Lens Diffraction In Photography - Does it RUIN your images?

My Channel membership is now open!

Get a Hoodie!

The One and Only Lens Hoodie!

Want to learn more about photography or using your Olympus camera. I have coaching sessions available in my Webstore:

Videos on my channel:

Photography tutorials:

Best Settings for Olympus cameras:

OM-D E-M5-series:

OM-D E-M1 MKII:

OM-D E-M10 MKII:

E-M5 MKIII:

E-M1 X:

OM-D E-M10-series:

M.Zuiko lenses I have tested:

Disclaimer: I am an Olympus Visionary. I make all my content with mirrorless Olympus micro four-thirds gear.

Links to my Olympus gear (disclaimer: using these links when doing purchases, you support this channel. You pay the same price and I get a few bucks to finance this channel.)

_____________________________________________
This video was made with the following gear:
My video gear:

Camera:
Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKII

Lens:
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f1.2 Pro

Microphone:
Rode Wireless Go

Light:
Dörr flexible LED light

Memory card:
Sandisk Extreme Pro 64GB

Tripod:
Peak Desing Travel Tripod

________________________________________

Links to my accounts all around the web:




#Olympus #PeterForsgard

(disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. Using these links when doing purchases, you support this channel. You pay the same price and I get a few bucks to finance this channel.)

[GK-lfll]

The gist of the topic in this video is very useful, but it greatly undermines your efforts in the background. Thanks for sharing your observations.

[alexsolovyov]

Good Job. But on 8:32 that is a small mistake )) How it can be - f1.2 at 17/1.8? May be you mean f2.0 or f2.2?

[momchilyordanov]

Ever since I bought two 2.8 zooms from the Olympus PRO line, I use my f/1.8 primes less and less. They are 1.3 stops brighter, which is noticeable, but wide open they are visibly softer than the zooms at 2.8. As a result, I just use the zooms, which are much more convenient with flexible focal lengths. The primes in reality have only the advantage of being smaller.

[hanzkilian]

Another good video Peter, but really I think photographer are starting to become over critical. Pixel Peepers are really destroying the joy of photography. People worry TOO MUCH about diffraction, noise, etc. Who goes to an art gallery with a magnifying glass to view and enjoy paintings. Just print and stand back and enjoy.

[domenphotography]

You have really inspired me to pursue my dreams and start my own photography channel, thank you a lot, I love your videos!

[rickbear]

Another good explanation, Peter.
My only problem is that my smartphone screen is too small to see any difference, and so I'm having to go to a large hi-res screen. What I would like is to download the various sets. Can you make these available for download, please, Peter.

Thanks again,
Rick

[bjjohnson]

Thanks for your videos... really enjoying them, and answering a lot of my questions!

[hellsing]

Everyday I find a new question after trying new photography techniques, this time with macro but I wondered how much could I stop down my lens before dofrsction kicks in on my kit lens!

Your video is exactly what I needed, thank you.

[KRBY]

Awesome video. QI the zuiko 1.8s need to be above 2.x. I know you are an ambassador, but would be cool to see the other lenses too like Pan Leica 25mm f1.4

[JonPYbanez]

interesting content piece, great job on the setup and investigation. I'd have to wonder if focus distance also has an impact on lens diffraction as well? example, will an object at close focus show less diffraction than any object at a further focus distance? will the lens perform optimally within a certain focus distance? keep up the great work.

[derekbarkham]

Hi Peter, that info is very useful and will help me become a better photographer. Thank you so much.

[ruuddirks]

There are indeed so many other factors determining the "quality" that concerns about diffraction are more of a distraction than a main point of focus.

[royjenkins-packer]

Interesting info. F11 new jumper Peter. Thanks 👍

[ipadista]

8:32, recommended aperture range for the 17mm f1.8: f1.2 - f11
Hm, how do I dial it to 1.2?? :)

[egilandersrnning]

Great video! Useful information about diffraction with real world testing

[jonarnestrand]

I am a hobby photographer and this video is very informative to me. Thank you!

I use OM D 1 Mark 2 with M.Zuiko 12-40 Pro. I also use M.Zuiko 40-150 Pro in some landscape picktures.

When I take pictures of landscapes, I use f8. It may be wrong, but I think this gives the best sharpness at all distances. I have lately taken several pictures with different focal points, and blended them together in Photoshop. Usually, I use (1) the closest focal point, (2) about 1/3 of the distance or the middle of the distance, and (3) infinity. Maybe another picture too. Do you have any comments on whether this is correct?

But the main question is: If I use f4, f5, 6, and focus on multiple distances, can I get a better result? Is f8 still ideal when blending photos together in Photoshop?

I know this is not the most important thing, but I have to admit that I try to get the sharpest possible pictures. I also constantly try to get a picture that tells something to the viewer ...

Thank you for your reply!

[thomasbraunstorfinger]

Thank you. Are you showing 100% crops? At f/11 you cannot get more than 5 Megapixel resolution out of an MFT sensor, so i would avoid apertures > f/5.6 when possible.

[Rafaga]

Thanks for this lens diffraction test. Useful and helpful as always, bearing in mind that the story behind a photo is the most important factor as you already mentioned...

[優暉]

Useful information for leisure photographer like me. Hoping you can do the same for f4 pro lenses……

[donaldgould]

Thank you Peter, I appreciate yhis video verh much. I had done my own less than scientific test and reached more or less the same conclusion, however, having seen this I wl be more confident in using f11 when necessary.