Nikon Z 8 Diffraction Limit
With a 720 nm infrared filter, the Nikon Z 8 stays free of visible diffraction up to ƒ/5, and diffraction starts to soften images at ƒ/9. Unconverted (hot mirror), it is diffraction-free up to ƒ/7.1 and soft from ƒ/12.7. These limits come from its 4.35 μm pixel pitch: longer infrared wavelengths make a larger Airy disk, so diffraction appears at wider apertures than in visible light.
Open the Nikon Z 8 in the calculator
Nikon Z 8 specifications
- Pixel pitch: 4.35 μm
- Megapixels: 45.7
- Pixels: 8256 × 5504
- Sensor: Full Frame, 35.9 × 23.9 mm
Buy the Nikon Z 8: KEH Adorama B&H
Sharpest ƒ-stop by filter
Safe is the narrowest aperture with a diffraction ratio of 3 or lower at every wavelength the filter passes. Caution allows up to 3.75. Avoid is the first aperture where any wavelength reaches 4.5. All three are calculated to the one-third stop. See which wavelengths each filter passes.
| Filter | Safe | Caution | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full spectrum | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| Hot mirror or UV/IR cut | ƒ/7.1 | ƒ/9 | ƒ/12.7 |
| 470 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 550 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 590 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 665 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 720 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 780 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 830 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 930 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| 1000 nm high-pass | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| IR Chrome | ƒ/5 | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/9 |
| UV Bandpass | ƒ/12.7 | ƒ/16 | ƒ/20.2 |
Diffraction ratio at each ƒ-stop
The Airy disk diameter divided by the 4.35 μm pixel pitch, for every wavelength from ultraviolet to infrared. A filter only passes some of these wavelengths; the table above applies each filter’s set. How the ratio is calculated.
| ƒ-stop | 350 nm | 400 nm | 470 nm | 550 nm | 590 nm | 665 nm | 720 nm | 780 nm | 830 nm | 930 nm | 1000 nm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ƒ/1.4 | 0.27 | 0.31 | 0.37 | 0.43 | 0.46 | 0.52 | 0.57 | 0.61 | 0.65 | 0.73 | 0.79 |
| ƒ/2 | 0.39 | 0.45 | 0.53 | 0.62 | 0.66 | 0.75 | 0.81 | 0.88 | 0.93 | 1.04 | 1.12 |
| ƒ/2.8 | 0.55 | 0.63 | 0.74 | 0.86 | 0.93 | 1.04 | 1.13 | 1.23 | 1.3 | 1.46 | 1.57 |
| ƒ/4 | 0.79 | 0.9 | 1.05 | 1.23 | 1.32 | 1.49 | 1.62 | 1.75 | 1.86 | 2.09 | 2.24 |
| ƒ/5.6 | 1.1 | 1.26 | 1.48 | 1.73 | 1.85 | 2.09 | 2.26 | 2.45 | 2.61 | 2.92 | 3.14 |
| ƒ/8 | 1.57 | 1.79 | 2.11 | 2.47 | 2.65 | 2.98 | 3.23 | 3.5 | 3.72 | 4.17 | 4.49 |
| ƒ/11 | 2.16 | 2.47 | 2.9 | 3.39 | 3.64 | 4.1 | 4.44 | 4.81 | 5.12 | 5.74 | 6.17 |
| ƒ/16 | 3.14 | 3.59 | 4.22 | 4.94 | 5.3 | 5.97 | 6.46 | 7 | 7.45 | 8.35 | 8.97 |
| ƒ/22 | 4.32 | 4.94 | 5.8 | 6.79 | 7.28 | 8.21 | 8.88 | 9.63 | 10.24 | 11.48 | 12.34 |
| ƒ/32 | 6.28 | 7.18 | 8.44 | 9.87 | 10.59 | 11.94 | 12.92 | 14 | 14.9 | 16.69 | 17.95 |
| No visible diffraction (less than 3) | |
| Visible diffraction may slightly impact image sharpness (3 to 4.5) | |
| Visible diffraction will impact image sharpness (4.5 or greater) |
Cameras with similar pixel pitch
Other Full Frame cameras within 0.2 μm of the Nikon Z 8. The same pixel pitch gives the same diffraction limits.
- Nikon D850 (4.35 μm)
- Nikon Z 7 (4.35 μm)
- Nikon Z 7 II (4.35 μm)
- Nikon Z 9 (4.35 μm)
- Canon EOS R5 C (4.39 μm)
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II (4.39 μm)
Pixel pitch comes from the camera database. Send a correction if anything here is wrong.