I took two pictures of mountains.
One at f/5, one at f/22.
I thought a smaller aperture was better for landscapes. However, I think the f/5 looks better than the f/22.
Both images:
* ISO-200
* 55mm Focal Length
* 0 exposure bias
* Canon Rebel T5
* EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens
f/5: http://i.imgur.com/gUc14my.jpg
* 1/2000 sec exposure
* tripod, pic taken with timer
f/22: http://i.imgur.com/Pnslfke.jpg
* 1/100 sec exposure
* tripod, pic taken with timer.
I read up on depth of field, and it seems like at this distance it doesn't matter, everything will be "focused" as long as I don't have a foreground subject.
However, I think the f/5 looks better than the f/22 (although I'm not super happy with either picture). The mountains are a bit sharper in the f/5 for example.
Why is this? Is it better to shoot at higher apertures for landscapes if I'm just taking pictures of mountains?
Any other advice/recommendations to make my pictures look better?
I'm a complete beginner, so any advice is appreciated
[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties: Equipment Make Canon Camera Model Canon EOS REBEL T5 Camera Software Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384 Image-Specific Properties: Image Orientation Top, Left-Hand Image Created 2016:01:03 15:36:37 Exposure Time 1/2000 sec F-Number f/5.6 Exposure Program Manual ISO Speed Rating 200 Exposure Bias 0 EV Metering Mode Pattern Flash No Flash Focal Length 55.00 mm Color Space Information sRGB
the OP image is the f/5 picture, here is the f/22 so you don't have to go to imgur.
[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties: Equipment Make Canon Camera Model Canon EOS REBEL T5 Camera Software Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384 Image-Specific Properties: Image Orientation Top, Left-Hand Image Created 2016:01:03 15:36:26 Exposure Time 1/100 sec F-Number f/22.0 Exposure Program Manual ISO Speed Rating 200 Exposure Bias 0 EV Metering Mode Pattern Flash No Flash Focal Length 55.00 mm Color Space Information sRGB
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction
When any wave passes through a small hole it gets slightly disorganised on the other side, more so the smaller the hole. This is called diffraction. When you shoot at f/22 your aperture is absolutely tiny and thus diffraction decreases the sharpness of your image by interfering with the light waves.
Most lenses tend to be sharpest around f/8 to f/11. f/22 shouldn't be used unless you really really want a long exposure for some reason and there's too much light around. Also if you shoot at f/22 dust spots on your sensor appear because the depth of field is so incredibly huge that specks on the sensor itself are nearly in focus. There are one or two in the sky in that picture, look to the top left and you'll see a small dark circle.
Also it's rare for a sensor to be absolutely clean unless you cleaned it five minutes ago. So again, leave f/22 alone.
>>2735552
i'm not OP but one thing I don't understand is why dust on the sensor appears due to the smaller apertures. I would've thought the aperture can only affect the DOF from light coming into the lens.
>>2735564
maybe it's not strictly speaking a depth of field effect
>>2735583
thanks for that, that's pretty interesting
>>2735531
You should maybe see about getting on some of the parking garages downtown around sunset and see what you can manage. Harsh daylight landscapes aren't usually that good.
Maybe head down towards Chatfield also, they're closer to the mountains and accessible via rail, if you don't have your own transportation.
[EXIF data available. Click here to show/hide.]
Camera-Specific Properties: Equipment Make SONY Camera Model NEX-6 Camera Software Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.3 (Macintosh) Maximum Lens Aperture f/1.0 Image-Specific Properties: Horizontal Resolution 264 dpi Vertical Resolution 264 dpi Image Created 2015:12:08 11:48:58 Exposure Time 1/320 sec Exposure Program Normal Program ISO Speed Rating 100 Brightness 2.5 EV Exposure Bias 0 EV Metering Mode Pattern Light Source Other Flash No Flash, Compulsory Rendering Normal Exposure Mode Auto White Balance Manual Scene Capture Type Standard Contrast Normal Saturation Normal Sharpness Normal
>>2735539
>>2735552
I'm very familiar with diffraction causing poor image quality. But does this work differently with film? I know that Ansel Adams was part of the f-64 club, and if I remember correctly they shot exclusively at f-64, but I recall Ansel having incredibly sharp images. I figured this has something to do with the diffraction not taking place when it's being projected onto a plane (Film) unlike it going into small photo receptors
>>2736178
It's not so much to do with the media and more the format and the relative circle of confusion.
Large format film has a very large circle of confusion, and so f/64 is not diffraction limited.
35mm film (and digital) starts to show problems with diffraction past f/22 and is heavily limited by the time you get to f/32.
1.5x aps-c crop is diffraction limited at f/16.
