amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes, that will certainly tell you if an image is "tack sharp", whether there's a lot of noise, if focus was accurate, and other fine details.

However, is it more than necessary? For example, if you are using a standard monitor with approx. 100 pixels per inch and viewing a 4000x6000 pixel image from a 24MP camera "at 100%", it's probably massive overkill. The image may be fine, but you are looking at it scaled up to the equivalent of a 40" x 60" print. Do you actually print that large? If so, do you ever view those prints from 18 or 20" away, the way you do your monitor? Seriously, if an image looks good at 50%, 33% or possibly even 25%, depending upon the final use of it, those may be more realistic and it may print just great as an 8x10" or 11x14".

Of course, if you are going to be cropping, that has to be taken into consideration and a higher degree of magnification may be needed. On the other hand, if you'll ultimately be scaling the image down for display online, then it probably doesn't need even 25%, in the above example.

This will differ depending upon your camera's resolution (I used 24MP above because a lot of cameras today have at least that much resolution).

By all means, zoom in and look at the image closely. But don't trash it yet if it doesn't look perfect. I bet if they let you walk up to within 18" of the Mona Lisa, all you'd see are brush strokes!

In fact, I often view images at 100, 200 and even 300% while I'm doing careful, precise retouching. But I back way off to closer to the intended print size before I get too judgmental about things like sharpness, noise, focus accuracy, etc. Besides, there are various sharpening techniques (and noise reduction) that, when done right, can help a lot.

hobbit123 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Hilarious! :-)

User ID

Way to go. Never mind what it looks like. Check scope tradings.

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

You're 90% of the way to calculating MTF: https://www.cis.rit.edu/research/thesis/bs/2001/perry/thesis.html

A. T.

Just keep in mind that "tack sharp" is a relative term. What I've heard photographers use is "acceptably sharp". So, you have to determine what the term "tack sharp" means to you.