- #1
nugat
- 8
- 0
This problem I encountered in my photography forum.
A new model of camera comes out with a much higher megapixel sensor (Nikon D800, 36mpix). I argue that such sensor will need new lenses to be meaningful. Others claim that a given lens performance (here resolution) is always utilized by a new higher resolution sensor. They call up Fourier transforms, modulation transfer functions etc. I am not an engineer, more of an amateur philosopher. To me it smells of Zeno paradox (a "quantum Zeno effect" ?). There sure must be a limit on the amount of information a new ever improving recording medium (sensor) can extract from the same old lens? Or not?
A summary of the original opponent position below:
"... As I wrote the formula is an approximation. For accurate results one would need to multiply the MTFs by means of Fourier transforms.
Every image will show more resolution on the D800 with any lens at any aperture than on previous Nikon's.
The resolution of a system is a function of the resolution of it's parts, not only a single component.
The resolution of a lens plus sensor system can be approximated by:
1/Total resolution = 1/lens resolution + 1/sensor resolution. Or
Total resolution = (lens resolution)x(sensor resolution) / [ (lens resolution) + (sensor resolution) ]. "...
A new model of camera comes out with a much higher megapixel sensor (Nikon D800, 36mpix). I argue that such sensor will need new lenses to be meaningful. Others claim that a given lens performance (here resolution) is always utilized by a new higher resolution sensor. They call up Fourier transforms, modulation transfer functions etc. I am not an engineer, more of an amateur philosopher. To me it smells of Zeno paradox (a "quantum Zeno effect" ?). There sure must be a limit on the amount of information a new ever improving recording medium (sensor) can extract from the same old lens? Or not?
A summary of the original opponent position below:
"... As I wrote the formula is an approximation. For accurate results one would need to multiply the MTFs by means of Fourier transforms.
Every image will show more resolution on the D800 with any lens at any aperture than on previous Nikon's.
The resolution of a system is a function of the resolution of it's parts, not only a single component.
The resolution of a lens plus sensor system can be approximated by:
1/Total resolution = 1/lens resolution + 1/sensor resolution. Or
Total resolution = (lens resolution)x(sensor resolution) / [ (lens resolution) + (sensor resolution) ]. "...