P3D Re: The future (digital vs. film)

["Greg Wageman" <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>


>Given that a PhotoCD scan produces a 2048x3072 (6 megapixel) and a Pro
>PhotoCD scan produces a 4096x6144 (24 Megapixel) image from 35mm film,
>I don't see how the D1 (or any of the other cameras in its class) can
>claim to have the full resolution of 35mm film.


Just because they scan at 4096x6144 resolution doesn't mean the (camera
plus film) *system* delivers that much image resolution.  You could
theoretically scan at the molecular level and you would not get any more
image resolution than the camera and film can deliver (but you'd get a
darned accurate reproduction of the film grain).  A credible number for
film resolution is 75 lp/mm.  Assuming this translates into 150
pixels/mm, that's 5400 pixels across a 36mm negative.  But I doubt that
there are many camera lenses that will deliver this resolution at the
film, certainly not without a tripod, slow film, lots of light and fast
shutter speeds.  And again, the situations that require this kind of
scan resolution are few and far between (blowing up a 35mm neg or slide
to poster size).

Certainly the folks who, for example, make perfectly good stereo cards
from prints taken with, say, a Nimslo don't need this kind of
resolution.

     -Greg W. (gjw@xxxxxxxxxx)