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Archive 2013 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?

  
 
Mark Capurso
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


In your opinion, at what aperture does the 24 - 105 L produce the sharpest images?

Thanks!

Edited on Aug 23, 2013 at 10:11 AM · View previous versions



Aug 22, 2013 at 04:20 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


From f5.6 to f8 dependent upon copy in hand.


Aug 22, 2013 at 04:32 PM
omarlyn
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


In the center, my 24-105 is already quite sharp at f/4 and gets slightly better at f5.6. The extreme edges and corners are never outstanding at any aperture on FF.

HTH,
Omar



Aug 22, 2013 at 04:34 PM
Gunzorro
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


I use f/8 as my go-to setting when light permits.


Aug 22, 2013 at 05:02 PM
gdanmitchell
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


Mark Capurso wrote:
In your opinion, at what aperature does the 24 - 105 L produce the sharpest images?

Thanks!


It is fine at typical mid-range apertures like f/8.

A few further points:

1. One of the great things about digital cameras and software post-processing is that it is very, very easy to conduct your own basic tests on your own lenses. This is a wonderful way to learn the "personality" of your lens more quickly than you would otherwise simply by using it over many months or years. The outlines of a simple test that can answer questions like this is to put the camera on the tripod, use a remote release, use mirror lock-up or shoot in live view, and simply produce a carefully-shot sequence of images at each aperture and at varying focal lengths - and compare!

2. The difference between the "sharpest aperture" (as measured in the center of the frame, perhaps?) and other close by apertures in negligible. For example, I can produce very sharp and quite large prints using the 24-105 on a full frame body and shooting at a range of apertures to as small as f/16. In most cases, factors other than sharpness are more critical to determining your aperture.

3. It is a bit tricky to even say what we mean by sharpest. For example, with some lenses you might get your sharpest center resolution at one aperture, but get slightly better corner resolution at a slightly smaller aperture. Does sharpest mean "highest resolution in the center regardless of corners" or does it mean " best distribution of sharpness across the frame?"

Good luck,

Dan



Aug 22, 2013 at 05:19 PM
Mark Capurso
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


Thanks for your input everyone.

GDan, in this case I mean 'best distribution of sharpness across the frame".



Aug 22, 2013 at 06:31 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


trenchmonkey wrote:
From f5.6 to f8 dependent upon copy in hand.


+1



Aug 22, 2013 at 06:41 PM
John Zeman
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


You might be interested in reading this.


Aug 22, 2013 at 06:53 PM
Dawei Ye
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


My opinion on this lens, after owning 2 copies, is that it is never sharp for long distance photos like landscapes.

For a closeup photo like a portrait, it's sharp across all focus lengths

But when it comes to long focus distance resolution, the results are fairly mediocre in the sharpness department. Event at f/8 it is in an entirely lower league than primes and other L zooms in its range



Aug 22, 2013 at 07:01 PM
gdanmitchell
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


Mark Capurso wrote:
GDan, in this case I mean 'best distribution of sharpness across the frame".


In that case, and assuming you shoot full frame, f/8 or so is probably your sweet spot, though you can happily shoot it at f/5.6-f/11 without concern, and I use mine at f/16 for a number of landscape subjects with great results in large prints (Technically, you are getting increased diffraction blur at this smaller aperture, but in the real world it isn't really an issue even in very large prints.) While the 24-105 can have some corner issues (vignetting at f/4 and barrel distortion at 24mm), it doesn't suffer from any particular corner sharpness issues.

In general, lenses tend to produce better corner sharpness at slightly smaller apertures than those at which you might be the absolute highest center resolution. Again, it is virtually certain that this won't make any difference to you.

Don't over-worry this, OK? ;-)

Dan



Aug 22, 2013 at 07:05 PM
fotografur
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


I saw 10 posts and figured there would be ten different answers..

Looks like I was wrong

Around f8 it is




Aug 22, 2013 at 07:09 PM
Mark Capurso
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


Thanks GDan. I do shoot full frame, landscapes 99% of the time.


Aug 22, 2013 at 07:11 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


F8 and be there.

http://www.shutterphoto.net/article/f8-and-be-there-what-we-can-learn-from-weegees-philosophy/
http://photo.net/philosophy-of-photography-forum/00QkDB
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?52851-What-does-quot-F8-and-be-there!-quot-REALLY-mean
http://www.matthewsmeal.com/articles/F8.html
http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013109/article/f8-And-Be-There



Aug 22, 2013 at 07:15 PM
skibum5
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


probably f/6.3 for 24mm center and f/7.1 for 40mm center and f/5 for 70mm center and f/7.1 for 105mm center and probably around f/10 (maybe f/11 real world) for corners across the board

some crisper lenses like the 24-70 II might have it more like f/4 for 24mm center and f/5 for 40mm center and f/5.6 for 70mm center and probably f/8 for the corners (f/9 real world) across the board other than maybe f/10 for 70mm corners (maybe f/11 real world)

f/8 can be a general compromise between not losing the peak sharpness too much yet due to diffraction, although some is lost already contrary to popular myth, while getting the corners to start to behave better - on many lenses



Aug 22, 2013 at 07:24 PM
scalesusa
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


The testing from 143 5D MK III bodies shows it is almost equally sharp from f/4.5 to f/6.3 and drops off at smaller apertures. With a 7D, it is slightly different, reasonably the same from f/5 - f/6.7

Its very usable from wide open to f/11.






http://www.mount-spokane-photography.com/Photography/Temp/i-zF99NcK/0/M/Canon%20EOS%205D%20Mark%20III~EF24-105mm%20f_4L%20IS%20USM-M.jpg




Aug 22, 2013 at 07:29 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


scalesusa wrote:
The testing from 143 5D MK III bodies shows it is almost equally sharp from f/4.5 to f/6.3 and drops off at smaller apertures....


Hi Ed,

Can you add a reference to the source for that data?

Thanks, Jim



Aug 22, 2013 at 07:39 PM
justruss
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


Yeah, that's a pretty cool chart/dataset.


Aug 23, 2013 at 03:15 AM
twistedlim
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


I don't think it really matters. The lens is sharp enough at any aperature. Use what you need. But as well said 5.6-8. It is not that much worse at f4 though.

PS Will, come back to the light from the dark side. We need more of your input!
There is a 1DX or a 1dMK4 out there with a 200-400 just waiting for you.



Aug 23, 2013 at 06:06 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


hey, Rich! Having one of the original "photon torpedos" I had several years to evaluate this zoom.
Mine was great at f4 from ~28 thru 100mm but max ctr sharpness was @ f5.6 Great walkaround and
the very last Canon lens I sold when I left for the darkside.



Aug 23, 2013 at 06:36 AM
cameron12x
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sharpest Aperature for 24-105 L?


I routinely use f/7.1 on all of my lenses.


Aug 23, 2013 at 07:35 AM
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