Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

There's been a sudden rash of cameras of late, with anti-aliasing filters (aka optical low-pass filters) to help in resolving this problem. One wonders how effective they can be. It seems to me, there are ways to reduce or eliminate this problem w/o these filters. Repositioning helps. Changes in ISO settings may also help. Comments?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

You have it around the wrong way, according to Outdoor Photographer. Some of the new cameras do not have these filters where as the older ones do..

https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/photography-gear/cameras/can-you-go-no-low-pass/

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

That may well be, Richard ... but the K-3 I had for a month, had something which could be turned on or off at will, to help with this. I suspect the K-3II may have it, too. And there were pairs of cameras which were introduced, a while back, which could be bought WITH the filters, or without them. So, the onus was on YOU, then.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

In the case of optical image sampling, as by image sensors in digital cameras, the anti-aliasing filter is also known as an optical low-pass filter (OLPF), blur filter, or AA filter. The mathematics of sampling in two spatial dimensions is similar to the mathematics of time-domain sampling, but the filter implementation technologies are different. The typical implementation in digital cameras is two layers of birefringent material such as lithium niobate, which spreads each optical point into a cluster of four points.

The choice of spot separation for such a filter involves a tradeoff among sharpness, aliasing, and fill factor (the ratio of the active refracting area of a microlens array to the total contiguous area occupied by the array). In a monochrome or three-CCD or Foveon X3 camera, the microlens array alone, if near 100% effective, can provide a significant anti-aliasing effect, while in color filter array (CFA, e.g. Bayer filter) cameras, an additional filter is generally needed to reduce aliasing to an acceptable level.

The Pentax K-3 from Ricoh introduced a unique sensor-based anti-aliasing filter. The filter works by micro vibrating the sensor element. The user can turn the vibration on or off, selecting anti-aliasing or no anti-aliasing.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

The Pentax K-3 and K-S1 DSLRs feature APS-C CMOS sensors with no AA filter (24.3 and 20.1 megapixels, respectively), but you can activate the AA filter simulator, when desired. The simulator uses the camera's sensor-shift Shake Reduction mechanism to rapidly move the sensor down one pixel, right one pixel, then up one pixel to slightly blur the image at the pixel level as an AA filter would. This lets you shoot with or without the AA effect. Pentax's 20.1-megapixel K-S2 and 16.3-megapixel K-5 II S are also AA-filterless, but don't have the simulator.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Nikon started the mainstream AA-filterless trend with the D800E and its AA-filtered D800 twin. Both have been replaced by the D810. In total, Nikon currently offers five DSLRs without AA filters: the 36.4-megapixel full-frame D810, and the 24-megapixel APS-C D7200, D5500, D5300 and D3300, the latter of which, at $499 (including kit zoom), is the lowest-cost AA-less DSLR at the moment.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

There has never been such a thing as a sudden rash like that, they have always been part of digital cameras, but lately there have been more and more cameras without them, or the ability to "turn them off"!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

So, what's your take, S?

Is it better to have the filter, or not have it?

Or, do you prefer the designs, which allow you to switch them in, or out, at will?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

You certainly can "eeek" out a bit more detail in your pics with sensors that don't use them, I think it's up to the individuals choice!

Thruxton Loc: Indiana / California

I just happened to come across this topic in www.dpreview.com of the Sony RX1r II that provided a good illustration of LPF effect on moire. The most intense detail in this example was achieved when the filter mode was off. Intricate detail was lost on the high setting. You clearly know when it is desirable and how to apply it to your own advantage. I am quite the novice on the subject and only wish to draw your attention to this part of the review. Thanks.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Wikipedia is a great resource, isn't it?!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Canon's new full-frame EOS 5DS R is the company's first DSLR with the AA filter negated. The EOS 5DS R has a resolution of 50.6 megapixels, making it the current high-res king in the 35mm-style DSLR class. When announced, Canon made reference to nature and landscape photographers specifically as being a large part of the motivation for developing it. There's also a standard EOS 5DS model, which has a low-pass filter. The 5DS R and 5DS don't replace the EOS 5D Mark III. For the time being, they will coexist in the line. Also, the 5DS R and 5DS are said to be identical to the 5D Mark III on the outside.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Yes, it is, Michael ... but most of these excerpts actually came from Outdoor Photographer ....

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Eeeeeeeek! ... Really, S?

But, then - you take the chance of acquiring greater Moire, in certain subjects, S ...

Roof tiles, brickwork, fancy windows, the list goes on and on, eh?

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Oh, okay, Thruxton ... will take a look ...

So, then - you must be an advocate of the switch capability, then ...

Thanks for your input ....