DSLRUsers.com

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on the smallest aperture with the kit lens that can be used without sacrificing too much sharpness.

I have run a few quick tests myself with small text at a distance but it really was inconclusive.

I like to always shoot for max DOF in my style of photography and only use shallow DOF in specific applications or if shooting sports.

Just wondering what everyone thinks about shooting at say F22 and smaller apertures with regards to sharpness - in partucular with the kit lens.

Cheers,
Sam

Sam, it's been a while since I had my kit lens, but I think it was sharpest between f/8 and f/11. YMMV though, why not just test yours? If you can't see a difference in sharpness between f/11 and (say) f/22 then you should have no qualms about shooting at f/22.

Systematic testing on my kit lens suggests the sharpest aperture was around f/11. Between f/12 and f/16 there was slight loss of sharpness (likely due to diffraction effects), which become more noticeable on the way towards f/22-f/29.

It's also better at the long end than the wide - 18mm is a blurry as heck (at least for my discerning standards) unless stopped down, and zooming in slightly to about 24-26mm yielded much improvement in sharpness.

Some while ago I posted some shots here taken at f22, which some people took for shots with a dedicated macro lens. Mine was still sharp at the aperture.

Must agree with oneputt I've been very impressed with the overall sharpness of the kit lens. F8 to F11 is best from about 20-24mm (yes the wide end could be better ) to the long end no problems. Great value lens.
cheers
marco

MCWB wrote: why not just test yours?

have tested mine with varying results - made me go a little cross-eyed

seems ok at f22, just wondering when diffraction might kick in.

Kit lens is a pretty good bit of gear where sharpness is concerned... and good value for the price...

The main issue that will eventually drive my purchase of a new "normal range" zoom will be the speed...

and the kit does vignette when wide

I've got an image at home which I'll post an example of, taken with the kit lens and a polariser and I was blown away with the sharpness of it. It's an excellent lens.

More than you ever need to know about diffraction.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori ... graphy.htm

Aaccording to the diffraction limit calculator on that page, a 6MP D70 outputting a 10 inch print viewed at standard distance with 20/20 eyesight, becomes diffraction limited crossing over from f/13 and f/16, ie. circle of confusion = twice pixel size, akin to pixel peeping at 100% on monitor.

I have to agree with Onyx. I don't own this particular lens, but f/22 is usually somewhat past "tack sharp" for any lens in the 35mm or DX formats.

Cheers
Steffen.

Tech jargon and specs can be quoted ad infinitum but...................it is what the lens produces that counts for everything.

Oneputt wrote:Tech jargon and specs can be quoted ad infinitum but...................it is what the lens produces that counts for everything.

Sure, but know that no matter how hard you try, one cannot bend the laws of physics - and since photography is about light, understanding the properties of light will be beneficial in getting the most out of it.

I understand that of course, but sometimes we get so carried away with the tech side of things we forget to see.

Onyx wrote:More than you ever need to know about diffraction.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori ... graphy.htm

yep that is more than i ever need to know

overcoming laziness i ventured into the garden 10 mins ago for a quick test.

sharpness was measured using my manufacturers spec eye
quite acceptable at F22, markedly better at F16, best at F8-F11.

little inconclusive though, bit cloudy outside, cam was handheld and i had to bump up the iso to ward off camera shake which introduced noise, detracting from the overall sharpness of each pic.