6MP and 10MP

Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 147 Location: Toledo, Ohio

Im shooting with a 6MP Pentax right now. It seems like by the time i get to salvaging the shot I like, its worth maybe a 5x7. Im getting pictures I could see myself printing but it doesnt seem they are clear or sharp enough. I think this is a result of the lens, and am planning to get a few new lenses by the time summer is over. If I want to print images out larger than 8x10 is 10MP necessary? Is this a good time to think about another camera?

Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 451 Location: Gloucester, UK

Is 10mp necessary for anything above 10x8? Absolutely not. For fine art work possibly, but not for general use. I have printed 10x8 from 4mp originals, and with cropped images from that range.
Images often need some sharpening applied before printing but that doesn't mean you need a new camera.

Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 577 Location: Rochester, NY

I agree with Keith. If you can't get an 8x10 out of a 'good' 6MP camera then there is definitely a problem. When you say that you salvage your shots what exactly does that mean? Do you crop alot or make massive adjustments?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:27 pm

I have done some rudimentary comparisons between my K10D and *istDL2, the difference is very small in terms of useable resolution. There is a more noticable difference in dynamic range, the new sensor/ADC in the K10D seems to allow more shaddow and highlight detail recovery, but even here the *istDL2 is far from shabby.

I would be very happy to blow up either cameras results to 10x8 and beyond provided they have been well focused and exposed with good glass, and good glass can be the kit zoom if it's stopped down some and in the middle of its range.

The reasons I went to the K10D from my DL2 are

Shake reduction
high ISO noise (not less of it, but more easily removed and less irritating IMO)
9 frame RAW buffer, infinite JPEG.
Sv and TAv mode
HyP mode
even better viewfinder with interchangable screens
weather sealed
SDM focus motor compatibility

the extra resolution was basically a fringe benefit.

Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 147 Location: Toledo, Ohio

This is my first 6 mo. with a dslr. Ive used film slr's on and off for about 6yrs or so. Ive come to see the pictures as not so sharp, and lacking in color. I have been shooting in jpeg, mistake, RAW now. I also tend to undershoot the object. As a result I crop, and crop some more. If I feel its framed right in the viewfinder I still back out of the zoom just a bit then crop to adjust framing. There is a reason I see something to take a photograph. Other times ill just take a picture look at it later and try to see if I could catch or capture what it was that made me take the photo. Salvaging creates plenty of cropping too. I have the pentax K110D or the 100(i forget), but it just seems like its always on the step of delivering, but not quite there. I also seem to think it is probably largely in part of user error too since im still kind of new with the dslr's. It is a kit lens. The next purchase is a Tamrom 28-300 LD lens. Macro next, then maybe a new camera. Does the camera pose real problems at this point?

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:14 am

The K100D (or K110, only difference is 100 has SR, 110 doesn't) should be no barrier to producing really stunning pictures.

To see what these cameras are capable of, try searching the sharing and critique forums for "Pentax". Most of the pics which come up will have been taken with a camera using the same sensor as your K series, only the K10D has the new 10MP sensor and 22bit ADC.

ccd333 in particular has taken some lovely landscapes with his *istDL and kit lens.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:45 am

I wouldn't upgrade for megapixels. You should consider upgrading if the features in the other camera are something you need. As stated, a 6mp will give decent enlargements. I have some 16x20 from my 6mp camera that are just fine.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:33 pm

fish4fun wrote:

This is my first 6 mo. with a dslr. Ive used film slr's on and off for about 6yrs or so. Ive come to see the pictures as not so sharp, and lacking in color. I have been shooting in jpeg, mistake, RAW now. I also tend to undershoot the object. As a result I crop, and crop some more. If I feel its framed right in the viewfinder I still back out of the zoom just a bit then crop to adjust framing. There is a reason I see something to take a photograph. Other times ill just take a picture look at it later and try to see if I could catch or capture what it was that made me take the photo. Salvaging creates plenty of cropping too. I have the pentax K110D or the 100(i forget), but it just seems like its always on the step of delivering, but not quite there. I also seem to think it is probably largely in part of user error too since im still kind of new with the dslr's. It is a kit lens. The next purchase is a Tamrom 28-300 LD lens. Macro next, then maybe a new camera. Does the camera pose real problems at this point?

The problems you experience are manyfold:
- as Mongoose and Keith pointed out, 6 MP should be sufficient to get sharp, good to high quality prints. I cannot see any need at that point to buy a 10 MP camera.
- any digital image needs sharpening. The Pentax images even more. This is a well-known fact. But no problem, as Pentax RAWs stand even serious sharpening
- your way of shooting is simply not necessary. Don't zoom out "just to be sure". The Pentax viewfinders show only about 95 % of the image field, so there is some security margin already. You can reduce cropping significantly, by trusting your viewfinder.
- lenses do make a much more pronounced difference on digital cameras. So, to reach the realms of superb sharpness you need the corresponding glass.
- instead of another mediocre lens (like the Tamron 28-300) I would invest in a really sharp lens. If you go for the second-hand market you will probably get two lenses for the price of the Tamron. It is too much "super zoom" to be really good. In the tele-zoom-range I can heartily recommend the old Pentax SMC-A 4/70-210, which is sharp and sensibly fast AND very cheap on ebay (I got one for 40 Euros). Or go for the FA 2/35 mm (very nice and sharp lens - can be had new from B&H), a SMC-A 1.4/50 etc. There are many, many good lenses "out there".

regards
René

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:30 pm

as far as I know any single DSLR need to be sharpen due to the AA filter that's in frot of the sensors

here is an article that's a good read about sharpening
http://ronbigelow.com/articles/sharpen1/sharpen1.htm

enjoy reading

cheers