We hear way too much about NOT using f/16 or f/22 because of diffraction limits due to our sensors pixel size.
Sure, f/8 is a great general plan, do it when you can. Nevertheless, there are obviously many times when f/16 or f/22, and maybe f/32, can heroically and drastically help our depth of field issues. Especially macro work, but any time greater depth of field is needed.
It is a compromise, but this is true any time that greater depth of field helps more than the greater diffraction hurts.
If your notions have been formed to simply always avoid f/16, you're probably missing out on a very good thing.
So maybe read here: Diffraction limited images?
Sure, f/8 is a great general plan, do it when you can. Nevertheless, there are obviously many times when f/16 or f/22, and maybe f/32, can heroically and drastically help our depth of field issues. Especially macro work, but any time greater depth of field is needed.
It is a compromise, but this is true any time that greater depth of field helps more than the greater diffraction hurts.
If your notions have been formed to simply always avoid f/16, you're probably missing out on a very good thing.
So maybe read here: Diffraction limited images?