Hi friends:
I just got a Canon 5D Mark IV. Worked long and hard to save enough for it. The only lens I have for it ATM is the Canon EF 50mm F1.4 (an unbelievably sharp lens).
I went out the other night to do some low-light photography at the Buffalo Waterfront at and after sunset through the blue hour.
My settings varied from ISO 400 through 3200, F22 through F2.8, shutter speed various. Some of the shots came out great. Exposure was fine, noise was introduced at higher ISOs, obviously.
My question is regarding APERTURE specifically.
If I have my lens set on INFINITY (set via the window on the side of the lens), would a wider aperture affect apparent focus in distant subjects.
For example, I was standing about 100-150 YARDS away from the Buffalo Lighthouse. I adjusted for exposure mostly using aperture and ISO. Because sail boats were still going by, I want to have a fast enough shutter to not have motion blur.
As the blue hour crept in, I had to go to lower and lower ISO, ultimately down to about F2.8. (I don't go lower on this lens because CA is awful as it nears F2.0 and lower.).
When I look at the shots in Lightroom, the lighthouse when zoomed in seems out of focus.
So my question is really this:
With a subject > 100 yards away, will lower apertures reduce it's apparent focus?
This lens is incredibly sharp. As an amateur, it is without a doubt, the sharpest I've ever personally had.
But to me, the details on the lighthouse seemed soft even before i adjusted noise in post processing.
To be honest, the photos look really good in small form. But I guess what I'm trying to understand is how to have distant subjects in clearer (e.g., sharper) focus.
or is it a case where the focal range of the lens comes into play? I only have a 50 prime, so I've nothing to test against.
I guess what I'm getting at is how to have distant stationary subjects >100 yards away in a landscape shot have greater sharpness.
When I do candids with this lens, the sharpness is just stunning and unbelievable. But for mid-range landscape subjects, it's ok. Nothing to write home about.
Anyways, just trying to learn if I made a mistake on trying to keep a 100 yard + subject to be sharp by setting the aperture down to low? Should I have kept the Aperture at F8 or higher and simply adjusted Shutterspeed instead in order to get the lighthouse in greater sharp detail?