On making big prints using compact cameras

[Vieri]

Hello everyone, I just posted a new article on my blog on making big prints with fixed-lenses compact cameras, featuring the Merrills in the highlights!

You can read it HERE, let me know what your thoughts are!
Best,

Vieri

[theguywitha645d]

Unfortunately, you are still perpetuating the myth that print size is somehow linked to pixel resolution. Any of the cameras you write about can make prints to any dimension someone wants. Apart from that, the article is nice.

[mouse]

Unfortunately, you are still perpetuating the myth that print size is somehow linked to pixel resolution. Any of the cameras you write about can make prints to any dimension someone wants. Apart from that, the article is nice.

Of course there are many factors that influence how large one can print (viewing distance being not the least of which).
However, are you suggesting that "pixel resolution" (however you may define that term) is of no consequence?
Not my experience.

[Vieri]

Unfortunately, you are still perpetuating the myth that print size is somehow linked to pixel resolution. Any of the cameras you write about can make prints to any dimension someone wants. Apart from that, the article is nice.

Hello,

About resolution, I don't think it sounded like I am trying to perpetuate any myth, if so I am sorry - I don't mean that, I am just stating facts such as: to print at X" by X" at 240 dpi, you need XXX Mp. Which is a fact. You can get to that number natively, with a camera that output XXX megapixels, or you can get there interpolating in Photoshop or other software, or you can leave it to the printer software; whatever you choose, if you want to print X" by X" at 240 dpi, you need XXX Mp. Of course you can choose to print at lower dpi, but that is not what my requirements are to print Fine Art images... as always, your needing may vary, and so your solutions. I simply found it great that technology is getting to a point where we can print natively at 240 dpi basically nearly up to such large prints as 24x30" from compact cameras - try that 10 or even 5 years ago...! good times!

Best,

Vieri

[Vieri]

Of course there are many factors that influence how large one can print (viewing distance being not the least of which).
However, are you suggesting that "pixel resolution" (however you may define that term) is of no consequence?
Not my experience.

Not mine either resolution is just one parameter: is not the only important parameter in determining image quality, but is a very important one nevertheless.

[Schewe]

...let me know what your thoughts are!

My thoughts are you seem to primarily post to LuLa when you want to drive traffic to your blog. Of the total of 14 posts you've made since joining in 2011, 6 of them were topics YOU posted regarding new blog posts you've made. The rest seem to be answering questions in your own started threads. Sorry, that doesn't make you seem like a member of this forum so much as a exploiter of this forum. Normally, this sort of stuff doesn't bother me too much except I note you are rather strongly soliciting "donations" to you for the info of your posts:


DID YOU ENJOY THE BLOG AND ITS CONTENT? HELP ME TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVEN BETTER ARTICLES WITH A $4.99 USD MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION VIA PAYPAL: IT'S LESS IN A MONTH THAN YOU SPEND FOR COFFEE IN A DAY, AND YOU DON'T GET ANY GEAR REVIEWS WITH YOUR CUPPA!

OR SEND ME A ONE-OFF DONATION:

SELECT AMOUNT:

So...it sure seems to me like you are trying to take advantage of LuLa for your own benefit without making any sort of contribution to THIS site...

BTW, I could give you feedback on your article, but, you sorta lost me when I realized the first 5 images you showed we obviously high rez (considering that several mention being stitched including stitches from a Nikon D800E and a P65+). Also, I assume that English is not your native language? Well your English is better than my Italian or Turkish, but your writing is, uh, awkward and meandering...your photography is much better.

Hey bud, you said "let me know what your thoughts are!" so I am. You might want to spend some time here making posts that do NOT promote your own blog...

[Vieri]

My thoughts are you seem to primarily post to LuLa when you want to drive traffic to your blog. Of the total of 14 posts you've made since joining in 2011, 6 of them were topics YOU posted regarding new blog posts you've made. The rest seem to be answering questions in your own started threads. Sorry, that doesn't make you seem like a member of this forum so much as a exploiter of this forum. Normally, this sort of stuff doesn't bother me too much except I note you are rather strongly soliciting "donations" to you for the info of your posts:


DID YOU ENJOY THE BLOG AND ITS CONTENT? HELP ME TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVEN BETTER ARTICLES WITH A $4.99 USD MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION VIA PAYPAL: IT'S LESS IN A MONTH THAN YOU SPEND FOR COFFEE IN A DAY, AND YOU DON'T GET ANY GEAR REVIEWS WITH YOUR CUPPA!

OR SEND ME A ONE-OFF DONATION:

SELECT AMOUNT:

So...it sure seems to me like you are trying to take advantage of LuLa for your own benefit without making any sort of contribution to THIS site...

