Stopping down (while it does induce diffraction) isn\'t the end of the world when you need the DOF or shutter speed. It is mostly when you are striving for optimal sharpness that f16/f22 becomes such a detriment (i.e. product photography) ... and thus you need a lens that is designed well to help minimize the diffraction.
I had never looked at the EF-S 60 before (I shoot FF) but had heard people say good things about it ... I was blown away (sample variation ) by the test shot. That combined with your complaint it sounds like you can\'t always trust what you \"hear\" ...
As you\'d expect from a prime, the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro delivers superior sharpness over a wide range of aperture settings. Wide open, its just a little on the soft side, but just one stop down at f/4, it\'s \"prickly sharp,\" and very sharp indeed all the way out to f/11. (Like many lenses, things get quite soft beyond f/16 or so, don\'t even consider using f/32, unless you\'re deliberately trying for a soft-focus effect.)
Jan 01, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Previous versions of RustyBug's message #10208014 « Product Photo »
) by the test shot. That combined with your complaint it sounds like you can\'t always trust what you \"hear\" ...