'useless' resolution

[T3D Peter Abrahams <telscope@xxxxxxxxxx>]

"resolution beyond what the eye can perceive is useless".....this is a
debatable position.  For visual optical instruments, it is not true.  In
many resolution tests, auxiliary scopes are used to boost the magnification
of the image delivered by the system under test.  Instruments that seem
equal when used visually can be significantly different in resolution when
their image is magnified.  The question is, if an instrument is better when
tested with an aux. scope, but gives equal res under visual use, how is
this difference seen under visual use?  It can be noticed in ephemeral
qualities of the image such as snap to focus, contrast, and clarity.  
'Resolution on film beyond what the eye can perceive' .... this seems to
share the same qualities, but I'm not sure.  Here, the limit is the film
grains; with a visual instrument, the limit is the eye & brain.
_______________________________________
Peter Abrahams   telscope@xxxxxxxxxx
the history of the telescope, the microscope,
    and the prism binocular


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