Trend To Large-format DSLRs and Improved MTF Potential
There has recently been a shift towards the use of large image format digital single lens reflex cameras driven by the need for low-light sensitivity and narrow depth of field effects. This has led to such cameras becoming preferred by some film and television program makers over even professional HD video cameras, because of their 'filmic' potential. In theory, the use of cameras with 16 and 21 megapixel sensors offers the possibility of almost perfect sharpness by downconversion within the camera, with digital filtering to eliminate aliasing. In practice, such cameras currently fail in this respect and they do not have the processing power to do what is required. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is believed to use only every third line, and hence suffers bad aliasing, as its optical filter is optimized for stills use. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 may do some processing across pixels, producing very sharp images, but with some aliasing. Nevertheless, such cameras produce very impressive results, and appear to be leading the way in video production towards large-format downconversion with digital filtering becoming the standard approach to the realization of a flat MTF with true freedom from aliasing.
Read more about this topic: Optical Transfer Function
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