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Old 03-14-2008   #5 (permalink)
michaelhcothran
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Default Re: Digital vs. Med format

While you may be comparing "apples & pears" as someone stated, you can still make a personal choice as to which you prefer. Strictly from a statistical point of view, scanned medium format or large format film is going to yield much greater file sizes. And all else being equal, larger file sizes equals more detail.
Now, comparing DSLR's to medium format digital is a little easier. There is a direct correlation between digital quality and the size of the individual photo sensors. More mega pixels do not equal better quality. This is why you can squeeze 8, 10, or even 12 mp's into the tiny sensor of a P&S camera, but it will lack the final image quality of a larger DX or FX size sensor. And even stretching that further, it is why you can expect such stunning quality from medium format digital - the sensors are larger, allowing for larger photo sites.
In the opinion of many pros who do use high-end medium format cameras, the Hasselblad 16 mp CFV back designed for the older (almost extinct) V series cameras, has one of the best correlations between sensor size and photo site size. The individual photo sensors in this back are an amazing 9 microns, about the largest of any on the current market. And while it lacks the finer detail that a 39 mp back can yield, the clarity and cleanliness of its images are second to none.
Michael H. Cothran
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