Diffraction versus DOF Focus versus Sharpness
Dec 18, 2012 07:05:30 #
Hey guys wanted to talk a little about Diffraction and the affects on macro photography. Guess I should tell you up front I know little about the science of photography. I'm more of the type that just gets out in the field to photograph. I've been on a mission lately to capture Jumping Spiders and trying to capture the Best possible photo in One Shot. I recently acquired a flash for my camera and built a homemade diffuser in hopes of improving my photos. The mounted flash and diffuser took me to another level, but still not happy I started to play around with my apertures and see where that would take me. Here are some photos of a small Jumping spider taken at different apertures. You thoughts and discussions are welcomed. From experience I find F/22 gives me the best over all DOF and focus, but have found I do not get the Best Sharpness. These photos are about sharpness in the eyes and not DOF. We need larger subjects to discuss DOF. Your thoughts??
Thank you, Martin
PS these are handheld and not perfect. Tripod and studio lights with fixed subjects would be the perfect world, this is field work
Thank you, Martin
PS these are handheld and not perfect. Tripod and studio lights with fixed subjects would be the perfect world, this is field work
F/9
F/11
F/16
F/22
F/29
actual size
Dec 18, 2012 12:46:48 #
It appears to me that the eyes look sharpest at f/16, but it also looks like the distance is different in that photo also. 8-)
Dec 18, 2012 13:16:25 #
Haha, here we go... This is what I tried to say earlier and you disagreed with. It is hard to tell with field shots, for me without a doubt the shot taken at F/9 is the sharpest, if you enlarge and look closely at the left eye and paw you will see very good resolution, you have a shallower DOF and the right eye and paw is not quite focused... But F/9 in this series for me shows the best resolution, but not the best photo, hence the fight between sharpness and DOF begins.
Dec 18, 2012 13:33:27 #
Hand held and I think I was just a little to the side in this shot as the photo looks taken at an angle. One eye is sharper than the other due to not being squared with the subject. All in all definite difference in sharpness in the photos
Bmac wrote:
It appears to me that the eyes look sharpest at f/16, but it also looks like the distance is different in that photo also. 8-)
Dec 18, 2012 13:35:52 #
Well you have a funny way of explain yourself, because this is would I believe. Sometimes I read between the lines and it gets all jumbled up, Har, Har.. Glad we can agree to agree
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Blurryeyed wrote:
Haha, here we go... This is what I tried to say earlier and you disagreed with. It is hard to tell with field shots, for me without a doubt the shot taken at F/9 is the sharpest, if you enlarge and look closely at the left eye and paw you will see very good resolution, you have a shallower DOF and the right eye and paw is not quite focused... But F/9 in this series for me shows the best resolution, but not the best photo, hence the fight between sharpness and DOF begins.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Dec 18, 2012 14:45:11 #
fstop22 wrote:
Well you have a funny way of explain yourself, bec... (show quote)
Yeah, now that I think about it and without going back into the thread, I think that the pics I used further back in the discussion definitely did not make the point as well, but I hope that thoughts I expressed were the same... I sometimes am a little scatter brained... maybe alzheimer's is setting in...
Dec 18, 2012 15:49:52 #
Well I'm glad that you guys agree, and there is a difference but sometimes you have to make a trade off or compromise, and I like all the shots, as for Alzheimer's I think it's setting in on me at times, but at 68 I'm going to have some problems
Dec 18, 2012 16:38:41 #
Roger Sr. wrote:
You have to watch that Blurryeyed guy.. After all he looks thru his lens backwardsWell I'm glad that you guys agree, and there is a difference but sometimes you have to make a trade off or compromise, and I like all the shots, as for Alzheimer's I think it's setting in on me at times, but at 68 I'm going to have some problems
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Dec 18, 2012 16:46:32 #
fstop22 wrote:
That part is true.... I guess I just see things differently ;-) ;-)You have to watch that Blurryeyed guy.. After all he looks thru his lens backwards
Dec 19, 2012 07:34:33 #
From an old guys eyes and perspective I like F/16 and F/22, although F/16 image seems a tad further away than F/22.
But, in my mind, the F/16 seems to be the sweet spot.
Richard
But, in my mind, the F/16 seems to be the sweet spot.
Richard
Dec 19, 2012 10:32:39 #
Dec 19, 2012 11:39:55 #
How do you guys get these little spiders to sit still so long?After all they like to jump.
Bill
Bill
Dec 19, 2012 12:00:54 #
Bill Emmett wrote:
I was lucky with this guy. Got 10 or so shots off before he wandered off. A lot of insects will sit still when you get up close and personal. I'm not sure, but they may be under the impression if they don't move you won't see them. Either that or they are waiting for you to make your move I guess. Once I'm in their personal space they either lock up or take off. Now the bigger jumpers will wander around and or charge your camera lens thinking it's another spider as they see their reflection.How do you guys get these little spiders to sit still so long?After all they like to jump.
Dec 19, 2012 18:58:50 #
I was going to go with F16 but on close inspection F9 is hard to beat. (I still like the F16 shot better)
Dec 20, 2012 15:16:46 #
Blurryeyed wrote:
I pretty much think that is why we are photographers.... We look at things in a different light so to speak.fstop22 wrote:
That part is true.... I guess I just see things differently ;-) ;-)You have to watch that Blurryeyed guy.. After all he looks thru his lens backwards
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