Dan, when I read past threads on this topic I see no agreement or consensus.
The assertion that light rays behave, or must behave, differently for
different media does not appear to be valid. Nikon and Canon found a way to
incorporate digital backs onto otherwise conventional SLRs. Digital backs
are available for MF and LF cameras, all using completely conventional
lenses.
By definition a lens is a transparent medium designed to cause light rays to
converge or diverge and form an image. If light passes "straight through"
the transparent media without refraction it isn't a lens - it's a window.
OTOH, it has been shown that CCDs can capture legible images *without* a
lens. These images demonstrate characteristics similar to those captured
via pinhole cameras on film - inferior, tho' surprisingly good, resolution,
etc. A lens is used to wring the best possible resolution from an image at
a "normal" angle of view. More complex lenses are necessary to change the
angle of view while maintaining the best possible resolution.
It's difficult to imagine that this will ever change. Any other method of
capturing an image must involve, to some degree, interpolation. Few of us
are willing to accept that as a satisfactory substitute.
Lex
===
From: Dan Lau <dlau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [OM] Olympus - no digital plans for OM series
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 13:44:57 -0400 (EDT)
This particular topic (digital camera using OM lenses) was
discussed in April of this year. There was even a set of
PowerPoint foils from Olympus that show the difference between
a lens designed for film use (the light rays go at an angle)
and a lens designed for digital CCD chip (the light rays go
parallel). Someone on this list had archived that set of
foils on a web site somewhere, so whoever has it, please speak
up so we can put this topic to rest (again). Or else someone
do a search of the archives for the presentation.
-Dan
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|