Lenses

Diffraction Versus Aperture

When choosing the best F#, be aware of diffraction.
Dec. 18, 2024

What is Diffraction?

Diffraction is a physical phenomenon that causes light to spread when passing through an aperture, which limits resolution as aperture size decreases (higher f-numbers). It results in a softening or blurring of details in the image, becoming more significant as the aperture is reduced.

Diffraction and Aperture Size:

Diffraction occurs at all apertures but becomes noticeable and starts affecting image sharpness at smaller apertures. With a 64 MP sensor, the pixel size is relatively small (around 0.8 μm). Small pixel sizes are more sensitive to diffraction, meaning diffraction will affect image quality at a wider aperture compared to sensors with larger pixels.

To read the entire article, visit Westech Optical.

Sign up for Vision Systems Design Newsletters

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Vision Systems Design, create an account today!