Nine-Years Ago (08-March-2008) — Colorado

Photographic Techniques. Resolution and Focus Testing.

I must have been bored, so spent an afternoon doing some autofocus and resolution testing with some of my cameras and lenses. The goal was to see which combination would be able to focus and provide the highest resolution image of Alexander Hamilton. Ideally, sharp enough to make out the microprint security feature on his shoulder. All of the images were taken with a Nikon D300 camera. The lenses used include a 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro, 200 mm f/2 VR, 300 mm f/2.8 VR, 400 mm f/2.8, and 200-400 mm f/4 VR.

Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/4, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/4, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (30-December-2007) — New Jersey

Currency & Stamps: Micro-print.

One method I use to test the resolution of cameras and lenses is to see well the combinations perform. The US $50 bill has “The United States of America” printed using very small letters. A copy machine would have difficulty resolving something this small.

Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camera & Lens Testing. United States of America micro-print on a US $50 bill. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens with a TC-E II 2x teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 m, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)