Digital BW, The Print

Some years ago, I read a posting of some know it all that the MegaPixel race would end at 24.  The reason this person stated this was that only the best lenses could resolve the details of an image made with that size sensor.  At the time, I thought, we'll see.  

After purchasing the Nikon D3x I did see.  Images I made with my D3 (12mp)  and the Nikon AF lenses looked fine.  But with the D3x (25mp) they seemed not much better.  So I started doing some testing, and found that it was the lenses that were holding back any sort of quality increase.   The best images were made with Nikon lenses I purchased in the '70s!  The 105mm f/2.5 is a wonder!  The 45mm GN lens is quite good too.

Having a PhaseOne back on a Hasselblad, and using those Zeiss lenses, I wondered about how the Zeiss lenses would work on the D3x.  I got in touch with Zeiss and got a couple of loaner lenses.  What a difference.  I talked with the Zeiss rep., asking if they cherry picked their best lenses to use as demo's, and he assured they didn't; they were just off the shelf.  I considered keeping those used ones which he sent to me, and forfeiting the deposits (full retail) which I placed on them.  But didn't, and returned them.

I ordered my own lenses (discounted), and they were just as good as the demo.s I had received.  It is quite an investment to put out for those optics, and you lose all sorts of features of the Nikon AF lenses.  But the image quality is sure there.  I am a believer that an investment in good optics will last a lifetime.  I am glad I didn't sell those old '70s Nikkors.  I still use the longer ones.  It is the Zeiss wide angle lenses that are much better.

It is my opinion, that advancements need to be in lens quality for DSLRs, and an increase in sensor quality to read a longer subject brightness range, before more MagaPixels.  The sensor in the PhaseOne back reads a greater subject brightness range then the three Nikons I own, so it is possible. 

I still get the best quality by scanning B&W negatives.  I just don't want to have my hands in those chemicals, or breathing those fumes anymore.  Wet mounting negatives takes too much time, and has its breathing problems also.

Ben