This forum has been terrific for all sorts of information and advice and I was hoping for some feedback about the following situation. I have purchased the titled lens as my first LF optic and have been blown away with it resolution, contrast, and accurate color rendition. There is also a "glow" associated with this lens that is difficult to describe unless viewing the chromes on a color corrected light table. Currently, I am viewing all my chromes with a Schneider 3x 6x7 loupe which I find makes lens performance easy to gauge. I recently took an image at about 1/4 life-size that required a focus spread of 10mm after optimizing the plane of focus. Information from this forum suggested an aperture of f/64. The results were less than impressive-very soft edges on all the ferns and venation was poorly resolved. Up to now, this lens has been a stellar performer for landscape use even stopped down to f/45. I'm just guessing here, but am I seeing a diffraction effect that is exasberrated by the fact that I am at 1/4-life size (i.e. my effective aperture is greater than f/64), or in general, should LF lenses just never be stopped down to their minimum aperture?
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