IQ160 vs IQ180 - photo cell size

[Jim2]

With the IQ180 cell size being smaller than IQ160 or P65+ - what's going to be the effect on the overall 'image quality', considering that it seems to be the general opinion that the bigger the photo cell size, the better the sensor gets at capturing signal vs noise, or is that not true?

What's the effect when the lens is stopped down (say, to F/16 - F/22) to get more DoF?

I have never understood this circle of confusion / diffraction stuff in relation to the photo cell size. Is there a good site that explains it?

[bradleygibson]

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm

A good, visual explanation, and you can see the actual difference diffraction makes in a real image partway down the page.

[DeeJay]

Interesting. From all accounts I hear that the IQ180 blows the P65 out of the water and the 160 is probably the same as the P65. I've been using a P65 and that blew me out of the water so can't wait to get my hands on a 180.

[Erick Boileau]

I am interested  too, to know about f/22  and the IQ180

[yaya]

Call your local Leaf dealer and ask them to try the Aptus-II 12 so you can have a 1st hand experience and draw your own conclusions of what the 80MP chip is capable of...

[Martin Kristiansen]

The change from the Leaf Valeo22 to the AFI7, a 33 MP chip, blew me away. It was the biggest change I had yet seen on an upgrade. I have not been expecting such a change going to the 12 which I believe is the same chip as the IQ180. Well I was wrong!

It is not just the extra pixels. The IQ is fundamentally improved. Jaw dropping.