Where it goes wrong in the darkroom? Images printed not sharp enough with new enlarger lens

skahde · Dec 23, 2023

MattKing said:
Unfortunately, "sharpness" is used by a wide variety of people to mean a wide variety of slightly different things.

We only got into this rabbit-hole after somebody denied that keeping contrast a constant when assessing the sharpness of enlarging-lenses would be a prerequisite to come to a valid conclusion.

MattKing · Dec 23, 2023

skahde said:
We only got into this rabbit-hole after somebody denied that keeping contrast a constant when assessing the sharpness of enlarging-lenses would be a prerequisite to come to a valid conclusion.

True, but the problem surrounding the use of the term "sharpness" is a more general one.
Ctein has some useful observations about "sharpness" in chapter one of his book "Post Exposure": https://ctein.com/PostExposure2ndIllustrated.pdf

Roger Cole · Dec 23, 2023

Pieter12 said:
Sharp is sharp. It is not a matter of perception. Resolution, size and contrast can give the illusion of sharpness, but it does not enhance or produce real sharpness.

Sigh. Yes it IS often a matter of perception. All other things being equal a contrastier print will APPEAR subjectively sharper. It just does - because it makes boundary areas between light and dark areas differ more.

No one ever said it changes "real sharpness." You basically disagreed with me, then explained why you agreed.

eli griggs · Dec 24, 2023

Pieter12 said:
Lenses. Not prints. If the grain in a print is sharp but the image isn't, no amount of contrast will make it sharp. The "perception of sharpness" is not sharpness.

In other words, your out of focus, photographic target negative/photograph, can be focused on areas not in focus on purpose.

skahde · Dec 27, 2023

MattKing said:
True, but the problem surrounding the use of the term "sharpness" is a more general one.
Ctein has some useful observations about "sharpness" in chapter one of his book "Post Exposure": https://ctein.com/PostExposure2ndIllustrated.pdf

I'm glad you dug up Ctein as my old links to his book had died. It really is an inspiring read also on the topic of enlarging lenses.

Where it goes wrong in the darkroom? Images printed not sharp enough with new enlarger lens

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