Tri-x and lenses

[kipkeston]

Is it true that most any normal lens out resolves tri-x? Therefore if you only shoot tri-x (like myself) then you won't actually notice any sharpness resolution differences between lenses?

 

[Matthew Allen]

The perception of sharpness is down to more than just resolution. The lens' micro contrast and the choice of developer make a big difference.

Maybe you wouldn't see a resolution difference between lenses (I don't know) but different lenses still render quite differently from one another, and some will certainly appear sharper than others.

Matthew

 

[navilluspm]

From my understanding almost any lens (not just normal) will outresolve Tri-x. I think (correct me if I am wrong) most lenses will out resolve most films. This is why you can use a film like PanF+ with out fear and get very sharp pictures.

 

[charjohncarter]

I read, but it probably is wrong, that very good 35mm lenses will out resolve pixels. That is really getting down there. What Matthew Allen said is really what I feel. Here is a very poor qualitly lens that I used with TriX 120 on a bright sunny California day.

I would have expected this scene to be very high contrast, but no. If it behaves like this at the macro level, I'm sure the micro level is similar. The overall feeling is; macro, lower contrast than expected, and micro there is a softness to the image.

 

[mfogiel]

I suggest you take a look at this test, it is quite interesting:
http://figitalrevolution.com/2008/04/15/sharpness-and-graindiafine-processed-films-compared/

 

[oscroft]

Is it true that most any normal lens out resolves tri-x?

I think that's pretty much true with any decent lens (and "standard" developers - that Diafine example is interesting). All the lenses I've checked have been able to out-resolve Tri-X and provide better resolution on other slower emulsions. But as has been said, apparent sharpness is due to more than just resolution. Contrast at different scales makes a big difference, especially acutance (edge contrast) - an image that has higher acutance can appear subjectively sharper than an image with lower acutance but higher actual resolution. And so you can get quite different results with different lenses on Tri-X.

 

[kipkeston]

I suggest you take a look at this test, it is quite interesting:
http://figitalrevolution.com/2008/04/15/sharpness-and-graindiafine-processed-films-compared/

That's pretty interesting. I don't use diafine however. Maybe I should do my own tests to see whether I see any difference.

 

[35mmdelux]

most any lens of mediocre quality will out-resolve pixels, no competition here.