[Leica] RE: Foveon chip

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

One thing for sure, the laws of physics have not been repealed by Foveon. 
And they have not been able to make smaller pixels. As a matter of fact, I 
would bet that their pixels are much larger than those in modern sensors 
such as the Philips 6mp sensor.

I believe, from my scientific viewpoint, that the actual result obtained 
via the Foveon 3X chip will be, for the most part, indistinguishable from 
results from current high pixel density sensors. Genuine Fractals has been 
around for a long time and is very sophisticated in adding missing data to 
produce stunning large prints from small digital files.

With every chip (including Foveon but excluding buffalo chips) we have:

7 to 15 square micron pixel size.
pixels lined up in rows.
blank space between pixels.

This produces a data frequency (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE DATA IS TRICHROME 
OR MONOCHROME) that is less than the data frequency that leica lenses (and 
most other modern lenses) resolve. The pixel frequency has to be a minimum 
of four times the lens resolving frequency in order to capture everything. 
Film can do this. You cannot make pixels small enough to do this.

During the big bang, our laws of physics were determined. We are incapable 
of changing them.

Another thought. We now capture, with individual pixels, 24 bits (256 
colors), 30 bits (1024 colors), or 36 bits (4096 colors). If Foveon 
captures three colors at a single pixel site, it must be a large site in 
order to store enough electrons in three separate capacitors to deliver RGB 
color data about the light hitting that pixel. And to squeeze it all into a 
small pixel site would limit the amount of stored charge thus reducing the 
color fidelity and increasing the noise dramatically. I believe that the 
geometry of the Foveon pixel is quite large in order to achieve what they 
claim. As I said, the laws of physics still apply.

Until they reveal how they altered the laws of physics to achieve their 
claims, I won't hold my breath.

And their marketing hype portrayed current digital imaging as it was ten 
years ago. I believe they did this in order to make their imaging look 
superior. When it is all said and done, I believe it will be no better than 
the current high end digital imaging. It sure as hell won't replace film. 
They are smoking some strong stuff.

Jim

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