DSLR image quality vs mirrorless cameras: I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I...

barham

I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I have tested these cameras and lenses against each other, and, although I like each, it clearly appears to me that the enlarged versions of each photo taken with the same subject matter at the same or similar settings show the Nikon to have substantially more detail and clearer.
Am I wrong?
Thanks,
David

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

That's because the Nikon is a REAL camera! What would you expect?!?! :lol:
SS

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

SharpShooter wrote:

That's because the Nikon is a REAL camera! What would you expect?!?! :lol:
SS

Have no idea if any of this is true -- But I love it!! :-D

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

barham wrote:

I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I have tested these cameras and lenses against each other, and, although I like each, it clearly appears to me that the enlarged versions of each photo taken with the same subject matter at the same or similar settings show the Nikon to have substantially more detail and clearer.
Am I wrong?
Thanks,
David

Nikon does have some secret sauce in their image processing from the Sony sensors they use. The Fuji has an APS-C sensor, just a smidgen smaller than the DX sensor in the Nikon. The Olympus uses a 4/3 sensor, which is about 1/4 the area of a full frame sensor, and a bit smaller than APS-C.

All these cameras are capable of great image making under normal circumstances. At the margins, however, you'll see about a 1-1/3 stop cleaner sensitivity from the Nikon and a stop better from the Fuji than you'll get from the Olympus. Depth of field is about a stop greater on the Olympus, assuming lens compensation for field of view changing with different focal lengths.

You can check reviews of these cameras on www.dpreview.com, www.dxomark.com, and other sites, where they give you excellent "pixel peeping" tools. However, you have to temper all reviews with tests of your own. A great photographer can make a great image with any camera. It's just a lot easier to do it well with the better cameras!

rebride

Has nothing to do with DSLR vs Mirrorless.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

rebride wrote:

Has nothing to do with DSLR vs Mirrorless.

True. The image technical quality is primarily a function of sensor and electronics used to convert the analog signal to digital and process it mildly into a raw file, or drastically into a JPEG.

Oh, the lens systems are factors, but both Fujifilm and Olympus make some really fine professional grade lenses that real pros rave about.

OP, have you invested in great glass for the Fuji and the Olympus?

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

barham wrote:

I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I have tested these cameras and lenses against each other, and, although I like each, it clearly appears to me that the enlarged versions of each photo taken with the same subject matter at the same or similar settings show the Nikon to have substantially more detail and clearer.
Am I wrong?
Thanks,
David

You are seeing exactly what one should expect (assuming that you are pixel peeping at 100%) since you are comparing a 24mpxl camera without a low-pass filter with two 16mpxl cameras.

However, I have both 16mpxl M4/3 and several 16mpxl Fujis, and I can tell you from much experience that in the real world (comparing high-quality PRINTS) that you have to print real big and look real close to see the differences, even compared to my D800, which has more than double the IQ of the D5300. The biggest real-world advantage of a higher megapixel count is the ability to crop more without the image falling apart when magnified. That is why my D800 sits on the shelf 90% of the time these days.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

barham wrote:

I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I have tested these cameras and lenses against each other, and, although I like each, it clearly appears to me that the enlarged versions of each photo taken with the same subject matter at the same or similar settings show the Nikon to have substantially more detail and clearer.
Am I wrong?
Thanks,
David

David, could you post the examples here?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Set up a tripod and shoot in the same conditions for each camera and post the images. Are all of these at the equivalent f stop?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Shot in raw or jpg?

Burt Hollen Loc: King of Prussia, Pa

Yes, I am sorry to say you are wrong. Several reviews put an Olympus OMD EM1 on a par and better than some DSLR crop camera.

barham

They were taken JPG. Its not really a matter of being "wrong" as I am merely making an observation based on the results of the pictures and asking for information.
I will retake the scene with all the cameras and post them so that folks can comment.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Shoot them in raw as well and post the originals

dvan7117 Loc: Colorado

You are comparing a 24 megapixel camera against two 16 megapixel cameras. Of course, there is going to be more detail with the Nikon after enlarging. I would also speculate that you were biased toward the Nikon before you conducted this test of yours.

barham wrote:

I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I have tested these cameras and lenses against each other, and, although I like each, it clearly appears to me that the enlarged versions of each photo taken with the same subject matter at the same or similar settings show the Nikon to have substantially more detail and clearer.
Am I wrong?
Thanks,
David

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

barham wrote:

I have a Nikon D5300 and use the 35mm f1.8 lense; I also have a Fuji XE1 with 27mm f2.8 lense and Olympus EM10 with Lumix 20mm f1.7 lense. I have tested these cameras and lenses against each other, and, although I like each, it clearly appears to me that the enlarged versions of each photo taken with the same subject matter at the same or similar settings show the Nikon to have substantially more detail and clearer.
Am I wrong?
Thanks,
David

I've noticed the same thing with my D750 and Sony RX100 IV. Maybe bigger really is better.