Comparing Film and Digital: Resolving Power of Different Film Formats vs. iPhone 6
Introduction
In today's digital age, the performance of modern smartphones has made a significant impact on how we capture and share images. However, the question remains: what is the resolving power of different film formats compared to the iPhone 6 camera?
iPhone 6 Camera Specifications
The iPhone 6 features an 8 MP camera capable of capturing images at approximately 3264 x 2448 pixels, which translates to around 8 million pixels. This sets a baseline for comparison against various film formats.
Comparing Film Formats
35mm Film
When it comes to 35mm film, high-quality scans can yield around 10-20 MP, often exceeding the resolution of the iPhone 6. This format, being consumer-grade color negative film, can provide comparable detail to the iPhone 6, especially when viewed at lower resolutions.
120 Film
Medium format 120 film typically offers even higher resolutions, ranging from 20-80 MP when scanned. This format clearly provides significantly higher resolution than the iPhone 6, making it a superior choice for image enthusiasts.
4x5 Film
For large format photography, 4x5 film can produce images with resolutions of 50 MP and higher. This makes it an outstanding choice for professional photographers who demand the highest level of detail.
8x10 Film
In the realm of super-large format photography, 8x10 film can yield extremely high resolutions often exceeding 100 MP. These scans far surpass the capabilities of a consumer-grade smartphone camera like the iPhone 6.
The Digital Resolution of Film
Understanding the resolving power of film requires a look at how it captures detail compared to digital sensors. Fuji Velvia 50, for instance, is rated to resolve 160 lines per millimeter. This means that each line requires one light and one dark pixel or two pixels. Thus, to represent the detail on Velvia 50, you would need about 320 pixels per millimeter, translating to 0.1 MP per square millimeter.
Given that 35mm film is 24 x 36mm, or 864 square millimeters, you would need about 864 x 0.1 or 87 MP to scan most of the detail on a 35mm photo. However, film captures true RGB data, while digital cameras use Bayer interpolation. Therefore, a single-chip 87 MP digital camera would still have trouble replicating the fine detail of 35mm film, necessitating a digital camera of about 87 x 2 175 MP to see every last detail.
Professional Grade Film
Professional film formats like 4x5 and 8x10, while more expensive and requiring high-end equipment, provide even greater detail. Even with low-resolution scanning, these film formats can surpass the capabilities of modern smartphones, as indicated by Ken Rockwell's observations on Minolta scanners. Scanning 35mm film at 5400 DPI yields 39 MP images without Bayer interpolation, which is sharper than Bayer-interpolated digital images.
Conclusion
While the iPhone 6 offers impressive imaging capabilities, film formats like 35mm, 120, 4x5, and 8x10 provide significantly higher resolving power, particularly when scanned at high resolution. This comparison highlights the unique advantages of film over digital in capturing and preserving fine detail.
For photography enthusiasts and professionals, film continues to offer unmatched quality and detail, making it a preferred choice for those who value the highest level of image clarity.
References:
Rockwell, K. (n.d.). The Digital Resolution of Film. Ken Rockwell.