> -----Original Message-----
> From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul
> Roark
> Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:36 AM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] Optimum sensor size (was www.OpenRAW.org ...)
>
>
> Steve,
>
>
> > There is a discussion here about the optimal pixel size under digital
> > image sensors:
> >
> > http://www.normankoren.com/Tutorials/MTF7.html
> >
>
> Yes, that site has a lot of good information. However, I was wondering
> more
> about what fundamental limits might exist on the technology.
>
> I suspect that companies like Canon have looked at fundamental limits in
> making their long term plans. So, aside from the factors that affect
> one's
> choice given today's technology, it would be interesting to see an
> analysis
> of where a practical end point of sensor shrinkage is.
>
> Canon fabricates its own semiconductors, I believe. As such they probably
> are, in at least the fab division, up to their eyeballs in these problems.
> I don't think any other camera manufacturer has a fab.
>
> The diffraction limit of light is one obvious problem. The semiconductor
> industry has fought this battle for years, but they have been able to
> avoid
> the limits imposed by the wave length of visible light by going to UV
> light
> and even non-glass optics. The camera manufacturers will not have these
> options. So, I'd guess this imposes a practical limit on how small a
> sensor
> of a given resolution can be.
>
> There is also what I think is referred to as "shot noise." The particle
> nature of light causes, among other things, the sensors to detect not a
> smooth ramp of increasing exposure, but the steps caused by the quantum of
> each photon hitting the sensor. The quantum nature of light appears to
> result in significant problems, including noise, as the cell size
> decreases.
> This in combination with optical diffraction, will probably put a lower
> limit on the cell size. Of course, it may be so small that it will have
> no
> impact on any living photographer.
>
> Probably a more practical current factor will simply be the economics of
> making a full system of lenses and accessories for any particular sensor
> size. This will probably cause there to be discrete plateaus. I would
> guess Sigma and Tamron will follow Canon. If they see Canon making
> specific
> lenses for a sensor size, they may assume it will be a significant enough
> standard to invest in making third party lenses. Then again, Canon might
> predatorily sucker the third party manufacturers into wasting lots of
> development money on what turns out to be a very fleeting, "false"
> standard.
> It would be fun to be a fly on the wall of the decision making bodies
> here.
> I sense there is a lot of gaming that could be going on.
>
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as
> they are often being updated.
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
> unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
> page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
> them short.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames.
> Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the
> membership without notice.
> - Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W
> printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from
> the membership.
> - By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and
> guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner
> and Moderators. See Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines in the Files
> section:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
>
> BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT
> YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE OWNER AND
> MODERATORS OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO
> YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
> EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF
> PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE
> OWNER AND MODERATORS OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN
> ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE
> OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii)
> UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii)
> STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT
> YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE
> PRINT YAHOO GROUP.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>