> From: Mike Jones <jonesmi@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: ccd et al resolution
> Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 22:07:30 -0500
> Newsgroups: sci.optics
> Message-ID: <40AC20F2.9A60FED@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Rama wrote:
>
> > I have been curious about this and have not seen a good answer for
> > this question: what is the megapixel equivalent of present day
> > emulsion photographic films, for ex. the asa 200, 400 etc should
> > equate to some megapixel number and if so, does present day ccd
> > cameras exceed emulsion film quality? Thanks.
>
> You didn't say what film format size. For 24mm x 36mm standard 35mm
> film format and color photography, I think color electronic imaging is
> basically there, but definitely not even close for high-resolution B&W
> film.
>
> Color film cuts off around 50 cy/mm give or take. This is equivalent to
> 10 micron pixels and a format of 2400x3600 pixels, or 8.64 megapixels.
> That's already out there (Canon, Nikon, etc.), to even 15 MP or higher.
>
> Different story for black and white. Depending on development, Kodak
> Plus-X ASA 125 B&W film can resolve out to about 125 cycles/mm,
> equivalent to 4 micron pixels. The pixelated image would then be
> 6000x9000, or 54 megapixels. Barely possible now, but not at 35mm
> format size.
>
> Depending on development chemistry, Panatomic film is around ASA 32-40
> and can have resolution up to 400 cy/mm. This would be equivalent to
> 1.25 micron pixels and a format size of 19200x28800 pixels, or 552.96
> megapixels.
>
> Interestingly, I just read on www.astromart.com tonight about a 500
> megapixel camera at Cerro Tololo, which states, "The Dark Energy Survey
> collaboration proposes to build a new instrument to replace the current
> prime focus cage, which would include the 500 megapixel,
> one-half-meter-diameter DECam, the largest CCD camera ever built." Lots
> of pixels but a huge format to get there.
>
> Just to take this to the limit, holographic film is up in the 2000 cy/mm
> range. Pixel size 0.25 micron, 35mm format 96000x144000 pixels, or
> 13.824 gigapixels. Well, guess we won't be doing CCD holography for a
> while longer.
>
> We can't make retinas, just yet anyway, and I think the future and sheer
> beauty of black and white film photography is secure for a long time to
> come. But color CCD is essentially equal to color film now, and SO much
> easier to work with than color processing chemistry, color printers,
> filter wheels, etc. Image processing has essentially eliminated all
> that mess. Color film may actually be on the way out.
> Mike
>
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