Film determinant or lens determinant?

[greentea]

I know there does always a dispute exist for which is determinant, film or lens?

For me, thoughts I can tell the difference from lens in the same film type, anyway I think that is not as obvious as difference brings from different film.

[FONT=&quot]How is your opinion about this problem?[/FONT]

 

[dll927]

You're talking about two different elements here, each with its own range of variables. But all in all, nowadays I don't think there is much to worry about. Some of these matters depend on subject matter and personal preferences. To say that one outranks the other in importance may be nitpicking. When one looks at various resolution charts and what today's lenses and films are capable of, it may be hard to go wrong. But I'm assuming that the lens is not an oatmeal carton or a magnifying glass!!

Also, there are different types of films - slide, print, infrared, etc., each with its own set of characteristics. So at least we need to be comparing apples with apples.

 

[oscroft]

That's a very good question. But I can't answer it, because every time I go out to shoot it is with a look based on a specific combination of lens (or lenses) and film in mind - I couldn't imagine planning one without the other.

 

[uhligfd]

I think this question, the way it is framed as an either ... or ... question is rather bad. And useless

If a film can resolve more than a lens does, then the lens is the limiting factor. If a lens can resolve more than the film used, the lens is the limiting factor.

In case you want to know what is the limiting factor today, with most film and lenses, there is no one uniform answer for all films and lenses.

Proof: I just went into Contax G and Zeiss glass. My previous "best film" Kondak 400UC went up a clear notch and the pictures showed more detail and nuances than my Nikon gear was generally capable of. If the Nikon stuff was set at their one perfect aperture, though, the F100 pics came out nearly as good as the Zeiss ones do for almost all apertures.

No wondera magazine is called "Car and Driver". We need to realize that it is the lens AND the film together WITH THE CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHER. And not waste our time on sillyly put questions such as this one. Sorry.