Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Sun, 16 July 2000, Erwin Puts wrote: > > It is wellknown that the number of dots per inch is not directly related to > image quality. <SNIP> > Now leica negatives easliy hold 50 to 100 lp/mm! And optical quality of > Leica lenses is superior to other marques exactly when exploiting the higher > resolutions at the better MTF values. So the cut-off point for the digital > print is exactly at a point where Leica lenses start to show their best > performance! > > Erwin If lp/mm is the deteriming criteria, then a digital print probably cannot match a theoretically optimum print made the old-fasioned way. As most of us recognize, there is much more to optical performance than lp/mm. In a previous post in this thread I mentioned the rich detail in shadow and highlight areas, free of bothersome color casts, which I believe is in part the result of Leica lenses' freedom from the effects of internal reflections. Coupled with this richer detail is the ability using the digital process to adjust contrast, color balance, mid-point of the tonal range and a number of other parameters, not only for the image as a whole, but for whatever color channel requires it, in any particular region of the photo, and it becomes apparent that the degree of control over the final image is far greater than with an optical print. Given the greater control over the image IMHO it's far more likely a digital print can be made to expoit the entire tonal range of the original slide or negative than if an optical print were made from the same original. Add to this the ability to fix post-processing scratches, eliminate dust spots, and to save the work as a file. I won't belittle the work of those who, for whatever reason, prefer the optical printing process but it's not for me. With the digital process I can make my prints match my Kodachromes. I couldn't do that before. Doug Herr Sacramento http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt ___________________________________________________ The ALL NEW CS2000 from CompuServe Better! Faster! More Powerful! 250 FREE hours! Sign-on Now! http://www.compuserve.com/trycsrv/cs2000/webmail/