24 vs 42 how much does 18mp help when cropping: I’m on the fence the between two cameras: a Sony A7iii and and A7Riii. Is there a big difference in the image result when cropping?

Toment Loc: FL, IL

I’m on the fence the between two cameras: a Sony A7iii and and A7Riii.
Is there a big difference in the image result when cropping? I.e., is it worthwhile to get more pixels, will the crops be that much different?
Thanks

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

More pixels help tons, assuming you have a sharp image in the finest details giving you the quality to crop into. Are your images already extremely sharp when viewed at their 1:1 pixel-level detail? Do you have the best technique along with the best lenses?

You also need to consider if you have the computer equipment to handle these size files, that is: both diskspace and memory to open and see and to process these images in a reasonably quick timeframe.

How do you use your images? Do you print to poster size or larger, where that pixel count will give extremely detailed prints when viewed nearly noise to print.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Toment wrote:

I’m on the fence the between two cameras: a Sony A7iii and and A7Riii.
Is there a big difference in the image result when cropping? I.e., is it worthwhile to get more pixels, will the crops be that much different?
Thanks

Besides that, the Sony a7IV has 61 mg but you can switch to APC crop and get 29 mg. That is like getting two lenses out of one lens. A 400 2.8 61 mg becomes with crop factor a field of view of 600 mm at 2.8 at 29 mg. WOW. This Nikon guy is sitting up and taking notice.

CA_CanonUser Loc: Friendswood, TX

It depends on how much you are cropping AND how large of a print you want. A guide is that when printing an 8 X 10 photo, the eye cannot see the difference between 10 mp and any larger number of pixels. Pixel counts in cameras are more of a marketing tool than a real factor when selecting a camera. Compose your photos well and you don't need the mega pixel cameras.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Toment wrote:

I’m on the fence the between two cameras: a Sony A7iii and and A7Riii.
Is there a big difference in the image result when cropping? I.e., is it worthwhile to get more pixels, will the crops be that much different?
Thanks

For my purposes, I want the the ability to crop—-sometimes a lot. There are pictures in your picture.
Buy the camera with the most pixels.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Toment wrote:

I’m on the fence the between two cameras: a Sony A7iii and and A7Riii.
Is there a big difference in the image result when cropping? I.e., is it worthwhile to get more pixels, will the crops be that much different?
Thanks

It depends on how much you crop.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

As others pointed out, the answer depends on how much you want to crop and if you need to blow up images to a large size. I was pondering the same question early last year, and I decided on the A7 III, mostly because the files are easier to manage, and I have not regretted it so far. I like to compose when I take the image and usually crop only slightly to adjust the composition. So a lot depends on your photography style and habits.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Thanks to all. Still not sure, but believe more pixels allow more to be cut...

User ID

The image magnification factor
is 1.33X, but the sensor area is
larger by a factor of 1.75.

All else being equal ... and when
comparing two Sonys at 24 and
42MP all else is close to equal ...
you pay a 75% premium to gain
a 33% increase in magnification.

So a 3ft wide print from 24MP is
analogous to 4ft wide print from
42MP when both cameras are of
matched brand and model series.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Toment wrote:

I’m on the fence the between two cameras: a Sony A7iii and and A7Riii.
Is there a big difference in the image result when cropping? I.e., is it worthwhile to get more pixels, will the crops be that much different?
Thanks

A "contact print" (one printer dot per pixel) from a 42 MP camera works out to be roughly 16x24 inches for most printers. For a 24MP camera, contact print size works out to be close to be about 12.5x18.5. This represents taking one-third out of each dimension (recognize that from the magnification ration above? By the way...the quick way to calculate this for any two sensors is to just take the square root of the ratio of the pixel counts. In this case, the pixel count ratio is 1.75, so the magnification ratio is the square root of 1.75, or 1.32.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are no limits to what you can accomplish when you own the best equipment.

Pat F 4119 Loc: Branford, CT

I own the A7RIII and have never regretted having more pixels. For my purposes the file size is manageable, and while I don’t often crop heavily, it’s nice to be able to when needed. Also, with the RIV out, I’m sure there are some great deals on new and used RIII’s.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

CHG_CANON wrote:

There are no limits to what you can accomplish when you own the best equipment.

It's a poor workman that blames his tools.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

CHG_CANON wrote:

More pixels help tons, assuming you have a sharp i... (show quote)

khorinek

When cropping, more pixel per inch helps a lot. If you crop a lot of your photos, go for the higher MP camera.