|
|
|
|
|
|
by bicubic
3390 days ago
|
|
|
35mm film is considered to be roughly equivalent to 20 megapixels. A modern digital camera has 42, more than double that. 35mm film is considered to have a dynamic range around 13 stops. A modern digital camera will do about 13.9 Film has a few advantages and pleasant quirks over digital, but sensitivity and resolution aren't amongst them. |
|
|
Digital cameras have been more sensitive than chemical film for some time now, hence I didn't mention sensitivity (film is clearly inferior).
Regarding dynamic range and resolution, it really depends on what kinds of stock you compare to digital. If you take a low sensitivity ISO 50 fine grain stock, that one will easily outperform current generation electronic sensors – except for low-ish resolution high dynamic range sensors with large charge collecting capabilities¹. But you get this at the expense of having to use slow shutter speeds or a fast aperture.
You're right that in the "usual" ballpark of operational parameters (ISO 400 to ISO 2000, ~30MP resolution) modern electronic image sensors are getting close or are on-par with standard application chemical film stock.
----
1: Ironically chemical film stock resolution and dynamic range increase "in the same direction": Smaller grain → higher DR, higher resolution, but lower sensitivity. It's exactly opposite for electronic sensors since pixel size determines charge collection capacity and therefore saturation levels.