Experiments Concerning the Interrelationship of Resolving Power and Recognition

Abstract

An attempt was made to evaluate in terms of recognition the performance of several lenses of equal focal length and aperture, but of different design. Some lenses required a detailed study because of the presence of two resolution maxima.Photographic measurements of the contrast rendition were made by means of the National Bureau of Standards’ continuous-tone test chart. For one lens the measurements were repeated photoelectrically. With the same lens recognition tests were made using pictures of natural objects as targets. They did not reveal a clear relationship with either resolution or contrast rendition.