It think what you are also seeing is the difference between a camera fitted with an AA filter and one without. The ZD and 55 /80 / Macro combinations can be amazingly sharp below F/11 where diffraction can start to kick in. Even the slightly lesser 35mm on the ZD is decent.
The D700 has a fairly strong AA filter. I think that most 35mm format lenses resolve more than their MF counterparts but this is being obscured by the effect of the AA filter. If Nikon produced a digital SLR with a user removable AA filter, just like the old Kodak DCS 760 had, then you'd see the same level of sharpness as with the ZD or other no-AA filter cameras. Indeed I know that to be the case from using my 760 and also a Kodak 14nx which has no AA filter.
Quentin
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To me the biggest failing of the dslrs is the aggressive aa filter. I also used a dcs 760 and except for the color casts in skin tones, it was really a great camera with a lot of options. Had Kodak continued with it's development I think there would be a lot less Canon 1ds' in this world.
Regardless, the Nikon D3 and the Canon 1ds3 have very aggressive softening. It shows less or more depending on the lenses and lighting, though sharpening is always a work of art, usually requiring separate layers in photoshop to get the effect with halos or splitting.
It's interesting that sharpening or an over sharpened look can also take a lot away from the idea of does digital look like film.
This week shooting on location, we started with the p30+ in 3.78 and the Canon in eos utitility.
The art director looked at the c1 previews then the canon previews and preferred the Canon, mostly because 3.78 previews are small renderings and can look harsh.
Now in the end, I can do more with a medium format file than I can a file from a dslr, but this project was a series of real women in natural settings (I guess all women are real, but in this case not models is a better term), so everyone was very sensitive to an oversharp look as it wasn't as flattering.
There really is three stages of digital capture. The very first the preview and that sets the tone for the day. If the preview is beautiful everyone takes a deep breath and the mood of the room is very positive.
Sometimes we will hot folder to Light-room (which really slows up the process) with presets so the AD can see very close to what the final will be like. Even by slowing it up, it still makes for a more positive shoot, in that everyone has a very good idea of what direction the final look will be.
I never want to use the words, don't worry it will look good in post. You want to be there almost
immediately.
Still, if it's ultra sharpness you want your pretty much limited to the medium format backs or the Leica.
In regards to the Nikon lenses, I have both of the new wide zooms, the prime 200 f2 and the 400 2.8 and they are are brillinatly sharp.
JR
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