Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/03/08

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Crude Film/Digital test, Leica/Canon
From: Rei Shinozuka <shino@panix.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 05:56:54 -0500
References: <5.1.1.6.2.20040307135439.04852278@mail.brick.org>

an elucidating treastise.  

i like to think of the random and beautiful characteristics of halide film as 
the way God would make a sensor, and discovered by us mortals 150 years
ago.

:-)

- -rei


On Mar07 14:24, JCB wrote:
> Many folks still believe that different (good) lenses will exhibit 
> different properties on digital cameras. They won't. Good lenses (Leica, 
> canon, Nikon, Minolta, Zeiss, etc...) will all look alike if used on the 
> same camera. The pixel spacing and interpolation firmware (in the camera) 
> determine the resolution properties of the resulting photograph. Up sizing 
> software (Genuine Fractals, etc.) can make even larger sharp "looking" 
> images. Your good lenses are much much sharper than 6 to 9 micron pixel 
> spacing on a sensor therefore, it's all in the firmware/software which is 
> fooling you into thinking that different lenses on the same digital camera 
> make a difference. They cannot. And the same lenses on different cameras 
> simply point out how good the firmware programmer, for that camera, is.
> 
> Digital is not film. Digital cameras have finite spacing on each recorded 
> pixel. Film does not. Silver halide molecules are not only random, but 
> there are billions of them within a 1 cubic micron grain. Lots of 
> opportunities to record light rays. Lots of levels of density available 
> within each one micron, overlapped, silver halide grains. Film is the only 
> medium that can differentiate between film camera lenses. True digital 
> lenses are dumbed down so that their resolution (MTF) is several times less 
> than the 6-9 micron pixel spacing. Digital cameras (SLR's) that take camera 
> lenses have a lens resolution (MTF) spoiling low pass filter mounted over 
> the sensor. Digital sensors are the great lens equalizer.
> 
> When testing lenses on digital cameras for sharpness, you are testing the 
> programmer, not the lens.
> 
> All of the large prints that you see from ordinary (35mm style) digital 
> cameras is testimony to the software wizards that can write interpolation 
> software to up-size a minimal amount of information and make it look really 
> good. A silk purse out of a sow's ear! Like making a 20x30 print from a 2.7 
> MP camera. Basically, it's like slight-of-hand. There simply isn't enough 
> information to make a 20x30 from 2.7, 3, 5, 6,... MP sensors. Interpolation 
> programmers are magicians. Look up "interpolation" in the dictionary.
> 
> You don't have to believe the above. Your prerogative. But it is true, 
> regardless.
> 
> JB
> 
> --
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- -- 
Rei Shinozuka shino@panix.com
Ridgewood, New Jersey

- --
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In reply to: Message from JCB <jcb@visualimpressions.com> ([Leica] Re: Crude Film/Digital test, Leica/Canon)