[Leica] Re: Digital Leica and reality

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

Very good Frank!!!

Jim


At 08:35 AM 7/22/01 -0700, Frank Filippone wrote:
>I want to try to establish some understanding for what a digital camera can
>and can not be expected to do.....
>
>First, there are x by y pixels in a digital camera 's sensor.  Without
>comment or arguing about the current state of the art, and for the ease in
>the math, let us suppose there are 1000 x 1500 pixels in a particular sensor
>of discussion.
>
>When you blow up an image to say 10 times the area of the sensor ( say a
>16x20 print from a 35mm neg) there are 2 choices open to the  printer:  Use
>the original 1.5 million pixels and have the final print look pixelated (
>fairly large  square boxes of monotonic behavior ) or you can INVENT some
>new "things" that go between the original pixels, and somehow bleed the real
>pixels and the invented ones together to get a more pleasing result.
>
>If you were to use the original 1.5M Pixels, the result would be blocky.  So
>no one does this.  What does happen is that there are algorithms designed to
>make up new, smaller  pixels as combinations of those real pixels.
>Therefore our finished print is made up of 1.5 BILLION pixels, of
>substantially smaller size per pixel.  The customer is happy because his
>resultant picture looks "better"... it is not blocky.
>
>Enter the Leica-nut.  He wants Bokeh, he wants smooth out of focus areas.
>He wants high microcontrast but low overall contrast.  HE wants ( do you get
>the point that he is picky?)  HE also wants to keep the quality of analog
>film, but in a digital world.  This requires a sensor of size 1.5 BILLION
>pixels.  Mr Leica Engineer can calculate this number precisely.
>
>OK.... now Mr Schmidt at Leica Solms is now designing a new M camera, the
>Leica M-DF ( M camera for the Digital Film).  He can buy only the 1.5 M
>pixel sensor.  His customers want the old results..... remember he is picky.
>So he visits Intel to make a new sensor.,..... 1.5 BILLION Pixels with high
>micro contrast , etc.etc.etc..... Intel says the sensors are possible using
>silicon wafers that were made by drawing the ingots during the last 3 Space
>Shuttle shots, cost of $7.8 billion dollars each, just like NASA pays.  Mr
>Schmidt now heads home to visit marketing...
>
>SWITCH TO SOLMS> MEETING ROOM M6-DF.  6 MARKETING GUYS< HERR COHN, AND 47
>ACCOUNTANTS..
>Can you imagine how well this Intel data is received?   The veritable
>disgusting item in the punch bowl.
>
>Mr. Schmidt then says...... We can get a relationship going with Adobe for a
>new set of Photoshop plug-ins....the BOKEH Filter.....   $100,00 later and
>we can all have digital Leica prints from Kodak P+S digital cameras.  Now if
>you prefer the Nikon or Canon lens characteristics, or maybe the GOerz Dagor
>from 1865, that too can be designed...."
>
>BY INVENTING an algorithm that makes up pixels just like you want them to
>look.....You want Bokeh, you can have Bokeh.  All you want.  But there is no
>need for a Leica lens or camera anywhere in the equation.  Remember that
>now, your pixels are being created not by photons, but some computer geek
>( present party of course excused) that does strange things to small animals
>on weekends.
>
>You wanted the future of the digital M camera from Leica, you just got a
>shot of reality.
>
>This is not to say that Leica will not have a more sophisticated digital
>camera than the Digilux, but rather that the quality of Leica glass can not
>today, nor maybe within our lifetimes, be actually CAPTURED using digital
>sensor techniques.
>
>GO take some pictures, or like I am doing today, print up some from a
>previous adventure.
>
>D5 Enlarger, Aristo Cold Light head, No computer.
>
>Frank Filippone
>red735i@earthlink.net