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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 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 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 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”
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