All this talk of 12 mp...

... is getting me excited - bad news for the plastic...

However, it did start me wondering at what sensor resolution the sensor can resolve more detail that the lens can provide (obviously will depend on the lens - but for really good lenses)? Or is it some complex combination of both? Will the older prime lenses that were spectacular with film, but less convincing with 6 mp be better or worse with more sensor resolution?

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Best wishes,

Alan J

http://www.pbase.com/wolfs_head

The extra resolution will only show weaknesses of your supporting lenses..

And make your good lenses look good if your technique is spot on.

: )

Roman
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http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

http://www.romanjohnston.com

BTW Roman, your grand canyon pics are stunning, really enjoyed them.

Jeff

I'm guessing part of this is that only the center part of the lens circle is used, but I'm also guessing that the digital sensor does not require as much resolution as film does.

OTOH at some point as pixels get smaller and smaller there should be higher demands placed on the lens. In reality 12MP isn't that much smaller for pixel spacing than 6MP.

It's an excellent question; here's an excellent answer:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/D2X_rev00.html

Bjorn Rorslett's review of the D2x spends some time on that issue and the conclusion is that 12 MP and up is merciless on indifferent lenses, even reasonably good ones (and on indifferent technique). The article is also great on the subject of the relative merits of Nikon's engineering choice of sticking with DX-format and the smaller FOV, versus Canon's choice of "full-frame". Using the best middle part of the lens certainly is an aspect that enters in. His conclusions are surprising.

...Thom Hogan's review of the D2x has some good discussion on this as well.

Just to make the math a wee bit simpler, assume a camera with a 12MP sensor compared to the D70 at approximately 6MP. Also assume the 12MP camera sensor has a 1.5 aspect ratio i.e. the length is 1.5 times the breadth, just like the D70. It would appear that the 12MP is twice the size of the 6MP D70. Not the case. The D70 sensor is 3000 X 2000 pixels (6mp) The 12MP sensor is approximately 4240 x 2830 pixels (12mp). Not so much of a difference in resolution when you look at it this way. To double the D70 resolution, with the same pixel size, you would need 24MP sensor/camera.

One might argue that the pixel size has also got to be considered. Correct, but there is a limit in size, below which the pixels are too small, and resolution suffers – we are not far from that limit now.

Bigger sensors are the answer, with current individual pixel size, and not bigger Mega pixel count. Can you imagine a 3 x 2 inch sensor, with the same individual pixel size as we have now.

What a dream, but what a mind blasting price.

Hope I got the math and science right.

If not, straighten me out.

If you look at the performance of those 12MP especially when printing LARGE prints...it makes a huge diffrence.

Roman
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http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

http://www.romanjohnston.com