First of all, Godfrey, this IS a digital versus film thread. Your thought
experiment is a diversion.
Dealing first with my assertion, common sense tells us that if we have to
enlarge a negative/image more, it will look less sharp. So let's move on.
Dealing with your scenario, which was:
Let's assume that we have two cameras with digital sensors with 8Mpixel
resolution, one sized to 16x24mm and one sized to 24x36mm.
Further, let's assume that that we have a 35mm lens and a 50mm lens which
demonstrate exactly equal performance.
Fit the 24x36mm camera with a 50mm lens, fit the 16x24mm camera with the
35mm lens. Then take a photograph of the same subject with each of the two
cameras, framed and exposed identically, to RAW format files. Process them
for identical tonal rendering. Do not apply any sharpening. Print them to
10x15 inch image area on 11x17" paper.
Which one will look sharper and why?
My answer:
If we assume that the limiting factor is lens resolution (which it usually
is in my experience) then the print from the 50mm lens will be sharper.
It will need to be enlarged less.
However, my experience does not include 24x36 sensors. A sensor of this
size with only 8Mpixels will perhaps itself be the limiting factor, and
therefore there might not be much or any difference.
However, I should be most interested to hear both your theories and of
your practical experience.
John
On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 01:10:25 -0000, Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
I said nothing about 35mm film in my thought experiment, John. Although
I disagree with you there too, from personal experience making 10x15 and
larger prints from both 35mm film and 6-8Mpixel digital captures. But
I'll leave that for another digital vs film thread.
I said two cameras, one with a 8Mpixel sensor of 24x36mm dimension and
one with 8Mpixel sensor of 16x24mm dimension. Sensors equal digital
cameras, not film.
Godfrey
On Jan 9, 2006, at 4:44 PM, John Forbes wrote:
Godfrey,
All else being equal, the 35mm will look sharper. Assuming both media
are able to do justice to each lens, and that each lens is able to
resolve N lpmm, and that the 35mm lens will fill the frame as much as
the 50mm (it's too late for me to work that out), the 35mm image will
need less enlargement.
John
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