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There’s multiple things going on.

The larger the film stock, the easier it is to get a certain final resolution. Both because the film itself needs to be magnified less when creating the final print and because the lenses don’t need to create as small of an image.

And BW film even today is still MUCH sharper, even if just perceptually, than color film.



> And BW film even today is still MUCH sharper, even if just perceptually, than color film.

Maybe perceptually - due to stronger contrast and perhaps also the fact that B&W film often comes in higher speeds and probably incurs less motion blur of the subject overall.

But I don't think it's actually objectively sharper per se?


In terms of grain I think the finest is still bw film. Highest exposure latitude as well. Great dynamic range as well probably still better than digital.


No one has ever looked at a photograph and wept because it was so sharp...

...of course many photographers have wept because a photograph wasn't sharp.


There have been millions of photos that have suffered at the hands of the sharpness slider.


In fairness, that's not the photo that was too sharp, but an unsharp mask that was applied too heavily. ;)


Using sharpness never improves a photograph, only changes it.




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