Landscape Fixed Aperture

[iowahiker]

Our long time (10+ years) moderately sophisticated point-and-shoot camera lens motor began to sound weak so we moved to the current generation moderately sophisticated point-and-shoot camera and were less happy with our full sun landscape pictures. Comparing the older camera automatic settings with the new one showed an aperture switch from typically f5.0-5.6 to f3.0-4.0 in full sun. Setting the new camera to fixed aperture f5.6 produced the desired picture results. Just curious (since I am happy with the results), does anyone routinely set fixed aperture for full sun landscape pictures and if so at what value?

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I typically try for the sweet spot of the lens. Usually f8-f11. DSLR and aperture priority or manual mode most of the time.

 

[iowahiker]

My point-and-shoot goes up to f8.0 which I have never tried. I assume f11 is your maximum f-stop. Any special conditions to look for when using a maximum f-stop (tripod, distance, etc) other than full sun? How do you tell what the "sweet spot" of the lens is? thanks.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

My point-and-shoot goes up to f8.0 which I have never tried. I assume f11 is your maximum f-stop. Any special conditions to look for when using a maximum f-stop (tripod, distance, etc) other than full sun? How do you tell what the "sweet spot" of the lens is? thanks.

Depending on which lens I am shooting, my smallest aperture is typically either f22 or f32. I almost never shoot that stopped down because of the diffraction that is introduced. My largest apertures are f2.8 to f4, so I typically stop down three or four stops to get a good depth of field (DOF) and limit diffraction. My assumption is that somewhere around f5.6 would be the stop that gives you the best DOF. I suspect that diffraction will not be an issue at f8, but you have a pretty small sensor in the point-and-shoot, so I am just guessing.

 

[Lighthawk]

When you want the foreground and background to be on focus, it's not uncommon to stop down to f11 or f16. Wide angle lenses don't need as much. On my 14mm lens f8 works fine for landscape.