Sony α6000 Diffraction Limit
With a 720 nm infrared filter, the Sony α6000 stays free of visible diffraction up to ƒ/4.5, and diffraction starts to soften images at ƒ/8. Unconverted (hot mirror), it is diffraction-free up to ƒ/6.3 and soft from ƒ/10.1. These limits come from its 3.92 μm pixel pitch: longer infrared wavelengths make a larger Airy disk, so diffraction appears at wider apertures than in visible light.
Open the Sony α6000 in the calculator
Sony α6000 specifications
- Pixel pitch: 3.92 μm
- Megapixels: 24.3
- Pixels: 6000 × 4000
- Sensor: APS-C, 23.5 × 15.6 mm
Buy the Sony α6000: 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/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| Hot mirror or UV/IR cut | ƒ/6.3 | ƒ/8 | ƒ/10.1 |
| 470 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 550 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 590 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 665 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 720 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 780 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 830 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 930 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| 1000 nm high-pass | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| IR Chrome | ƒ/4.5 | ƒ/5.6 | ƒ/8 |
| UV Bandpass | ƒ/11 | ƒ/14.3 | ƒ/20.2 |
Diffraction ratio at each ƒ-stop
The Airy disk diameter divided by the 3.92 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 | 0.31 | 0.35 | 0.41 | 0.48 | 0.51 | 0.58 | 0.63 | 0.68 | 0.72 | 0.81 | 0.87 |
| ƒ/2 | 0.44 | 0.5 | 0.59 | 0.68 | 0.73 | 0.83 | 0.9 | 0.97 | 1.03 | 1.16 | 1.24 |
| ƒ/2.8 | 0.61 | 0.7 | 0.82 | 0.96 | 1.03 | 1.16 | 1.25 | 1.36 | 1.45 | 1.62 | 1.74 |
| ƒ/4 | 0.87 | 1 | 1.17 | 1.37 | 1.47 | 1.66 | 1.79 | 1.94 | 2.07 | 2.32 | 2.49 |
| ƒ/5.6 | 1.22 | 1.39 | 1.64 | 1.92 | 2.06 | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.72 | 2.89 | 3.24 | 3.49 |
| ƒ/8 | 1.74 | 1.99 | 2.34 | 2.74 | 2.94 | 3.31 | 3.59 | 3.88 | 4.13 | 4.63 | 4.98 |
| ƒ/11 | 2.4 | 2.74 | 3.22 | 3.77 | 4.04 | 4.55 | 4.93 | 5.34 | 5.68 | 6.37 | 6.85 |
| ƒ/16 | 3.49 | 3.98 | 4.68 | 5.48 | 5.88 | 6.62 | 7.17 | 7.77 | 8.27 | 9.26 | 9.96 |
| ƒ/22 | 4.79 | 5.48 | 6.44 | 7.53 | 8.08 | 9.11 | 9.86 | 10.68 | 11.37 | 12.74 | 13.69 |
| ƒ/32 | 6.97 | 7.97 | 9.36 | 10.96 | 11.75 | 13.25 | 14.34 | 15.54 | 16.53 | 18.52 | 19.92 |
| 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 APS-C cameras within 0.2 μm of the Sony α6000. The same pixel pitch gives the same diffraction limits.
- Fujifilm X-A3 (3.92 μm)
- Fujifilm X-A5 (3.92 μm)
- Fujifilm X-E3 (3.92 μm)
- Fujifilm X-H1 (3.92 μm)
- Fujifilm X-T100 (3.92 μm)
- Fujifilm X-T20 (3.92 μm)
Pixel pitch comes from the camera database. Send a correction if anything here is wrong.