Another Zoom question

[dicklaxt]

When taking pics with any Zoom lens is there a published record or formula to determine what is the optimum setting for the best overall picture content?I have to assume that each lens of equal spec would vary but looking for a ball park figure.

dick

[dicklaxt]

Once again I have found in my forum travels that yes there is a sweet spot where you would consistantly take better pictures,,,,it is not a published thing as I asked but rather one that is determined by taking many photos and noting their composition. The aperture setting where the sweet spot occurs can even be outside the extreme specs of your lens. This I'm told happens on the non pro lens because of lesser quality control and fabrication methods.I hope this satisfys others whose curiosity grinds on them as mine does on me.

dick

[jerryph]

wait... do NOT confuse zoom level with a lens' sweet spot, they are not necessarily related.

When they talk about a zoom level, you have different levels of distortion that are discussed. Barreling or vignetting, for example.

The sweet spot of a lens is more commonly referred to as the aperture of a lens at which it will take it's sharpest pictures. Expressed as F/(something).


The two are not directly comparable and discuss different aspects of lens issues.

So when discussing the LENS' ability to technically capture a scene with the least distortion, you want to not be at the extremes of the zoom ranges (usually somewhere in the middle) and the aperture being somewhere between F/8 to F/13.

However, this is extremely limiting, and one has to take into account HOW MUCH distortion will be visible and is it correctable in post processing or not. The short answer is that most issues can be corrected in post processing, but this takes both knowledge, and understanding of these issues and how to correct for them in software.

[dicklaxt]

Sorry if I implied that. I was saying only that the sweet spot on a non prolens could on occasion be outside the extremes.....I think LOL

dick

[jerryph]

"Outside the extremes"... what exactly do you mean by that? A zoom lens has a fixed amount of zoom... 16-85, 24-70, 70-200, etc... it cannot go beyond these fixed limits, therefore it is impossible to take pictures outside these limits. The "extremes" at each end are it's minimum and maximum focal lengths. One cannot go "outside" these extremes.