Digital camera pic quality

[jrpatdlgs]

This is not really a photoshop question but I'm posting it here because I'm sure that many of you are digital camera users and hopefully can educate me re pic quality, depth-of-field and focus. I'd like to buy a digital camera but am concerned about scenery pic quality.

1. Certain 3-4 Megapixel cameras, such as the Nikon 995 and 4500 seem to do a fantastic job at macro shots (

http://www.dcresource.com

for great reviews of cameras ) but seem fuzzy and out of focus on scenery shots. In looking at scenery photos I notice that the ground at the photog's feet is sharp and in glorious detail but the pic rapidly looses definition as one looks further and further away from the camera.

2. The same degree of change from "sharp" to "fuzzy" does not seem to be as pronounced on my 10-year old pocket sized Olympus 35 MM .

3. Why are distance shots "fuzzier" with a digital camera than similar shots taken with a regular pocket sized 35 mm while closeups are virtually identical in clarity?

4. Finally, does anyone know of a website where digital camera, novice-type questions are answered?

Thanks for your help. Tek-tips has got to have the greatest people on the web for providing helpful and friendly tech assistance!

John

 

[mscallisto]

Anyone please feel free to correct me if I give any bogus info.

Digital cameras work much like your computer monitor, they process and display pixels. Aliasing, the rigid "step" effect of pixels on the edge of images makes the picture not so smooth. Moire effects (like looking thru two screens), can pose similar problems.

The newest digital camera chip (discover magazine (X-Chip?) a couple of months back), has almost eliminated the alias effect and processes pictures very close to your Nikon 35mm.

There are also filters for most digital cameras for anti-aliasing and anti moire effect elimination.

moire

http://www.fredmiranda.com/MR/

anti alias

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/kodakdcs520/

Or do a Google search for "digital camera anti alias"

Hope this helps (hope it correct too)

 

[tbear]

John,
Are you using the Auto feature of the camera or are you setting shutter speed, f-stop, white balance etc.?
Terry

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Hi Terry,
I am not "using" a digital camera. I'm "shopping" for my first and am refering to the test pics and photo galleries that are provided by Dave Keller on his camera test site:

http://www.dcresource.com

. I'm beginning to get the feeling that for scenery digital cameras, at least those under $1,000, are not there yet. I'll be interested to see pics taken with the new chip mentioned by "mscallisto" above. However, I would guess that it will be several years at least before that chip shows up in $400 to $700 cameras.

Thanks for your reply.
John

 

[mscallisto]

See

http://www.discover.com/archive/index.html

click "Search the Site" (Left side of page with magnify glass)

search for x3 (thats the chip name)

 

[jrpatdlgs]

mscallisto,
Thanks for the Discover mag link. Quite an interesting article! Now all we have to do is hope that the manufacturers don't screw us all the way they did with the betamax vs vhs videotape skirmish.

John

 

[mscallisto]

Yes I tend to agree!

BTW I have an Olympus D600L that I bought about three years ago for $599.

You can get the specs if you click on archived products at:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_archived_product_details.asp

For scenery I can say I an extremely happy with the quality I was able to produce when I printed pics on an Epson photo quality printer using Kodak paper.

For sure I'm ready to upgrade my camera but I think I'll wait a bit longer to see what happens with the X3 chip

 

[tbear]

Jrpatdlgs,
I've just ordered a Canon EOS 10D, but am using a Canon G1 now. Go to

http://www.fredmiranda.com

he has some great actions for PS that will work on pics after you get them from the camera.
The web site is worth going to.

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Thanks TBear, I'll give it a look.