Having recently acquired a D700 I would be interested to know what other users consider as the diffraction limit for the camera

Alan

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Hi Alan

With most lenses on a D700 you will see the first evidence of diffraction around f/11 from a technical standpoint, but until you get to f/16 or so it probably makes little difference. I would consider f/16 marginal if I wanted maximum sharpness, but there are plenty of situations where DOF may be more important. For macro, I would not hesitate to use f/16 or f/22. I'd try to keep my landscape images around f/11-f/13 since the difference in DOF is relatively small.

For those with a D800, these numbers would all be reduced by about one stop.


Eric Bowles
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Alan - Eric offers excellent advice. Diffraction is usually the last factor reducing image sharpness and is frequently over ridden by other concerns, most often, poor technique(s). Removing all diffraction is meannigless if you don't have adequate DOF. Ny advice is to enjoy capturing meaningful images, enjoy a wonderful hobby and don't get wrapped around the axle on technical fine points. I hope you are as wowed by your D700 as i was with my first D700. Even though I have scrutinized opinios and other factors concerning the D800, I am not convibnced that for my work it brings anything that i NEED. And in fact, at this juncture I am most likely to grab a "low mileage" cherry D700 for a back-up to the two I already employ. And oh yes -- enjoy this wonderful forum for sharing ideas and methods, as I am sure you have for a decade now!

Alan
Waterloo, IL, USA
www.proimagingmidamerica.com

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Thanks guys for your excellent advice and for reminding me not to get too obsessed by technical trivia, something I find easy to do with the vast amounts of information available on-line!
My only regret with buying the D700 is that I didn't do it sooner.

Alan
Stanbury, Yorkshire,UK

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>My only regret with buying the D700 is that I didn't do it
>sooner.
>
+1!

D700 l N90s l AF-S 16-35 f4 l AF-S 24-85 f3.5-f4.5G VR l AF-S 70-200 f2.8G VRII l AF-S 50 f1.8G l AF-S 300 f4 l TC-14EII l 2x SB600 l Autometer IIIF.
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