Dragon Fruit

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike I love the colors in this image but I'm not sure about the composition. I googled Dragon Fruit to see what it is like and I think it is worth trying another shot by cutting the fruit in half and showing the inside of it

[Stagecoach]

Mike, having looked at this one a few times I feel there's something not right with it when I compare it with the IQ I'm so used to seeing with your bottle images.

It may be that the subject surface/texture is the cause or the lighting but I'm wondering if you are pushing the aperture to obtain DoF at the cost of IQ?

[Chrisclick]

Completely agree regarding diminished IQ.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Binnur! I plan on making another photo that includes the inside of the fruit.

Thanks also to Grahame! I used the smallest aperture to achieve the desired depth of field. That aperture is very clearly not the sweet spot for the lens I used (and wouldn't be for any lens). I've read that f/18 is the smallest that should be used on this lens to obtain maximum image quality. With admittedly minimal testing that wasn't ideal in any way, I determined no difference between f/18 and f/29. This photo was made at f/45. Even so, I've never been concerned about diffraction when displaying images at such small sizes as used for display on the Internet and I have no plans to ever make a large print of this photo.

I will eventually get around to learning how to use focus stacking, which will of course allow me to use the ideal aperture when it comes to achieving maximum image quality presented at even large sizes. I'm just not there yet when it comes to taking the time to learning how to use the hardware and software to make all of that happen.

[JBW]

Sorry, Brian, but I don't understand your most recent post. If I click the TinyPic announcement and then got to Photo #1, that photo is the same as my own photo. I believe that to be the case because the two image files have the same name when saving them to my computer. I was expecting your Photo #1 to be your preferred version of the image.

Let's try this one more time. Nope tiny pic is no working. So instead of harsh how about your shot was too saturated and grungy for my taste?

[xpatUSA]

<> This photo was made at f/45. Even so, I've never been concerned about diffraction when displaying images at such small sizes as used for display on the Internet and I have no plans to ever make a large print of this photo.

An interesting use of diffraction-limited photography! While many would have perhaps preferred sharp detail in a fruit shot, you traded sharpness for DOF.

For a camera with 6um pixels, f/45 produces a blur diameter (Airy disk) of over ten times the pixel size - and the lens itself is down to zero MTF at only 40 lp/mm, so I imagine that the shot was quite soft before post-processing!

[Mike Buckley]

So instead of harsh how about your shot was too saturated and grungy for my taste?

That definitely makes sense.

[Mike Buckley]

While many would have perhaps preferred sharp detail in a flower shot, you traded sharpness for DOF.

The diffraction apparently has a LOT more impact than I realized, as the subject is not a flower.

[xpatUSA]

The diffraction apparently has a LOT more impact than I realized, as the subject is not a flower.

Duly edited.

I guess my point and the effort that went into it was, sadly, obscured by the typo . . .

[DanK]

I will eventually get around to learning how to use focus stacking, which will of course allow me to use the ideal aperture when it comes to achieving maximum image quality presented at even large sizes. I'm just not there yet when it comes to taking the time to learning how to use the hardware and software to make all of that happen.

No hardware is needed. You can buy software from Helicon that will control the change in focus from shot to shot if you shoot tethered, but you don't need it. I own the software but have used it only a few times, and I almost never shoot tethered. All you need is stacking software. I use Zerene for that.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for that, Dan!

I've got one of your posts bookmarked from a long time ago that will be the first thing I review when I decide to get on with focus stacking. When I mentioned the need to learn how to use the hardware, I was referring to the details of changing the focus the right amount each time, not moving the camera while changing the focus and stuff like that. You have no idea how much of a klutz I can be!