PracticalPhotograPhy.com 81tip
no tripod?
no problem
Just remember to keep your
shutter speed equal to or
greater than your focal
length to avoid
camera shake.Every lens has an aperture at
which it produces its sharpest
results, and this aperture is
commonly referred to as a lens’
sweet spot. This aperture will vary
from model to model and is often
2 to 3 stops above a lens’ widest
setting. So, as a rule of thumb, if
your lens’ widest aperture is f/2.8,
for instance, you’ll want to shoot
at f/5.6 or f/8 to achieve maximum
sharpness. If you’re lucky enough
to have a super-fast prime in your
kit bag, with a maximum aperture
of, say, f/1.4, you’ll want to stop
down to f/2.8 or f/4. We often
confuse sharpness with depth-
of-field, and while the two share
a special symbiotic relationship,
they’re very distinct types of
measurement. The key is to
decide which is more important –
resolving power or overall focus- and what compromises you’re
prepared to make. It’s also worth
remembering that, to the naked
eye, the differences in sharpness
may not be immediately obvious.
Find your lens’ sweet spot
Nikon D810 | 370mm | 1/100sec | f/11 | ISO 160