ND, Internal to external, quality hit?

[Fotojorno]

This may be a premature question but it doesnt apply to just the AF100. Obviously internal ND is a HUGE convenience and a godsend for people who are coming from the DSLR world. Putting this fact and the one that a external ND filter can run the risk of flaring, ghosting aside. Can one assume that the optical quality of a high end external ND filter (Tiffen waterwhite IRND, B&W MC, etc.) is better then the one's found inside camera's?. Has anyone ever done any head to head tests with certain camera's?

[William_Robinette]

I've never done any tests, but remember that in-built ND filters are nothing new. They have been on broadcast cameras for a long time and on prosumer cameras for the past ten years. I think if there was a major image quality hit or other ill effects that made external ND's a much better choice you would see a lot more people swinging cameras around with a matte box on the end of the lens.

Personally I have never noticed a difference. But I also haven't been looking...

[Matthew Bennett]

I did some tests with the internal NDs on my Andromeda DVX a long while back, and noticed that they did take the resolution a slight bit.

But then again that was SD, this is a completely new camera. I'm sure they are the highest quality available and will not lend any serious degredation to the image...

[modus]

This is a good question and I think Barry should consider it if he writes a book on the AF100.