HD needs "high performance" lens ?

How much of a difference do high performance lenses like Fathom make ? Does the extra resolution of HD need a better lens ?

I guess the easy answer is yes...

In general, HD formats have much more resolution, causing imperfections to become very apparant.

IOW, the higher quality the format, the more quality needed from the camera AND the optics.

I understand the theory, but what about digital photography ? The photographers out there using "standard" lenses like Inon, Epoque, etc.. don't seem to have problems and the resolution on a 5+ mp is very high.

You hit the nail on the head. HD sensors are far below digital still cameras. All but the cheapest of extension lenses will have a higher lpi than the HD camera. Doesn't mean you won't have other issues like zoom through, distortion, light gathering, color rendition etc.

Well those standard lenses are designed as add-ons to the built in lens and have quite a few imperfections if you care to look. Chromatic aberration, distortion etc.

I've talked to Paul at Fathoms and he sent me a long list of reasons of why my old SWA110 won't work with the new camera, and that was built for a 3CCD PD170. It's complicated but basically the costs of a fathom SWA isn't just in the optics but also construction of the uw housing plus the dome port.