Excellent write-up on lens diffraction effects

[Chris Dodkin]

Found this excellent write-up on the effects of aperture on lens diffraction.

http://www.ophrysphotography.co.uk/pages/tutorialdiffraction.htm

Photographers need to be aware of the phenomenon of diffraction in lenses as it affects image sharpness. All but the very best lenses work better when "stopped down" a little from their widest aperture, but as you continue to reduce the aperture beyond a certain point, diffraction starts to creep in and reduces sharpness significantly.

The writeup shows examples of a test shot at different apertures - so you can clearly see how diffraction effects the sharpness of the final image.

The writeup also covers how to sharpen to correct for this, when you have had to shoot at say f22 for DOF.

Worth a read.

 

[Pete Askew]

As you say a nice write-up and a good illustration of the effect. And, some very nice wildlife photographs.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Indeed - very useful website all round

 

[Mark Grant]

Good article, I have the same lens a Canon 100 f2.8 macro and I have found that f8 is about the best for picture quality.

I did once shoot some stuff at f32 for more depth of field and it looked terrible.

 

[Hamish Gill]

You can use it to advantage though ...
This was shot at f45 from memory for the dof AND soft focus effect

 

[Pete Askew]

Very nice Hamish. Maybe you and Paul should start a poster shop!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

tis a bit like that isnt it ... the sort of thing you might find in a high street shop called "ART" .. heh .. or in a boutique furniture store with a outrageous price tag on it .