resolving power

noun
1.
Optics. the ability of an optical device to produce separate images of close objects.
2.
Photography. the degree to which a lens or photographic emulsion is able to define the details of an image.
Origin
1875-80
Examples from the web for resolving power
  • The resolving power of such a virtual telescope grows with the size of the telescope array.
  • Trapped in two dimensions on the surface of a bulky piece of hardware, it insults the resolving power of your eyes.
  • Most photos appear to be cropped and show an area at or past the limits of the camera's resolving power.
  • My lecturer told me that it has something to do with resolving power.
  • The smallest line pattern in which lines can be distinguished in both directions establishes the resolving power of the system.
British Dictionary definitions for resolving power

resolving power

noun
1.
(physics) Also called resolution
  1. the ability of a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument to produce separate images of closely placed objects
  2. the ability of a spectrometer to separate two adjacent peaks in a spectrum
2.
(photog) the ability of an emulsion to show up fine detail in an image
resolving power in Medicine

resolving power n.
The ability of a lens to distinguish small objects in close proximity.