T3D Re: T3D RE: TECH-3D digest 251

[roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (John W Roberts)]

>Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 03:14:29 -0700
>From: tony <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: T3D RE: TECH-3D digest 251

>  1) T3D digital camera resolution
>	by Bob Wier <wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

>I don't want to buy the general group in detail, but here is more
>detail on digital camera resolution...it would *appear* that the
>digital technology is approaching breaking even now in terms
>of reasonable resolution with film technology (but see the 
>discussion at the end).

>              You must be joking!   When did you last see a projected slide?
> Then look at a video projection, Yuck!

Are you one of those people who take their television receiver to the big 
game, with the hope of using it to record the event? Just remember:
   -> A monitor (or projection display) is not a camera!
   -> A monitor (or projection display) is not a camera!
:-)

OK, maybe I shouldn't be so sarcastic, but it's irritating when people
blame one device for the shortcomings of another. It's like using a
Hasselblad and precision slide bar to produce multiple side-by-side
negatives with carefully measured interocular, using those negatives in
the production of a lenticular print, then blaming the Hasselblad for the
shortcomings of the lenticular process!

Bob's post concentrated on the advances in imaging technology. Display
technology is a separate issue, though it is also improving. Even among
projection displays, the LCD and micromirror technologies offer considerable
improvement over the previous generations.

>It's improved,  but still has a long way to go.     Take a look at IMAX with 
>its 15,000,000 pixel equivalent!

Agreed. (Though I don't think it required full IMAX resolution to get useful
stereo.) I think digital cameras have improved a lot in the last year or two,
but sometimes their proponents borrow too heavily on their future potential,
thus inviting unfavorable comments on contemporary devices. I don't believe
Bob's post misstated the current situation.

John R



------------------------------