[Leica] Digital Leica and reality

["Frank Filippone" <red735i@earthlink.net>]

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