There is no sensible, direct translation of film acutance to digital
resolution. I have watched people quoting ppi, sensor resolution, etc
etc for years. It's all horsepucky.
The resolution of film is dependent on many factors:
- film speed
- how it is exposed
- how it is processed ... gamma is critical
- how acutance is measured (what criteria is chosen)
The resolution of a digital sensor is similarly dependent upon several factors
- the size of the sensor
- the {x,y} photosite dimensions
- the strength of the antialiasing filter
- how it is exposed
- how it is processed
- how acutance is measured
All of that is important even before you think about lens qualities,
scanning the film, etc etc.
But that doesn't stop me from making an assessment based on my
experience using specific cameras and lenses.
I shot film for 45 years and have been working with digital capture
and processing since 1984. When the first 5Mpixel digital cameras with
good lenses appeared at an affordable price in 2002, I bought one and
found that it totally eclipsed the capabilities of 35mm film cameras
for my usual print sizes up to 11x14. I went to Medium Format film
(645, 6x6, 6x9 cm) for larger prints. When I bought my first 6 Mpixel
DSLR and top of the line lenses in 2003, I realized in short order
that there was no longer any point to shooting Medium Format film for
the print sizes I make (typically up to 16x20 inches).
So for me, digital capture and processing outperforms Medium Format
film and processing at the 6 Mpixel, professional quality camera and
lenses point. Everything beyond that is a plus on the digital side,
and the handling and management of digital capture images is far far
far more convenient and flexible.
Others will disagree with me and quote a bazillion silly numbers. But
don't bother, please. This is an ancient debate and I'm not going to
pursue it. I know what works for me.
FWIW: I'd still like a Bronica RF645 camera with wide and normal
lenses. A beautiful piece of equipment, always wanted to work with
one. But if I got one, I doubt I'd get enough use out of it to be
worth the money, even at the current $600-700 price level.
On Fri, Dec 31, 2010 at 3:24 AM, Jens <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hello list
> I'm getting into photographing with Pentax 67. BTW: I just got the SMC 1:4
> 165 mm Leaf Shutter lens for studio work. Nice lens :-).
> Has anyone done tests, showing the resolution etc. of 6x7 film images
> compared to digital 14-15 Mp images, please?
>
> Regards
> Jens
>
> --
> Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.
>
>
> --
> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
> [email protected]
> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
> the directions.
>
--
Godfrey
godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
