'm planning to buy a new lens due to the fact that my two current lenses don't have a fast enough aperture for low light situations. I have a D90 and an F100 which basically means that i will need an FX lens that works on both cameras. I want a 35mm lens so it will be a 50 on my d90 and a 35mm on my F100. I was wondering if f/2 is a fast enough aperture for night and low light situations. This is the lens: http://www.nikonusa.com/...52F2D.html

That will work. It depends on what you want to shoot in low light but an f2 is a fast lens. If you want to shoot things that move in very low light you'll just have to turn up the ISO to get your shutter speed. You are only talking a 1 stop difference between the f2 and the fastest lenses you can buy at a reasonable price.

You can use any lens, is low light without a flash. It just depends on what you're shooting, how low the light is, and the effect you want. You have to determine if f2 is good enough for your situation since everyone's situation is different. Keep in mind that a larger aperture also means a more shallow depth of field which may or may not be desirable. Is it that you can't use a strobe for your photos or that you prefer natural light?

If you can afford it the Nikon 50mm f1.4 is the best lens for the situations you are describing> I bought one for my railway photography because - knowing that the optimum performance comes at 2 stops above full open = f1.4; f2; f2.8 - I can use it in the poorest light. I have used my Nikon D700 at 6400 ASA with this lens and the results are unbelievably good.

You seem to be mis-understanding what kind of lens is needed for night photography. Perhaps you are aware of this, but I will state it anyway. You can use ANY lens for night photography, it does NOT have to be a "fast" or wide aperture lens. The only thing a wider aperture lens does for you at night is allow a faster shutter speed. So if you are planning on HAND HOLDING the camera for these night shots, then the faster the lens the better. However, even then, there are situations in which you need a tripod, no matter how fast the lens. When the camera is tripod mounted, the shutter speed is not such an issue. It does not matter if you are using an f2 lens or an f8. You can get the shot, with the camera tripod mounted, with either lens. Of course, the f8 aperture will require more shutter time, and THAT might or might not have an effect on your photo. If you are simply shooting a moonlit landscape, the longer speed is not going to make much difference. If, however, you are shooting a cityscape with cars in the scene, the light streaks are going to take on a different look between the f2 lens with faster shutter speed as opposed to the f8 lens with slower shutter time.

So you can't make a blanket statement that an f2 lens is "enough" for night photography. An f22 lens could be used so long as the camera was tripod mounted and undisturbed during the exposure time.

You have to take into consideration many other factors about your night photography instead of simply what the aperture is of your lens.

steve

ADD: Just noticed that "Stewy" is saying some of the same things I'm. Did not mean to repeat.