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Old 27-08-10, 11:35
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Don Hoey Don Hoey is offline  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex1994 View Post
It's the future though, currently our HDs and CPUs can't handle it, but HD space and computer power increasing so fast it will possibly be normal to have 50MP digital files. Already you can get 3TB of storage for under £150.
Do not get too excited Alex.
As the number of pixels increases then the diffraction limit will reduce. My Nikon DX 12mp sensor has a proven diffraction limit from my tests of f11. Put 50mp onto a sensor of the same size and that would probably have a diffraction limit of f5.6, and 120mp f4 or wider. So very far from ideal in photographic terms.
If you are unsure of diffraction. It is the point at which closing the lens down further does not increase resolution, and in fact the image gets progressivly softer the further you do stop down. There is a thread on this somewhere.

Then separately you have to consider lens resolution. I am sure 50mp on a similar sensor size will stretch even the very best current photographic lenses, never mind 120mp.

From a photographic viewpoint though, results from that sort research is bound to trickle its way down into stills and motion camera sensors.

Don
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