Comparison of 4 film formats and 2 digital cameras

[QT Luong]

With regard to the criticism about using the cheap 18-55, using Norman Koren's excellent program (imatest.com), I have found that there is about a 10% on MTF 50 (measured on a Digital Rebel) between a 18-55 and a 24-70/2.8 when both are used at 24mm and f8. Many people have reported that the 24-70/2.8 compares well to a 50 prime from Canon. So the lens, even on a Digital rebel is a limitation, although a small one. As far as 6MP camera goes, tests and subjective reports have repeatedly shown that the Digital Rebel is on the top of the crop.

[QT Luong]

A couple of more comments: the reason why a better lens than the 18-55 changes the results even though the resolution of the 18-55 is already way above the resolution of the sensor is that the resolution of the captured image is a product (convolution) of the lens and sensor resolutions.

Many factors contribute to print quality, high-contrast B&W resolution being only one of them. So it is entirely possible that the 300D would actually produce a better print than the 35mm/5400 when used on ordinary photographic subjects.