Digital BW, The Print

Note my "all else being equal".  I thought this was a key issue behind the
PhaseOne backs being able to deliver 12 f-stops of dynamic range.  A larger
pixel can for a given exposure to light capture more information.  What am I
missing?


> From: Clayton Jones <cj@...>
> 
> 
> Steve,
> 
>> But doesn't greater dynamic range require, all else being equal, a
>> larger pixel?
> 
> No, it doesn't.  That's what everyone assumed up until this year's
> digicams hit the market.  The canon G6 has 7mp on a 1/8 chip, and has
> lower noise and greater dynamic range than the G5 with 5mp on the same
> size chip (it actually has lower noise and DR than my pro-1 with 8mp
> on a 2/3 chip-it's amazing).  That was the crux of Michael Johnston's
> column on the subject on the Lum. Lndscp web site awhile back, where
> he put forth convincing reasons for full frame sensors not becoming
> the standard.   Everything is trending smaller, not bigger.  They keep
> improving on it and nobody knows what the limits are yet.  All the old
> wisdom is up for grabs right now.
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
>