Digital BW, The Print

The pixel size may have little to do with Resolution, but
it sure is a Major factor in overall image Quality.

The size of a pixel element determines :

1) Sensitivity in the % of the sensor's active area to 
the inactive needed for electrical innerconnects.

2) The dynamic range in that the the electron well depth is directly
proportional to pixel size. The small sensor elements may have
well depths of only 12000 electrons. That is the secret of the
Nikon digital camera quality as compared to the smaller ( and less 
expensive ) digicams. A large chip effectively equates to 
on board averaging and much less noise grain. I believe a
9um pixel is required to allow a 64000 electron ( 16 bit equivalent )
well depth.

Pixel size is a most siginficant factor in overall CCD
performance.

Best,
Alex P

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> > 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.
> 
> Austin