How do you deal with diffraction and noise when using high or low f-stops?

1 What is diffraction?

Diffraction is the phenomenon of light bending around the edges of an aperture, causing a loss of sharpness and contrast in your image. Diffraction becomes more noticeable when you use a smaller aperture, or a higher f-stop, because the light has less space to pass through. Diffraction can affect any lens, but it's more visible on smaller sensors, such as those in smartphones or compact cameras.

3 How to balance f-stop, diffraction, and noise?

As you can see, f-stop has a trade-off between diffraction and noise: the smaller the aperture, the more diffraction; the larger the aperture, the more noise. So how do you find the optimal f-stop for your video? The answer depends on several factors, such as your creative vision, your subject, your lighting, and your camera.

4 How to reduce diffraction?

One way to reduce diffraction is to use a larger aperture, or a lower f-stop, as long as it doesn't compromise your depth of field or your exposure. You can also use a neutral density filter, or a ND filter, to reduce the amount of light entering your lens, and allow you to use a lower f-stop without overexposing your image. Another way to reduce diffraction is to use a higher resolution camera, or a larger sensor, as they can capture more details and contrast.

5 How to reduce noise?

One way to reduce noise is to use a smaller aperture, or a higher f-stop, as long as it doesn't compromise your sharpness or your exposure. You can also use artificial lighting, or a reflector, to increase the amount of light on your subject, and allow you to use a higher f-stop without underexposing your image. Another way to reduce noise is to use a lower ISO setting, or a better noise reduction software, as they can smooth out the grain and color variations.

6 How to choose the right f-stop for your video?

Ultimately, the right f-stop for your video depends on your artistic intention and your technical limitations. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a range of possibilities that you can experiment with. A good rule of thumb is to use the lowest f-stop that gives you enough depth of field and sharpness, and the highest f-stop that gives you enough light and noise reduction. You can also use tools like depth of field calculators, histograms, and focus peaking to help you find the best f-stop for your video.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?