Nikon D800 vs Canon 5D MarkIII: large format: I print large formats (around 80''x 40"). Do you think Nikon D800 should be better? Or the 5D III should be enough since it's a great...

Fernanda

I print large formats (around 80''x 40"). Do you think Nikon D800 should be better? Or the 5D III should be enough since it's a great quality? I'm in doubt between both of them. I have a Canon Rebel T4i and the image has very poor quality for those sizes.

amehta Loc: Boston

Fernanda wrote:

I print large formats (around 80''x 40" ). Do you think Nikon D800 should be better? Or the 5D III should be enough since it's a great quality? I'm in doubt between both of them. I have a Canon Rebel T4i and the image has very poor quality for those sizes.

As I said before, they're so close it usually doesn't matter. But now you bring up one of the use cases where there is a slight difference. Looking at DxOMark ratings, for example with the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G and Canon 85mm f/1.2L, the 5D Mark III scores a 32 while the D800E gets a 44. While that difference may not show up often, it will with prints the size you want.

Basically, couple the D800-series with the best available glass and you will get image quality in the 35mm format which cannot be beaten.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

What's the viewing distance of the 80 x 40, and are you printing these yourself (large format printer) or sending them out?

Fernanda

Cdouthitt wrote:

What's the viewing distance of the 80 x 40, and are you printing these yourself (large format printer) or sending them out?

I would say around 6 feet. I sell photographs to people that usually hangs it in the living room. I don't print myself.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

amehta wrote:

As I said before, they're so close it usually does... (show quote)

This is good advice ( as usual) - but if I were contemplating this quandry, I would be putting my money with the new Pentax 645Z as seen here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS9s88Npy7A

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Are you currently using programs to resize to that scale (like perfect resize?)

amehta Loc: Boston

imagemeister wrote:

This is good advice ( as usual) - but if I were contemplating this quandry, I would be putting my money with the new Pentax 645Z as seen here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS9s88Npy7A

G.A.S. attack! G.A.S. attack!!! :lol:

FWIW, though, a 35mm/full-frame camera has a 1.3x crop factor relative to the Pentax, so the difference is smaller than between full frame and APS-C.

Fernanda

imagemeister wrote:

This is good advice ( as usual) - but if I were contemplating this quandry, I would be putting my money with the new Pentax 645Z as seen here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS9s88Npy7A

Thanks for your opinion, but it is too expensive for me now.

Fernanda

amehta wrote:

As I said before, they're so close it usually does... (show quote)

Thanks again!! Almost ready to choose...
:lol: :lol:

Fernanda

Cdouthitt wrote:

Are you currently using programs to resize to that scale (like perfect resize?)

Photoshop, but I don't like the result very much... It depends on the photograph, if it is abstract or landscape.

amehta Loc: Boston

Fernanda wrote:

Thanks again!! Almost ready to choose...
:lol: :lol:

With a choice like this, you don't want to just flip a nickel. It deserves a silver dollar!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Fernanda wrote:

I print large formats (around 80''x 40"). Do you think Nikon D800 should be better? Or the 5D III should be enough since it's a great quality? I'm in doubt between both of them. I have a Canon Rebel T4i and the image has very poor quality for those sizes.

Fernando, welcome to the Hog.
That's a pretty large print. My suggestion would be to borrow each of the cameras, or at least take your own card into a store and do the exact same shot with both, then view it and print a crop to scale, so it would be the same exact size as it would be on the 80x40, inch for inch.
I also assume that you will have it printed by a CUSTOM PRINTER. I mean a guy that has been printing for a living for 30 years. Those guys have up-rezing down to a science!
At that size both files would require uprez and it will depend entirely on the kind of subject that you are shooting.
For instance a scene of tiny wildflowers the 800 would make a difference, a football game, it may not matter.
The Camera choice, if you're buying it, would depend on what you would be doing with the camera most of the time.

Don't forget that the Rebel is an introductory consumer camera. And the lenses also make a small difference. The sensor in the 5lll probably costs more than the Rebel and a kit lens combined! Yes, there would be a difference!! :lol:
SS

amehta Loc: Boston

SharpShooter wrote:

Fernando, welcome to the Hog. br That's a pretty l... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Fernanda wrote:

I print large formats (around 80''x 40"). Do you think Nikon D800 should be better? Or the 5D III should be enough since it's a great quality? I'm in doubt between both of them. I have a Canon Rebel T4i and the image has very poor quality for those sizes.

I regularly print at 48" x 72" (uncropped image) from my D800E's and the resolution is fantastic, even up close. I have never cropped to a 40" x 80" exactly as it is an odd format but not significantly longer so as to suspect the image would be degraded in any way. I have not shot a 5D Mk3, nor printed larger than 24x36 from one if its images. I refuse to pay that much more for so much lower sensor resolution than the Nikon offers.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

MT Shooter wrote:

I refuse to pay that much more for so much lower sensor resolution than the Nikon offers.

I guess you'll never own a professional body then will you?!
Paying twice as much, to get half as much! What a rip-off.

Why is it that pros are only concerned with camera performance, but amateurs are only concerned with megapixels?! Hmmmmm, funny how that works.

There is so much more to a camera than just a sensor, no matter how big you print. :lol:

SS