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Pentax 645Z Diffraction Effects on Micro Contrast
If one is going to bother with a heavy and bulky and expensive camera for its 50 megapixel sensor, then strict shot discipline is demanded, including an understanding of diffraction losses with stopping down.
This crop shows the effects of diffraction, which dulls the image as the lens is stopped down. This crop taken from the Dolls aperture series.
Focus lands just in front of this doll’s face (see hair). Stopping down to f/8 delivers very fine detail on the face and hair and hat.
Use the A/B comparison mode to compare f/8 to f/11, f/16, f/22: observe that f/11 goes slightly dull and this worsens at f/16 (considerable loss of micro contrast) and by f/22 a major loss of micro contrast is seen.
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