Is diffraction an increasing worry? Or, what's wrong with more megapixels?

Started 3 months ago | Questions thread
MPA1
Senior MemberPosts: 1,496
Like?
Re: Is diffraction an increasing worry? Or, what's wrong with more megapixels?
In reply to Macx, 3 months ago

Macx wrote:

MPA1 wrote:

I prefer to go and make pictures rather than worry about physics.

No client of mine has yet rejected an image on grounds of diffraction, too many or not enough megapixels or any other such technical sideshow...!

Well, getting the exposure and focus right is physics as well. We can allow the camera to do all the calculations for us, but understanding what they are can be helpful. Framing and perspective is physics for that matter too, even if we have a much more intuitive understanding of these things.

Since you don't worry about those things, you may have missed my point, though. My argument was that it's the final image that is the interesting bit, and that we aren't as limited by diffraction as is usually postulate, simply because the practical, useful resolution of the final image mostly is much lower than what the camera sensor picks up.

I've never yet - in over 30 years of photography - concerned myself for so much as one second about whether I am 'limited' by diffraction....

Images are intended to evoke an emotional response, not a sub-atomic level dissection of their component parts and creation! A good photograph is a good photograph - it matters not whether the shutter speed, aperture, composition, lighting or whatever was technically 'wrong'.

We aren't significantly limited by the majority of equipment available to us today - much as we may like to claim otherwise to cover up our own flaws...!

Reply   Reply with quote   Complain
Post (hide subjects)Posted by
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark post MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow