Comparison of Different Aperture Values in Dental Photography in Terms of Depth of Field, Sharpness, Diffraction, and Chromatic Aberration: A Preliminary Study

Background: Dental photography is a crucial tool in modern dentistry, used for documentation, communication, and education. This preliminary study aimed to determine the optimal aperture range for dental photography, considering depth of field, sharpness, diffraction, and chromatic aberration. Methods: A Nikon D7500 camera with a Tokina AT-X M100 PRO D 100 mm F2.8 macro lens was used to capture images of a dental model. Photographs were taken at various aperture values ranging from f/3.3 to f/32. A survey was conducted with 14 dentists to evaluate the images for depth of field, sharpness, and diffraction. Results: About 36% of participants considered f/13 as the lowest acceptable aperture value for adequate depth of field. Regarding diffraction, 50% of responses indicated that diffraction became clearly visible at aperture values of f/22 and above. Conclusion: There is no clear consensus on aperture values that provide sharp photographs while maintaining sufficient depth of field in dental photography. The findings suggest that lower aperture values than those traditionally recommended may provide better image quality by reducing diffraction effects. Further research is needed to explore alternative techniques such as focus stacking or the use of tilt-shift lenses to overcome the limitations of depth of field and diffraction in dental photography.Cite this article as: Yünük OA, Demirci M, Tuncer S, Yünük M, Tekçe N. Comparison of different aperture values in dental photography in terms of depth of field, sharpness, diffraction, and chromatic aberration: a preliminary study. Essent Dent. 2025; 4, 0029, doi: 10.5152/EssentDent.2025.24029.