Do modern "Crons perform well at f11 and beyond?

[parasko]

Hi all,

Well, I've been in the Leica game for a couple of months now and I have had time to reflect on my technique with my M7 and 35/50 current "Cron kit.

I currently shoot at around f8 for greater dof, so that more of the scene is in focus for quick street photography shots.

I know Leica lenses usually perform best wide open, so my query is whether anyone is using these lenses at say f11-f13 to maximise dof? That is, does image quality decrease significantly with these lenses at such f stops?

Any comments appreciated.

 

[hans_s]

You can use any f-stop with full confidence.

 

[John Elder]

Your 35 +50mm summicron lenses, like most lens, perform best at F5.6-F8. After f8, resolution gets worse due to diffraction limitation.

 

[35mmdelux]

ok up to f11. After this difraction set in.

 

[hans_s]

The question was: "does image quality decrease significantly". Significantly. I don't think it does.

 

[gavinlg]

the lenses are good at any f-stop, but anything over about f16 will get slightly softer. You probably wouldn't notice though.

 

[rlouzan]

Resolution gets worse due to diffraction from f/Stop :

4 x f/Stop = Focal Length

15mm f2.8 - F4

20mm f4

24mm f5.6

28mm f5.6 - 8

35mm f8

50mm f11

Leica school

 

[kipkeston]

Doesn't the resolution of the film play a part as well? Or something to that effect.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Leica lenses do not perform "best wide open." Perhaps you're "mis-remembering" an oft-cited claim that Leica lenses are better than all other lenses when shot wide open. Still, they get better (sharper) as you close them down 2 or 3 stops from wide open.

I don't think there are any properly functioning lenses that are actually working at their best at the widest aperture. Of course, someone will chime in about the super-rare, 1956 Leica Googletron, produced in a quantity of 4, for the Shah, featuring only two apertures, 5.6 and 11....

 

[gavinlg]

The two lenses mentioned above have a maximum f-stop of f16.
So how should one notice any softness over f16?

Z.

In the real world - eg not test shots of lines in a studio, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between f8 and f11. f16 is where it starts to get a little softer in the real world. I wouldn't hesitate to use f11 however I try to keep away from f16 and higher unless I need to.

All IMO of course.

 

[ferider]

Stay at f11 and below. And if only to be able to use higher shutter speeds. For example, you will certainly get sharper pictures with 1/250 than with 1/125.

Best,

Roland.

 

[sepiareverb]

Some simple tests will give you the answer as it applies to your subjects. Run something at 5.6 and at 16, the resulting prints will tell the story. Nobody else has your eyes nor your needs for their prints.

 

[gavinlg]

The two lenses mentioned above have a maximum f-stop of f16.
So how should one notice any softness over f16?

Z.

In the real world - eg not test shots of lines in a studio, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between f8 and f11. f16 is where it starts to get a little softer in the real world. I wouldn't hesitate to use f11 however I try to keep away from f16 and higher unless I need to.

All IMO of course.

Sorry, I missread your question. You're right, I'm used to glass going to f22 at least.

Cheers

 

[parasko]

Stay at f11 and below. And if only to be able to use higher shutter speeds. For example, you will certainly get sharper pictures with 1/250 than with 1/125.

Best,

Roland.

Good point Roland...and thanks to all for your comments.

For this type of photography, I think I will stick within the f5.6-f11 range and experiment.