When f-stops are high (for DOF or whatever) some people seem to get afraid of using cameras with small pixels. This is because they approach their "diffraction-limit" (at the pixel level) at lower (faster) f-stops.
THIS IS WRONG!!!! DON'T BE AFRAID OF SMALL PIXELS!!!!
Smaller pixels have a detail advantage
at every f-stop .
The test below is with all images at the same final size, all at the same f-stop (except the last one - see next paragraph), all at the same focal length, and the smaller pixels
clearly record more detail even though they are diffraction-limited. Yes, the additional detail is not nearly what the over 3-times smaller pixels would record if they weren't diffraction-limited, but they get more detail nevertheless.
Of course, if you want the most detail possible, use the smallest pixels at faster f-stops, as the last image shows. However, this isn't always possible due to DOF or slow-shutter-speed needs (use ND filters to avoid that last issue).
Can we now
please stop saying crazy stuff like "the 7D can't be used past f8 while I can use the 5D all the way to f16" or other nonsense like that? Doubt it, but here's hoping!
P.S. Ignore noise in this test. ISOs were all at base, not equivalent ISOs.
--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)