What's limiting P&S f/stop?
Most P&S cameras I'm aware of have the highest f/number around f/8, maaaybe f/11. Is it because of the overall smaller lense diameter? But pin-hole cameras prove that you can have a really tiny hole and still get the picture. What gives? :scratch
"May the f/stop be with you!"
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At sub-miniature sensor (1/1/8, 1/2.5" & the like) sizes and teensy weensy lenses, f/8 and f/11 are already at logical diffraction limits. F 16 would be a fraction of a millimeter, and become useless optically.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
David, thanks!
So, you confirm my assumption that it's the sheer diameter of the optical path?
I understand that about the subcompacts and camera phones, but I thought that sub-$1000 P&S (like my late sony F828) have decent size high quality glass and even sensor on par with many entry level dslrs.
Imagine getting a $300 camera to be able to mechanically close to that size with accuracy. This info is all totally irrelevant to your question though but i wanted to sound like i knew something.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Sounds reasonable to me. We are talking tiny movements on these things.
BTW, ever thought about a drill press? They even have rigs for the Dremel tools.
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
David_S85 has a good point about diffraction being potentially the limiting factor, but I'm curious why you want smaller aperatures than f/8. Consider the following:
1. The lenses on P&S cameras are very wide angle lenses compared to 35mm camera lenses. With such a wide angle lens, you get much more depth of field than with an 35mm equivalent focal length lens.
2. Small aperatures tend to require higher ISOs. Considering that P&S sensors are only good at ISO 100 and slower, your opportunities to use f/16 and beyond are limited.
Even if diffraction were not an issue, these two other considerations might make it unnecessary for camera manufacturers to provide smaller aperatures than f/8 or f/11.
Just my 2 cents, anyway.
Mike
http://www.shop.com/op/~Dremel_Drill_Press-prod-40618002-54028282?sourceid=298
So, any examples of these pinhole projects? Sounds cool.
BTW, sorry for the hijack....
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
I just stumbled upon this very well-written tutorial at Cambridge in Color. Well worth the read. It has some handy calculators to compare depth of field for different sensor sizes. You could use this to quantify what depth of field you are or aren't missing if your P&S can only go to f/8. I think what you'll find is that you're really missing with a P&S is the option for shallow depth of field. Small sensors just can't make it happen.
For long exposures, you could always use a ND filter if the P&S accepts standard filters.
Not sure what you mean by sun-shooting.
Mike
Something like this:
You can't really get a decent "star" out of 35mm-type lens unless you close down about f/20.
Wow! That's an amazing shot. Was it with film or digital?
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All digital, baby
RAW + post-processing. Modern cameras and sowftware are quite capable if you use them right:-)