> From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <[email protected]> > IMO, we passed the point a long, long time ago (around 5-10 Mpixel > resolution) where, assuming a quality sensor, it was anything like a limiting > factor in the quality of a > photograph. > > I am still perfectly happy and confident shooting with my lovely old 2003 > Olympus E-1. 5 glorious Mpixels. Yeah, my other cameras are now all 8 to 18 > Mpixel, but the E-1 still > produces beautiful photographs competitive with the best of them. > > G
What is the "quality of a photograph"? "Competitive with the best of them", in what way? Preface: I know I'm not telling you things you don't already know. Millions of people loved the quality of their Brownie Hawkeyes and Instamatics, or Polaroids for that matter. I agree that a 'pleasing' image is possible with any camera. However, at face value this argument implies there was no benefit to medium format film over 24 x 36, or 4 x 5 over that, or 8 x 10 over that - and that there's no benefit to increased digital resolution. I see things the other way around. Given a competent photographer behind the viewfinder, a system with increased resolution serves to capture more detail and a physically larger sensor likely reduces noise and increases dynamic range. The higher resolution capture provides more data to the system. The more data, the more accurate and detailed the image can/will be. Compare images from a 6MP *istD and a higher resolution K whatever. There's a difference. Compare to a 36MP D800E. There's a difference. If one only views at web size it may not be quite as apparent, the same way in which a 24 x 36 and medium format image might not look too strikingly different printed at 4" x 6". Start viewing at closer to 100% capture resolution, however and the difference quickly shows up. I'd argue that it can be detectable even at small sizes, though not as readily apparent. The benefits of higher resolution are obvious to many. If one doesn't need it or want it, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Can one capture pleasing images with just about any digital camera at any resolution? Yes. No argument whatsoever. That is not the same question as: Will one's images likely benefit from increased resolution? The answer to that is also yes. Tom C. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
