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Optimum aparture for close-up portraits in 4x5


Hsandler, thanks for the input. I checked, and the GG is facing the correct way.
 
I shoot close-up portraits in 4x5 regularly. I shoot at F16 or F22, I have tried shooting at apertures wider than that and personally, I think you just get too many missed shots. On top of that, it is very tough on your sitter. I would also recommend putting your sitter on a tall stool, that made a massive difference for me, it cuts down hugely on wasted shots.
 
The lens will stop down to f64 but I understand that it is best to avoid extreme apertures because they increase diffraction blur.
I don't think f/64 on a large format lens would be considered "extreme". As jnanian explained somewhere (I can't remember) it's not the f/number but the actual size of the aperture opening...I think. So, since f/64 on a large format lens is probably a larger opening than f/22 on a 35mm format lens, there is little chance of diffraction. I just measured my 50mm Jupiter-8 lens - f/22 is about 2mm in diameter. On my Fuji 180mm - f/64 is about 3mm.