Gradation……

We hear a lot about resolution, mega pixels, pixel density, and sharpness, but the quality that I want the most is Gradation.  Gradation in color, a gradual change between hues, tones, or shades!  For me the most important quality of a sensor and lens is this critical property.  Images that come from cameras that have this extremely important quality produce images that just “have that look!”  A look of smoothness and richness.  It is a function of the sharpness, the lack of noise, and the smoothness of tones.  My very favorite cameras have this wonderful quality, and almost nothing looks as good as an image from such a camera.  I shot some great stuff today that I’m not allowed to show until later in the week.  I did however get to see a beautifully restored Mig 21.  It was a great  subject to test the 24 mega-pixel D7100!

I’ve been getting more and more fond of this camera, it is one of the few I’ve used that has both resolution and gradation to do this kind of work.  I test cameras to determine if they have this sterling quality and so far it is a precious few that exhibits it.

If you want to test a camera for gradation, photograph any smooth surface like a waxed car, or motorcycle, or a freshly painted airplane skin.  If the light shows the range of tones, you can see if the camera you are testing has this quality.  I hope it does!  My favorite cameras all do, in fact that’s why they are my favorite cameras!!

Below is a 100% crop of the above file.  Notice how smooth the tones are between the folds in the tail!

Should get to shooting some airplanes tomorrow, thanks for your patience!

Blessings,

the pilgrim

Of the cameras I’ve used or tested, the ones that have eliminated the Optical Low Pass Filter are usually the best, the Nikon D800e, the new D7100, and the Fuji X-Trans cameras.  That extra margin of smoothness seems to go along with that unobstructed path of light to the sensor.  Other cameras also have nice gradation, but these lead the parade of those I’ve tested.