What is the sharpest Aperture On A Lens?

[Sonny]

The fable that f/8 or f/11 are usually the sharpest apertures simply is not true. In fact, f/8 was not the sharpest aperture on any one of the three lenses I tested.

What is the Sharpest Aperture on a Lens?

[DougC]

Well, this tells us about the three lenses he tested. Unless he has tested hundreds of each, his test is meaningless to the rest of us. Bottom line, test your own lenses yourself.

[Sonny]

Uh...I believe he says that.

The point I am trying to make in this article is that there is no way to tell what is the sharpest aperture of your lenses without simply testing it on your own lenses.

[DougC]

I guess I missed tht part.

[Photogdude]

99% of the time it will be very close to 2 stops down from wide open

[jfoureyes]

All my lenses are tested in the field not on a flat surface...I don't shoot many things that are flat in nature.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by Photogdude

99% of the time it will be very close to 2 stops down from wide open

That' pretty much what I have always heard or read. 2, sometimes 3 stops down.

[DougC]

Amen, Jim!

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by jfoureyes

All my lenses are tested in the field not on a flat surface...I don't shoot many things that are flat in nature.

Focal planes are flat and you shoot those every time. Just sayin.

[jfoureyes]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Focal planes are flat and you shoot those every time. Just sayin.

Shoot a wall then go out and shoot a wildflower... big difference....

[TheFantasticG]

Originally Posted by jfoureyes

Shoot a wall then go out and shoot a wildflower... big difference....

I believe the word you're looking for Sonny is, "Touche'"

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by TheFantasticG

I believe the word you're looking for Sonny is, "Touche'"

Never.

[lhdvies]

I don't shoot many wildlife images that are flat either--they just look that way after I'm finished.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by lhdvies

I don't shoot many wildlife images that are flat either--they just look that way after I'm finished.

I tend to have that same problem.

[ronocnikral]

while I don't know what lenses were tested, I've also found a big difference between zoom and prime lenses. With prime lenses tending to have generally sharper focus all around.

I believe the f/8 or f/11 rule originated trying to also compensate for user error or error within the focusing system--attempting to make the focal plane large enough so any circle of confusion is within reason.

I have a couple lenses which is "sharp" wide open, so test your own lenses. Also, while people can objectively look at this to the most minute detail, there is some degree of subjectivity to which one can be satisfied. Viewing medium being one example of a variable which can vary from person to person and one may be willing to accept less (or demand more) "sharpness."