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Aperture Series: Banana Slug
The series shown here is a learning tool for understanding the vignetting, bokeh and blur characteristics across the aperture series from f/1.4 through f/16. Also, the series shows how critical precise focus can be, even at f/8, as depth of field shows clear limits. One must choose exactly where the most important focus is for a scene like this; I wanted sharp slugs!
Finally, artistic intent decides the aperture— blindly going for maximum depth of field does not necessarily produce a better image. Somewhere in the f/5.6 - f/11 range is probably best for this image, but one could easily argue that wider apertures with less depth of field providea more directed intention, by forcing the viewer more into the center of the image (by sharpness).
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Diglloyd Guide to Zeiss offers comprehensive integrated coverage of Zeiss DSLR lenses for Canon and Nikon. Nearly a decade in the making, it covers everything you need to know for every lens in the ZF.2, ZE, Milvus and Otus lines. Guide to Mirrorless and Zeiss ZM rangefinder lenses in Guide to Leica.
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- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt. And see Lloyd’s articles for Lenspire.Zeiss.com.
