Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/24

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Subject: Re: [Leica] re: digital noctilux vs 10X faster films?
From: "Dante A. Stella" <dante@umich.edu>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 20:42:43 -0400
References: <Pine.3.89.10107241915.A29262-0100000@post.cis.smu.edu>

Very interesting -- I saw the magic words "reduce silver content" so it of
course will be done by film manufacturers!

Robert Monaghan wrote:

> don't give up on film quite yet, see ten times faster film emulsions page:
> http://www.cnrs.fr/cw/en/pres/compress/emulsionsphoto.html
>
> quote: The yield is then _eff = 2 silver atoms per photon, i.e. 10 times
> higher than prior yields. The mechanism is such that the number of atoms
> is proportional to the number of photons in a very wide range of light
> intensities, including zero or low exposure, and that the sensitivity gain
> does not suffer from any accompanying fogging effect. endquote:
>
> it is also unlikely that future digicams will be able to use much smaller
> sensors due to issues like wavelengths of light and noise levels, viz:
> http://www.dpreview.com/news/0009/00091102foveon16mp.asp
>
> quote:Mr. Mead said that because of fundamental size limits in the
> wavelengths of light, it is unlikely that future digital sensors will gain
> much additional resolution. endquote (Mead developed 16 MP Foveon chip)
>
> Assuming that Agfa et. al. come out with 10X faster films as hoped and now
> evidently technically possible, with better linearity and less fogging,
> that translates into 3+ stops speed for film, and about equal light
> efficiency to current CCD sensors (unless you intend to supercool your
> chips?). Granted, digicams will be able to do software tricks, and image
> intensifying tubes or technology will be available (but also to film
> cameras?). But the technology wars aren't over yet, and they aren't so
> one-sided as many would have us believe ;-) grins bobm
>
> * Robert Monaghan POB752182 Dallas Tx 75275-2182 rmonagha@mail.smu.edu      *
> * Third Party 35mm Lenses: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/third/index.html    *
> * Medium Format Cameras: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/index.html megasite*

Replies: Reply from S Dimitrov <sld@earthlink.net> (Re: [Leica] re: digital noctilux vs 10X faster films?)
In reply to: Message from Robert Monaghan <rmonagha@post.cis.smu.edu> ([Leica] re: digital noctilux vs 10X faster films?)