Hello Will, At the Indianapolis Museum of Art we have recently made the transition to an all digital studio. We are using the Phase One P45 (39 megapixel camera sensor) for our collection photography and historic home. We feel that the Phase One can meet and exceed the quality we are getting from 4x5 film. Their are various ways to set up the camera using a flex adapter for your 4x5 camera. This gives you a variety of image resolutions which can nearly double the sensors recording resolution, closing in on 80 megapixels. We are also using a variety of DSLRs for documentation of exhibitions, grounds, gardens and our art and nature park. The budget for our digital back took over our film budget. So it was an easy transition. You can locate some numbers for standards requirements in NARA's Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Archival Materials for Electronic Access: Creation of Production Master Files - Raster Images: http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/digitizing-archival-materials.pdf. Below is an excerpt from "Objects and Artifacts" on page 58 of the above document. High resolution digital photography requirements: -Images equivalent to 35mm film photography (6 megapixels to 14 megapixels), to medium format film photography (12 megapixels to 22 megapixels), or to large format film photography (18 megapixels to 200 megapixels). -Images for photo quality prints and printed reproductions with magazine quality halftones, with maximum image quality at a variety of sizes. -"Megapixel" is millions of pixels, the megapixel measurement is calculated by multiplying the pixel array values: image width in pixels x image height in pixels. Actual pixel dimensions and aspect ratio will vary depending on digital camera - illustrative sizes, dimensions, and proportions are: -35mm equivalent - Minimum pixel array of 3,000 pixels by 2,000 pixels (6 megapixels, usual default resolution of 72 ppi at 41.7" by 27.8" or equivalent such as 300 ppi at 10" by 6.7"). Pixel array up to 4,500 pixels by 3,100 pixels (14 megapixels, usual default resolution of 72 ppi at 62.5" by 43" or equivalent such as 300 ppi at 15" by 10.3").
-Medium format equivalent - Minimum pixel array of 4,000 pixels by 3,000 pixels (12 megapixels, usual default resolution of 72 ppi at 55.6" by 41.7" or equivalent such as 300 ppi at 13.3" by 10"). Pixel array up to 5,200 pixels by 4,200 pixels (22 megapixels, usual default resolution of 72 ppi at 72.2" by 58.3" or equivalent such as 300 ppi at 17.3" by 14"). -Large format equivalent - Minimum pixel array of 4,800 pixels by 3,700 pixels (18 megapixels, usual default resolution of 72 ppi at 66.7" by 51.4" or equivalent such as 300 ppi at 16" by 12.5"). Pixel array up to 16,000 pixels by 12,500 pixels (200 megapixels, usual default resolution of 72 ppi at 222.2" by 173.6" or equivalent such as 300 ppi at 53.3" by 41.7"). Let me know if you have any additional questions, Mike Rippy IMA Photographer mrippy at ima.museum (317)920-2662 ext.191 IMA 4000 Michigan Road Indianapolis, IN, USA 46208-3326 www.ima.museum
