Digital BW, The Print

I have been shooting with a D700 for the last few years, and also use  
a Hasselblad H3D 39.  One thing that seems to be missing from this  
discussion is the issue of pixel size, not pixel count.  My Canon s100  
point and shoot has nominally the same number of megapixels as the  
D700, but since the Canon's sensor is so small, those pixels are  
tiny.  You wouldn't want to compare the files in any serious way.

In my experience, the size and quality of the pixels has as much (if  
not more) to do with the ultimate quality of the digital image.  The  
Hasselblad's pixels are 6.7 microns across; the D800's are 4.7 or 4.8  
microns.  I'm not sure that the D800 sensor will match the image  
quality of the Hasselblad's, despite what will be a similar megapixel  
count.  That's why I'm waiting to be able to compare image files  
before I order anything.

I've loved the D700 - especially in low light and mixed-light  
situations.  I've dragged it places where I wouldn't dream of taking  
the Hasselblad.  But I would also love to have more pixels, since I  
often make more prints.  If I do get a chance to make the same picture  
with both cameras, I'll be happy to share my thoughts!

Stephen Petegorsky

Since I have long been considering the purchase of a Hasselblad, I am
now very tempted by the D800, which I would complement with a Harrtblei
40mm to provide for studio and architectural needs.

Last but not least, the video capabilities of this camera are a major
asset to me, since it would allow me to do at last some
cinematographic-quality filming. The big problem with amateur and
semi-pro video cameras is the very small size of the sensor, because
this implies short focal lenses. You can hardly play with the separation
of planes, having constantly too much depth of field. The 24x36mm sensor
size of the D800 on the other hand is perfect. And you can use all those
wonderful lenses... And they all have a manual focusing ring, which is
the only way to do some watchable filming.

Just mes 2 centimes

Louis

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