Nav: Home
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
May 26, 2012, 09:18

Login with username, password and session length

MicrostockGroup

Microstockgroup Sponsors


« previous next »
Pages: [1] Print

Topic: What f-stop is best for microstock?  

(Read 1994 times)
Whiz

Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« on: November 05, 2007, 22:27 »

In the beginning, I didn't even know what an f-stop was so I used the default camera settings(sad, I know). I think it was 2.8 or so. Now that I understand what it is, I use an f-stop of around nine for most of my photos. I've read that a really high f-stop can make the image less sharp. What are your thoughts?


Ignore | Logged


DepositPhotos.com
Gregor909


Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2007, 22:38 »

Hehe that's a weird question!
It doesn't matter, as long if your photo is sharp and noiseless. And every image needs another DOF, depends on the subject!
What ISO setting is best for microstock would be a better question; so low as possible.


Ignore | Logged


berryspun



« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2007, 22:55 »

Whiz, here is a link for a very good depth of field summary calculator for  the f-stop / subject distance / focal length relationship:

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Is this helpful?


Ignore | Logged


Whiz

Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2007, 23:04 »

Whiz, here is a link for a very good depth of field summary calculator for  the f-stop / subject distance / focal length relationship:

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Is this helpful?



Yes. The author of that webpage used a few too many Google ads, though. Smiley


Ignore | Logged


wysiwyg_foto


« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2007, 23:57 »

You could always use the rule of "sunny 16"

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=30235

...or the rule of "f/8 and be there"

(f/8 and a shutter speed faster than 1/500 for hand held shots).

In the end though, the best f-stop is the right f-stop for the situation.


Ignore | Logged


hatman12



« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2007, 02:14 »

Yes, a very high F stop intoduces a phenomenon called diffraction which causes deterioration of sharpness.

My Nikkor 35mm F2 for instance starts to deteriorate at about F14 and I can see an obvious difference in sharpness if I take the same shot at F11 and F16.  Consequently I never use this lens at more than F13.  Between F2.8 and F13 it's wonderful.

Macro lenses tend to be optimised for deep DOF so my Nikkor 60mm Micro takes perfectly sharp pictures all the way to F32 and is best between F11 and F32.


Ignore | Logged


Bateleur


Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2007, 03:06 »

In general the mid-range, f8 to f16, is the best setting for most lenses. And lens tests bear this out. Look at the curve of the graph.

I try to find the 'sweet spot' for a particular lens and, when using it, shoot at that aperture as much as possible.

My advice would be to stay away from the maximum and minimum apertures of a lens (though it isn't always practical ... if you want a large DOF, for example, or if the light is very low).


Ignore | Logged


pigscanfly


New Member


« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2007, 08:52 »

Check the MTF graph of the lens and try to shoot within the sweet spot for your lens.

A f/2.8 lens does not mean that it will be best at f/2.8. Sweet spots are usually between f/5.6 to f/11.


Ignore | Logged


snem

Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2007, 11:35 »

And fot MTF graphes I suggest this site http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/index.php
Regards


Ignore | Logged


Gregor909


Dreamstime GaugeiStock Gauge
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2007, 12:05 »

Very valid points.
But to come back to the initial question; I don't think there is a wrong F-stop for microstock.
I've had F32 images accepted on IS,SS,StockXpert and DT, made with my cheap ass kit-lens, on-camera sharpening off, and no additional post processive sharpening applied.


Ignore | Logged


Microstock InsiderEnvateo Photo Tools
Pages: [1] Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Related Topics
Subject Started by Replies Views Last post
Microstock Monitor Maintenance Release: Did Featurepics just stop working?
Microstock Monitor
Daneel 0 1147 Last post February 24, 2007, 03:57
by Daneel
When will you stop uploading for Christmas?
General Stock Discussion
leaf 20 1949 Last post December 11, 2009, 15:25
by RacePhoto
Did Dreamstime stop selling....lol « 1 2 »
Dreamstime.com
jcpjr 34 8512 Last post August 28, 2010, 16:05
by FD
StockSubmitter: how to stop error messages
MicrostockSubmitter
OxfordSquare 2 916 Last post February 02, 2011, 07:36
by Niakris
temporary stop to uploads, how long?
123RF
pancaketom 4 839 Last post February 05, 2011, 13:36
by pancaketom

TinyPortal v1.0.5 beta 1© Bloc