Videos

You’ve probably heard the term “lens diffraction” to describe how image sharpness suffers as you use smaller and smaller aperture settings. While depth of field increases as you stop down a lens, the amount of fine detail a lens can resolve decreases at smaller f/stops.

In the video below, nature photographer Steve Perry does a great job of explaining the theory behind lens diffraction, and how it applies to shooting photos in real-world situations. He also debunks some commonly held myths on the topic, to give you the real scoop.

Perry offers clear photos and graphics to demystify the concept of diffraction, and explains how far you can safely stop down a lens, the impact of diffraction when using cameras with high-resolution sensors, and whether it’s possible to “sharpen out” the effects of diffraction in a photo.

After watching this excellent primer, you’ll feel more comfortable when you have to stop down a lens when shooting under bright lighting conditions. There are more helpful, illustrated tips on Perry’s You Tube channel.

You may also want to watch two earlier Perry primers we posted, one on using a camera’s histogram to achieve perfect exposures, and another explaining how to customize a Nikon DSLR.