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Author Topic: How many pixels do we need  (Read 7764 times)

ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« on: September 26, 2009, 09:53:40 am »

Hi,

I have a small writeup on the amount of pixels needed for print with some experimental notes:

http://83.177.178.241/ekr/index.php/photoa...SomeExperiments

Best regards
Erik
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Quentin

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2009, 04:26:04 pm »

Quote from: ErikKaffehr
Hi,

I have a small writeup on the amount of pixels needed for print with some experimental notes:

http://83.177.178.241/ekr/index.php/photoa...SomeExperiments

Best regards
Erik

Hi Erik,

Broadly right I think.

I recently took Michael's comparison, at his studio in Toronto, between good size prints from images taken on a Canon G10 and a P45+ hassy combo and failed miserably (like many before) to tell the difference (see Comparison article Michael posted a while back.

It does make you wonder  

Quentin
« Last Edit: September 26, 2009, 04:28:19 pm by Quentin »
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ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2009, 09:49:38 pm »

Quentin,

Thanks for feedback.

Best regards
Erik


Quote from: Quentin
Hi Erik,

Broadly right I think.

I recently took Michael's comparison, at his studio in Toronto, between good size prints from images taken on a Canon G10 and a P45+ hassy combo and failed miserably (like many before) to tell the difference (see Comparison article Michael posted a while back.

It does make you wonder  

Quentin
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Erik Kaffehr
 

ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2009, 03:59:02 am »

Updated with some sample pictures...

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: ErikKaffehr
Quentin,

Thanks for feedback.

Best regards
Erik
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Erik Kaffehr
 

ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2009, 12:32:17 pm »

Hi,

Added some discussion comparing some available shots from MFDB nd DSLRs. These comparisons are based on prints.

In short:

Sample images downloaded from Flickr and printed in A2 on Epson SP 3800: Nikon 3DX probably preferable to Hasselblad HII-50, depending on viewing distance.

Self made image compared with Phase One P45 from LL 2006 shootout (crop printed in 60x90cm equivalent size)
- P45 wins
- Sony Alpha 900 quite acceptable at this size
- Stopping down P45 to f/22 leads to significant drop in sharpness

Here is the complete article: http://83.177.178.241/ekr/index.php/photoa...SomeExperiments

Best regards
Erik


Quote from: ErikKaffehr
Hi,

I have a small writeup on the amount of pixels needed for print with some experimental notes:

http://83.177.178.241/ekr/index.php/photoa...SomeExperiments

Best regards
Erik
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erick.boileau

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2009, 07:31:11 am »

I'd like to see M9 pictures added :-)
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free1000

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2009, 10:36:47 am »

Somehow this topic feels so 2006.
 
 
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ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2009, 02:19:16 pm »

Hi,

No problem, are you serious?

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: erick.boileau
I'd like to see M9 pictures added :-)
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dwdallam

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2009, 03:04:25 pm »

Quote from: free1000
Somehow this topic feels so 2006.
 
 


lol  . . .so 2004.
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ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2009, 03:59:26 pm »

Hi,

If you can find any more recent shootout with digital backs which have been done in reproducible manner and also including "raw" files...

The article also discusses another shootout with newer backs.  The other shootout was found on FLICKR but it's only JPEG and nothing that can be easily reproduced independently.

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: free1000
Somehow this topic feels so 2006.
 
 
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erick.boileau

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #10 on: September 29, 2009, 04:28:58 pm »

Quote from: ErikKaffehr
Hi,

No problem, are you serious?

Best regards
Erik

yes of course !
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Quentin

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2009, 03:32:11 am »

One has to take account of the fact that most smaller format shots are taken hand held, whereas larger formats will often be used tripd mounted, with shutter lock-up.  

More is probably always better but 20+mp is probably good enough for anything short of a Ad campaign poster.  We're all pixelaholics.  We can't get enough even when we don't need it.

Quentin
« Last Edit: September 30, 2009, 03:50:14 am by Quentin »
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BernardLanguillier

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2009, 03:51:09 am »

Quote from: Quentin
More is probably always better but 20+mp is probably good enough for anything short of a Ad campaign poster.  We're all pixelaholocs.  We can't get enough even when we don't need it.

Nah... we need 400 megapixels...  



Cheers,
Bernard

Gary Ferguson

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2009, 10:05:51 am »

Quote from: Quentin
Hi Erik,

Broadly right I think.

I recently took Michael's comparison, at his studio in Toronto, between good size prints from images taken on a Canon G10 and a P45+ hassy combo and failed miserably (like many before) to tell the difference (see Comparison article Michael posted a while back.

It does make you wonder  

Quentin

This should be required reading for everyone on this site, I read it with interest when it was first published a year ago and I'm sure it's just as true now...sadly it didn't stop me upgrading from a P45+ to a P65+  
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Rob C

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #14 on: September 30, 2009, 10:06:48 am »

Quote from: BernardLanguillier
Nah... we need 400 megapixels...  



Cheers,
Bernard




Could be the effects (after) of lunch, but is it true that up in the mountains the crater lakes can stay full to the brim even when they are to be found inclined on a slope?

400 megapixels and you can rewrite the laws of physics - cool!

Rob C

petermarrek

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #15 on: September 30, 2009, 10:28:33 am »

Recently produced app. 60 prints for a show, mostly 24x36, some up to 36x50. All shot with a D2x or D3x. Some of the D3x shots are a bit smoother but in most cases it's hard to tell the difference. This was not done as a test, just real world photography. The biggest benefit of the larger files was the ability to crop.
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Jeremy Payne

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #16 on: September 30, 2009, 12:55:26 pm »

I'll skip the next iteration and am hoping for a 30mp / 36mm x 24mm D900.

I'd like to have about 360dpi at 13" x 19".
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ErikKaffehr

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #17 on: September 30, 2009, 02:54:09 pm »

Hi,

That's OK but the difference between 30 MP and 24 MP ought to be very small!

Best regards
Erik


Quote from: Jeremy Payne
I'll skip the next iteration and am hoping for a 30mp / 36mm x 24mm D900.

I'd like to have about 360dpi at 13" x 19".
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Jeremy Payne

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #18 on: September 30, 2009, 03:35:57 pm »

Quote from: ErikKaffehr
Hi,

That's OK but the difference between 30 MP and 24 MP ought to be very small!

Best regards
Erik
True, true ... but the jump from 12MP to 30-34MP will be quite dramatic.

I'm just not ready to buy another body and figure if I skip a cycle, there will be a nice, juicy option that suits my needs quite well - ie 360 dpi at 13" x 19" ... I'd stitch a lot less.

Stitching is fun and all, but I'd prefer to go back to just seeing and shooting.
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BernardLanguillier

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How many pixels do we need
« Reply #19 on: September 30, 2009, 04:10:41 pm »

Quote from: Rob C
Could be the effects (after) of lunch, but is it true that up in the mountains the crater lakes can stay full to the brim even when they are to be found inclined on a slope?

400 megapixels and you can rewrite the laws of physics - cool!

Rob,

Actually the children version of this image - a single 24 megapixel frame - has the same magical properties.

The orientation of the lake is such that it does look like it is going to leak also...

Cheers,
Bernard
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