"So you're saying that my 4.5-5.5 lens has an adequate shutter speed, and will produce a pleasing depth of field as a result, and that if I had a bigger lens even though it would work in darker conditions, the images would get softer than they are now?"
The principles haven't changed: small appertures give greater depth of field so more things are in focus but shutter speeds are slower and therefore there's a greater risk of camera shake. Large appertures allow faster shutter speeds but the depth of field decreases so that there's less risk of camera shake but you have to focus more accurately. And I've found out to my cost that electronic viewfinders can easily make things look brighter than they are.
Regards.
The principles haven't changed: small appertures give greater depth of field so more things are in focus but shutter speeds are slower and therefore there's a greater risk of camera shake. Large appertures allow faster shutter speeds but the depth of field decreases so that there's less risk of camera shake but you have to focus more accurately. And I've found out to my cost that electronic viewfinders can easily make things look brighter than they are.
Regards.