Confused – aperture setting for landscape shots – f/11 or f/22 recommended?
Sep 16, 2019 11:33:25 #
I am going to the Antarctic and plan to take a number of landscape shots. I’ve read Bryan Peterson’s "UNDERSTAINDING EXPOSURE" and saw that many of his landscape shots were taken with a f/22 aperture. I’ve also watched a number of YouTube videos in which professional photographers recommend using an aperture of no more than f/11 or f/13 because of diffraction. If I understood it correctly diffraction causes light to bounce around within the lens and creates a softer background than what it would have been using an aperture of f/11 or f13. I also searched past UHH posts for the last four year, but didn’t find anything on point. What say you? Thanks.
Sep 16, 2019 11:40:39 #
Diffraction can be rendered negligible in post processing. F16 is the way to go.
Sep 16, 2019 11:44:29 #
Sep 16, 2019 11:45:10 #
Rather than still more inconsistent feedback, why don't you take your intended lenses and cameras and take some tests for yourself? Find something you'd like to have a sharp and deep depth of field, side to side and front to back. These are test images to don't get hung-up on where / what to shoot. Set up your tripod, your camera and your exposure. Run your tests from f/8 through f/22. Go home and look at the images on your monitor at 100% zoom. With nothing changing other than the aperture, can you see an inflection point in the image sharpness? Are the details in the far distance consistent regardless of the aperture, or are some better than others? If you tested different lenses, is that inflection point at the same aperture value for both lenses?
Sep 16, 2019 11:45:36 #
timcc
Loc: Virginia
Most lenses have a sweet spot 2 or 3 stops down from wide open. Depending on your lens, I suggest starting with f/8 or f/11, which will probably capture as sharp a photo as the lens can produce. I've never used an aperture smaller than f/16 for landscapes, and then only rarely. Usually f/8 is all I need.
Sep 16, 2019 11:49:25 #
Listen to Chg_Canon! Controlled tests are the only way to go. I had far different results from a Canon T3i with 18-135 mm than I did with a Panasonic G7 and 14-140 mm.
Sep 16, 2019 11:56:05 #
Sep 16, 2019 12:03:52 #
With 35mm cameras f16 on down is good but for older large format lenses they went to f64-=128 with swings and tilts to get more depth of field. I found on my old Kodak Medalist f11 seemed to be the sweet spot. Great lens the Ektar.
Sep 16, 2019 12:56:50 #
It depends to some extent on the camera or lens. As previously suggested, test your particular parts for the best results, or sweet spot!
Sep 16, 2019 13:10:55 #
PHRubin wrote:
It depends to some extent on the camera or lens. As previously suggested, test your particular parts for the best results, or sweet spot!
Or the camera/lens combination.
Sep 16, 2019 14:17:06 #
Base_fiddle wrote:
It all depends on what you want to achieve! Though its true that you have to watch for diffraction, but sometimes its better to compromise, I use apertures in landscape of f/16, or f/22 quite often when shooting MF, with FF I'll keep em "open" a bit more. In the end it depends on you, the scene and how you want to interpred it!I am going to the Antarctic and plan to take a num... (show quote)
Sep 16, 2019 14:26:48 #
There's a diffraction calculator here if you scroll down. https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm You'll see if you click the advanced option that it matters if you are thinking only of pixels where diffraction becomes visible at a certain aperture when the 'Airy disk' is more than 2-3 pixels, or if you take into account viewing distance and amount of enlargement, where you can get away with more. Also it is not a bright line difference instantly at a certain aperture, but a gradual loss of sharpness.
Antarctica? I'm jealous. How will you meter white on white exposures?
Antarctica? I'm jealous. How will you meter white on white exposures?
Sep 16, 2019 15:10:59 #
Sep 16, 2019 16:26:54 #
KTJohnson wrote:
KTJ - thanks very much for the link. The article was spot on! It basically confirmed most of what the videos said - it even included the picture of the Aspen trees. I found it very helpful, but I need to take a number of test shots and see if my eye can discern differences. In any case, much appreciate your response.
Jose
Sep 16, 2019 16:44:45 #
Thanks for the response. I want to take test shots to see the differences in f stops. I appreciate your input about using f/16.
Jose
Jose
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