Resolution and 50% MTF on CMOS and Film

Resolution and 50% MTF with Canon CMOS and Film Cameras
Comparison among the Canon EOS-1Ds, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-1D Mark II, 20D, D60 and EOS-1V /Astia 100F film

With evolution of digital CMOS cameras as well as transparency film, comparisons were made among 35mm format cameras and digital slr cameras with respect to their ability to produce sharp images when enlarged. Resolution of imaging systems was measured using a USAF 1951 test pattern on an Edmund Scientific resolving power chart. 50% MTF (modulation transfer function) which most authorities consider to be a better indicator of camera system sharpness was measured using the Koren 2003 chart. Comparison photographs were also taken.

Camera / Imaging System	Camera Megapixels	Pixel Size (µm)	Pixel Area (sq. µm)	Resolution (lp/mm) EF 85mm f/1.8 @ f/8	50% MTF (lp/mm) EF 85mm f/1.8 @ f/8
Canon 20D	8.2	6.5	42	62	71.5
Canon D60	6.3	7.4	55	55	75
EOS-1D Mark II	8.2	8.4	71	55	75
EOS-1Ds	11.2	8.8	77	55	70
EOS-1Ds Mark II Run separately at another time.	16.7	7.2	UNK	62	73.5
EOS-1v / Astia 100F Measure from image scanned with Nikon CS 4000 ED from film	NA	NA	NA	79	64
EOS-1v / Astia 100F Measure direct from film	NA	NA	NA	88	ND
Abbreviations: lp/mm = line pair per mm; NA = not applicable; ND = not done; UNK = Unknown

Resolution and 50% MTF from digital images measured on best of 10 RAW exposures at ISO 100 converted with Phase One C1 Pro v 3.5 except for 20D and EOS-1Ds Mark II RAW images which were converted with Phase One C1 Pro v 3.6.
Resolution on central focus point with film were measured by this method
Resolution on central focus point with CMOS images and all 50% MTF measurements by this method except measurements were made on tifs converted from RAW files which yielded higher resolution than when using large fine jpg camera output.

Link to Comparison Images

See Another comparison updated in the EOS-1Ds Mark II Review

Resolution and 50% MTF variations with aperture for the EF 85mm f/1.8
EOS-1Ds data is from in camera jpg images. RAW image processing yields higher data as shown in the table above.

Conclusions

Current Canon EOS-1D and 20D digital slr cameras outperform film in image quality and sharpness
The EOS-1Ds Mark II and the 20D have the smallest pixel size of the cameras tested and have the highest resolution. The EOS-1Ds Mark II achieved the highest image quality when resolution and 50% MTF and image appearance were compared.
Film continues to have higher resolving capacity with high quality lenses than CMOS sensor-based digital cameras. However, after scanning for viewing and printing, lower 50% MTF in film is associated with lower overall image sharpness.

Equipment Review Index

Posted 26 September 2004; Updated 30 April, 2005