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Maximize Image Quality with Shot Discipline, Part 2: Depth of Field and Diffraction, Focus Stacking (December 2018)
Parts 1 of this series introduced the idea of shot discipline, and covered covered several of the key areas in making a technically optimal image. This issue discusses depth of field and diffraction and touches on focus stacking.
The tradeoff between depth of field and diffraction is a tug-of-war that must be dealt with for optimal results on any camera: diffraction increases depth of field, the “acceptable” sharpness near to far. But within a few stops, its effects quickly degrades image contrast for both coarse and fine details, with loss of fine detail following soon after. Shot discipline requires that these effects be understood and mitigated when appropriate.
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Diglloyd Medium Format covers medium format camera systems, including the Hasselblad X1D and Fujifilm GFX.
These systems are hugely expensive, so make the right choice for your own needs (full frame vs medium format).
- In-depth lens evaluations covering behaviors not likely to be found anywhere else, based on real-world field shooting.
- How to configure menus and buttons and best operating practices, gotchas and how-to.
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens and camera behaviors.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to 100 megapixels filling up to 5K display, plus large crops.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
