When I Googled "Sharpest Aperture" I found Ken Rockwell's discussion ("How to Select the Sharpest Aperture"). It seems to fly in the face of what I have heard in the past and wondered if I had stumbled on a neat photography improvement for my photo adventures or was it "out to lunch". I know a bunch of you hard and grizzled UHHers will tell me to go try it and find out for myself - quit being lazy, Folkus, you'll say. BUT. there may be others that would like to engage in the subject. His article speaks to Nikon, Canon, Leica, and Pentax users so I thought there might be an interested audience. He gives many examples but the one that struck me was where the lens DOF scale says use F/8, he says F/13 gives the optimum sharpness. All discussions are welcome, but I suggest that you read the article before you challenge it to vehemently. Come on - - let's play.
I just want ti say that I appreciate all the rich responses to my initial question. You UHHers are a great community.
I try not to be the settling type - which is why i ask all these questions - oh, and I am basically a curious sort.
I have always shot uncompressed DNG - and been very happy with the results. Just trying to see if I have been missing something right under my nose that would - without penalty - equal or improve my photography. Lord knows there are many aspects I can gain significant improvement in. Thought this might be an area to investugate. Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.
Looks like DNG compression is the way to go for me. Compression and bracketing are not a bad combination I am gathering from your message. Thanks, Apaflo.
I bracket 5 shots to play with exposure settings. I imagine compression would extend the time of the sequence. Can you not compress in he camera and then compress in Lightroom? Would that make sense?
Zero downside with lossless DNG compression? Why then even have a choice? Just wondering...
Sorry. I was trying to be cute at the expense of being clear (to be or not to be- that is the question...from Shakespeare) I have a choice in my camera settings to compress DNG files (and presumably save space for more photos on my card) or not compress the DNG file. I am not asking a JPG question in this particluar instance. Sorry for my vagueness.
I have heard various points of view on this subject. What do knowledgeable UHH members think? What do tests say or show? Thanks for all knowledgeable replies. Folkus.
Those are great shots, AP. I was "taking shots" in 1968 - assigned to Advisory Team #49 in the Highlands...
Thanks, Basil. Very helpful.
I love this story. Have been messing around with the concept of composition, lately and think there just might be a place for childlike passion in the formula somewhere...
I want to embrace the whole craft - and digital allows me to make a lot of really great mistakes for minimal expense in the process!