BTW, I could give you feedback on your article, but, you sorta lost me when I realized the first 5 images you showed we obviously high rez (considering that several mention being stitched including stitches from a Nikon D800E and a P65+). Also, I assume that English is not your native language? Well your English is better than my Italian or Turkish, but your writing is, uh, awkward and meandering...your photography is much better.

Hey bud, you said "let me know what your thoughts are!" so I am. You might want to spend some time here making posts that do NOT promote your own blog...

Hello Schewe,

it is true that I don't post much here, in fact since I joined I almost never posted until a while ago - there are so many forums out there that I cannot unfortunately dedicate the same amount of time to all. I mostly lurk, and post when I have something to share that might be of interest. About the donations, there is a post in my blog where I explain why I am asking for help from people who read and enjoy the articles I write; however, the blog is free and you can read whatever you like and donate or not as you wish. So I post when I post, and I share things I think might be of interest, all for free, and I am the bad guy. Sure, I ask for help to provide better content, but you are free to help or to keep enjoying the stuff I write for free. Complaining for a free lunch seems odd to me, but hey - it's a free world.

About the article, there is a reason why I started posting high-rez images first, and images taken with compact cameras later on - actually, comparing the two is the whole point of the article. I am sorry you missed it... 

About your remark on my mastering of English or lack thereof, you clearly understood that English is not my first language, and yet you felt the need to comment on it: not cool, but hey - it's a free world. Is not the first time, it will not be the last: actually, I see it happen a lot on the forums. People speaking english as their first language, they never bother to learn anything else but they feel like they can judge others who at least make an effort.

I am glad you enjoyed my photography though, which in the end all BS aside is all that counts. Thanks!

Best,

Vieri

[eronald]

Hey Jeff,

 Thanks for your post - it made me go to Vieri's blog.

 I looked at his images, some of which I find are quite good, and certainly worthy of a glance - I've been to the Rockies, and didn't bring back such good souvenir photos

  As for the quality of his english, well I cannot really fault it, but then I am sure the US product -which you are used to- is much improved over the archaic barbaric dialect that I was taught in Cambridge.

 I do agree with you that Vieri's request for contributions sounds a bit plaintive; I would value his blog as no better or worse than zillions other free blogs. On the other hand, Google has really stopped paying for ads in the past few years, and their shareholders may be happier but it has dealt content creators a serious blow.

 I'm sure you two will get on ever so well after you get to know each other better -

  
Edmund
 

My thoughts are you seem to primarily post to LuLa when you want to drive traffic to your blog. Of the total of 14 posts you've made since joining in 2011, 6 of them were topics YOU posted regarding new blog posts you've made. The rest seem to be answering questions in your own started threads. Sorry, that doesn't make you seem like a member of this forum so much as a exploiter of this forum. Normally, this sort of stuff doesn't bother me too much except I note you are rather strongly soliciting "donations" to you for the info of your posts:


DID YOU ENJOY THE BLOG AND ITS CONTENT? HELP ME TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVEN BETTER ARTICLES WITH A $4.99 USD MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION VIA PAYPAL: IT'S LESS IN A MONTH THAN YOU SPEND FOR COFFEE IN A DAY, AND YOU DON'T GET ANY GEAR REVIEWS WITH YOUR CUPPA!

OR SEND ME A ONE-OFF DONATION:

SELECT AMOUNT:

So...it sure seems to me like you are trying to take advantage of LuLa for your own benefit without making any sort of contribution to THIS site...

BTW, I could give you feedback on your article, but, you sorta lost me when I realized the first 5 images you showed we obviously high rez (considering that several mention being stitched including stitches from a Nikon D800E and a P65+). Also, I assume that English is not your native language? Well your English is better than my Italian or Turkish, but your writing is, uh, awkward and meandering...your photography is much better.

Hey bud, you said "let me know what your thoughts are!" so I am. You might want to spend some time here making posts that do NOT promote your own blog...

[Schewe]

Complaining for a free lunch seems odd to me, but hey - it's a free world.

It may have been free (but with a plea for donations) but it ain't a lunch I would like to eat...

People speaking english as their first language, they never bother to learn anything else but they feel like they can judge others who at least make an effort.

Uh huh...well, I do kinda write in English professionally...

Here's a clue, if you don't really want any comments or critique, I suggest you quit saying "let me know what your thoughts are!" if you don't really want to get an answer...

(BTW, the only foreign language I ever took was Latin–which has been useful in terms of understanding English and writing and terminology).

[Vieri]

It may have been free (but with a plea for donations) but it ain't a lunch I would like to eat...

So don't eat it. So don't donate. It's a free world.

Uh huh...well, I do kinda write in English professionally...

