Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jerry,

> Austin Franklin wrote:
> >
> > > ALMOST good enough?!!! People are printing spectacular 13x19
> images from
> > > this camera AND the Canon D-30!
> >
> > Well, I take issue what that.  The D-30 gives you 2160 x 1440.
> That means
> > you are printing at 113 PPI to the printer (on the long side).
> Now, you CAN
> > interpolate the file and get a bigger file (and hence more PPI to the
> > printer)...that has NO more detail, but is still sharp...as I've said,
> > sharpness isn't the issue, it's detail.  Yep, it'll look "good", but
> > compared to the same shot with film, it just won't hold up.
>
> Austin, it DOES hold up. You'll just have to try it.

I have tried it many times...the detail is not there.  That doesn't mean
what's there isn't sharp mind you.

> The proof is in the print.

You are right.

> Also the D30 pixels are much larger than
> most other camera's pixels.

That really has nothing to do with camera resolution.  Whether the pixels
are 1" square of 5u square, a 3M element sensor IS a 3M element sensor.  The
advantage the larger pixels give is less EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference)
and therefore a cleaner image with less noise.

> I have a print from a listmember that is 13x19 inches taken on his Nikon
> DX. The D30 can make sharper prints than the one he sent me.

But...as I've said, sharpness isn't what is at issue.  A line, no matter how
wide, can still be equally as sharp...a 1 foot wide line can be just as
sharp as a .0001" wide line.  I have 640x480 digital cameras that give you a
perfectly sharp image...no matter how much you blow it up...but it
pixelates...but it's still tack sharp!

> I'm no technician, all I can do is compare the prints, and I think the
> D30 can easily equal film in prints to 13x19.

I am an engineer (who happens to design digital imaging equipment), and I've
spent years testing this stuff, and yes, I've tested the D-30 and may other
much higher end digital cameras.  What you are seeing in a 13x19 print
that's been interpolated in primarily edge detail (what you call sharpness),
but there is far far less image detail than with film.  Now, that may not
matter to some...and for that purpose, it's a fine camera, but for
some...missing that detail just won't work.

> (12x18 image area).  Again, Not far away landscape images. I'm speaking
> closeups here.

A close-up can still have a lot of detail...just like a landscape can.  It
is very image dependant.  Don't think I'm at all saying that the D-30 isn't
a great camera, in fact it is...but it has limitations, and some are masked
by not quite knowing what it is you're looking at (edge detail vs was I call
image detail)...and as I said, that may or may not matter to some.

Regards,

Austin