Visual acuity

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Sharpness perception I: Resolving power

Diffraction as a physical limitation

The arrangement of photoreceptors on the retina

The neuronal circuitry of the photoreceptors

The quality of ophthalmic optics

The brightness

The contrast

The total resolving power of the visual system


Sharpness perception II: Contour sharpness

What the visual system does with object edges


Image sharpness I: Optics, geometric sharpness and depth of field

The focus – true geometric sharpness only exists in one plane

Circle of confusion and depth of field – Perceived sharpness extends over more than one plane

Geometry and calculation of the depth of field

Depth of field and aperture

Depth of field and subject distance

Depth of field and focal length

Depth of field and focus point

Depth of field and image format

Estimating the depth of field when taking a picture

Circle of confusion and diffraction slice – Not every aperture is a good aperture

Image sharpness II: The resolving power of the photographic components and the image

The contrast transfer function (MTF) – The central element for determining resolving power

The resolving power of optics

The resolving power of analog image carriers

The resolving power of digital image carriers

The resolving power of digital output devices

The overall resolution of an imaging system

Resolving power, viewing distance and print size

The mathematical short path to a sharp image

Practical evaluation of the recording systems


Image sharpness III: Edge sharpness

Greater edge sharpness thanks to better shooting technique

Greater edge sharpness through active image composition

Greater edge sharpness through “sharp development”

Greater edge sharpness through analog unsharp masking

Greater edge sharpness through digital unsharp masking

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Since I started my first website in the year 2000, I’ve written and published ten books in the German language about photographing the amazing natural wonders of the American West, the details of our visual perception and its photography-related counterparts, and tried to shed some light on the immaterial concepts of quantum and chaos. Now all this material becomes freely accessible on this dedicated English website. I hope many of you find answers and inspiration there. My books are on www.buecherundbilder.de

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Jörg