Here's a clue, if you don't really want any comments or critique, I suggest you quit saying "let me know what your thoughts are!" if you don't really want to get an answer...

(BTW, the only foreign language I ever took was Latin–which has been useful in terms of understanding English and writing and terminology).

I do want to get answers, obviously, on the contents of my articles and on the quality of my photography. I don't need the patronising language comments, though, since as you might have noticed I am not writing articles on English literature...

Latin, I studied it for 5 years during my school years in Italy. I speak Italian (obviously), English, French and now Turkish since I have been living in Istanbul for more than a decade. I am glad to hear that you "kinda write in English professionally", make sense since I assume you got a profession, you write, and English is your first (and only) language

Best,

Vieri

[Vieri]

Hey Jeff,

 Thanks for your post - it made me go to Vieri's blog.

 I looked at his images, some of which I find are quite good, and certainly worthy of a glance - I've been to the Rockies, and didn't bring back such good souvenir photos

  As for the quality of his english, well I cannot really fault it, but then I am sure the US product -which you are used to- is much improved over the archaic barbaric dialect that I was taught in Cambridge.

 I do agree with you that Vieri's request for contributions sounds a bit plaintive; I would value his blog as no better or worse than zillions other free blogs. On the other hand, Google has really stopped paying for ads in the past few years, and their shareholders may be happier but it has dealt content creators a serious blow.

 I'm sure you two will get on ever so well after you get to know each other better -
  
Edmund
 

Hello Edmund,

thank you for your comment, I am glad you enjoyed the photography and that my horrible English didn't bother you too much

As far as the contribution, there is a small article on the blog explaining my reasons for such a request - why some people gets bothered, I don't understand: if they don't like what they see, they can just not donate / subscribe and move on to the next (free) article on my or other blogs...

Thanks again, best

Vieri

[Schewe]

As far as the contribution, there is a small article on the blog explaining my reasons for such a request - why some people gets bothered, I don't understand: if they don't like what they see, they can just not donate / subscribe and move on to the next (free) article on my or other blogs...

Hum, maybe it's a failure in communication...let me be blunt, around here, it's considered poor form to try to exploit LuLa for personal promotion of non LuLa content. Some people actually ask for and get permission before doing so. Have you?

This is Mike's web site...he didn't create it for you to do your own self promotion. If you are not going to contribute to THIS community aside from posting self-serving & self promotional posts to YOUR blog, you might want to reconsider your LuLa membership in this community.

Coming around to announce new posts to your blog does not constitute being a useful contributor to this web site. If you don't have the time to spend here and make posts that are not self promotional, then you're not really a member of this community, you are an exploiter of this community.

There...do you want me to do a Google translation to Italian or Turkish?

Do you need me to be clearer? If you are not willing to be a useful contributor to this community, then you are not a useful contributor to this community...get it? If you aren't willing to spend some quality time here posting things that are not posts designed to drive traffic (and solicit donations) to YOUR web site, you don't need to come around any more. I don't have the power to ban you, but I know people who can.

When you registered, you agreed to the TOS (terms of service) which including your agreedment to not make posts that are contain: "Spam, flooding, advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are also forbidden on this forum.". Making a post whose sole purpose is to drive people to your web site should be considered an advertisement.

If you want to make posts that contain points and statements about various topics and use your blog as a source for additional info, that's one thing. Making a post  here to announce a new blog post is simply an advertisement even if you think it's a simple announcement. The fact you solicit donations makes your motive suspect.

Are you getting my meaning now? If you have nothing to say that isn't an announcement of a new blog post on YOUR blog, quit posting here.

[eronald]

Vieri,

I do wonder how people monetize their blogs these days. I think Google doesn't really pay very well, and it seems a lot of guys have links to B&H or Amazon affiliate programs, or direct advertising deals. I think running ads for courses is a smart move.

Edmund

Hello Edmund,

thank you for your comment, I am glad you enjoyed the photography and that my horrible English didn't bother you too much

As far as the contribution, there is a small article on the blog explaining my reasons for such a request - why some people gets bothered, I don't understand: if they don't like what they see, they can just not donate / subscribe and move on to the next (free) article on my or other blogs...

Thanks again, best

Vieri

[Aguirre]

Vieri,

Thanks for the CONTRIBUTIONS; the reviews and shots of the Sigma Merrills were informative. And your English is just fine; better than most native speakers.

[ripgriffith]

It's a shame this thread turned into a pissing contest;  I have to agree with Jeff about self-promotion, etc., but at that point the focus of the thread was lost.  It started as an important and interesting topic about small sensors and big prints, something that many, if not  most of  us have to deal with at some time or another.  It seems to me, even if the OP was less than clear about the subject or even incorrect with his conclusions, it could have generated some meaningful and informed responses.  Isn't that what this forum is really about?

