Can someone please explain Anti-Alaising filters to me in plain english

EspressoJunkie

EspressoJunkie

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Greg
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According to www.nikonrumors.com there are to be 2 versions of the D800 released, one of which will be without an Anti-Aliasing filter.

Not knowing what this was I googled it and found this on Wiki

"An anti-aliasing filter is a filter used before a signal sampler, to restrict the bandwidth of a signal to approximately satisfy the sampling theorem. Since the theorem states that unambiguous interpretation of the signal from its samples is possible when the power of frequencies above the Nyquist frequency is zero, a real anti-aliasing filter can generally not completely satisfy the theorem."

Now clearly this is in some strange language that I don't speak, so can any of you technologically minded camera buffs explain AA filters to me in laymans terms???

Ta!
 
My understanding is that it helps to prevent jagged edges on straight lines and the like, which could be a problem due to the sensor sites being laid out in a symmetric grid. I believe it works by softening the image before it reaches the sensor, which is why pictures straight out of the camera need some sharpening to look their best.
 
The new Nikon D800E,is due out soon without an AA filter,seem this model is going to be aimed at the landscape market.

The other D800 is due with an AA filter,have to see how the reviews goes beteew the 2 models :)
 
Not sure how much the lack of a moire filter would help unless you go about photographing test cards or MC Escher drawings :)
 
simonblue said:
The new Nikon D800E,is due out soon without an AA filter,seem this model is going to be aimed at the landscape market.

The other D800 is due with an AA filter,have to see how the reviews goes beteew the 2 models :)
Click to expand...

I'll be interested to see how they compare. We'll know at 4am (11am Thailand time!) on Tuesday, that's when Nikon are announcing the D800 (hopefully)!

Yeah I'm sad enough to have worked out the time difference, lol my wife'll be wondering what I'm doing online at that time of the morning.
 
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Colour fringing on chequer-patterned jackets on TV is where most people would have seen it... more so in the past (not sure if the cameras have improved or the TV sets have improved to remove/reduce it though :D - or perhaps the standard of jackets worn by those on the TV...)
 
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