[Vieri]

Vieri,

I do wonder how people monetize their blogs these days. I think Google doesn't really pay very well, and it seems a lot of guys have links to B&H or Amazon affiliate programs, or direct advertising deals. I think running ads for courses is a smart move.

Edmund

Hello Edmund,

Well, I am not using Google anymore: as you said, they don't pay too well. As a non-US resident, I cannot use BH, so I use Amazon ads which are OK but not great. As well, I would much prefer to have enough subscribers / donations to get rid of ads altogether - however, until then, Amazon it is for me now.

Best,

Vieri

[Vieri]

Vieri,

Thanks for the CONTRIBUTIONS; the reviews and shots of the Sigma Merrills were informative. And your English is just fine; better than most native speakers.

Aguirre,

thank you for your comment - I am glad you found my contributions interesting As far as my English, well I am doing my best to please the Hemingways of the forum, not always successfully though it seems 

Best,

Vieri

[Schewe]

It seems to me, even if the OP was less than clear about the subject or even incorrect with his conclusions, it could have generated some meaningful and informed responses.  Isn't that what this forum is really about?

And I have no problem at all discussing that topic here...as I said before, if one wants to use a blog post to open a topic of discussion HERE, then engage is discussion here, that's a useful activity here...if one is trying to drive traffic to a web site outside of LuLa, no so much.

I actually have a lot of experience in using both extremely high rez cameras/back as well as smaller, lower rez cameras. I use a Phase One IQ 180 (60MP capture) and often shoot a 4-8 capture stitches...but I've also shot a lot of stuff with various Canon Rebel cameras (and successfully uprezed for larger prints) as well as a Canon S90 uprezzed as well as stitched.

In general, smaller cameras produce less optimal captures that are less sharp to start with (because of less than optimal lenses and less than optimal stabilization) or add a bit to a lot of noise when the ISO is ramped up. All of these sort of basic photo technique issues will impact how far one can upsample a small camera capture.

But, again, that's not what the OP was doing...he was coming here to promote his blog, driving traffic away from LuLa, which I think is against at least the philosophy if not the TOS of LuLa.

[Vieri]

It's a shame this thread turned into a pissing contest;  I have to agree with Jeff about self-promotion, etc., but at that point the focus of the thread was lost.  It started as an important and interesting topic about small sensors and big prints, something that many, if not  most of  us have to deal with at some time or another.  It seems to me, even if the OP was less than clear about the subject or even incorrect with his conclusions, it could have generated some meaningful and informed responses.  Isn't that what this forum is really about?

It should be. The article is a real article, dealing with a topic that it is of interest - I think - to many of us. People that choose to see only the two lines at the end, well, too bad for them...

[Vieri]

And I have no problem at all discussing that topic here...as I said before, if one wants to use a blog post to open a topic of discussion HERE, then engage is discussion here, that's a useful activity here...if one is trying to drive traffic to a web site outside of LuLa, no so much.

I actually have a lot of experience in using both extremely high rez cameras/back as well as smaller, lower rez cameras. I use a Phase One IQ 180 (60MP capture) and often shoot a 4-8 capture stitches...but I've also shot a lot of stuff with various Canon Rebel cameras (and successfully uprezed for larger prints) as well as a Canon S90 uprezzed as well as stitched.

In general, smaller cameras produce less optimal captures that are less sharp to start with (because of less than optimal lenses and less than optimal stabilization) or add a bit to a lot of noise when the ISO is ramped up. All of these sort of basic photo technique issues will impact how far one can upsample a small camera capture.

But, again, that's not what the OP was doing...he was coming here to promote his blog, driving traffic away from LuLa, which I think is against at least the philosophy if not the TOS of LuLa.

Not at all. Read the forums, a LOT of times discussions happen around topics referring to articles posted elsewhere. Quit it, will you?

About the topic, finally. True, small cameras normally have other problems: what it is very good about this last generation of high-end compact cameras, is that not only they start having resolution high enough to be able to print without doing too much up-rezzing (which is never good, if one can avoid it, no matter how judiciously it is done); as well, they have lens that perform very well, lenses built around their sensors; they use large sensors (at least APS) which help with many of the issues at pixel level that previous compacts showed; and their sensors, at least in the case of the Sigma Foveon and Fuji X-Trans, sport innovative technologies to maximise performance. I feel that a new era is started in compact, or at least that camera makers tried to open a new segment, and I for one like this development very much - it's has been great, for instance, to walk around Venice for full days carrying around a very light and small kit, while being able to print very large and to use the output for my professional work. I couldn't have done this just 2-3 years ago!