Mark1948

As this is my first post, I'm hoping veterans will bear with me. I've been using a 10.1MP Canon Rebel XTi DSLR for some time w/ok results. I'm running into problems when, having reached the maximum focal length of my longest lens, I still need to get closer/want to zoom in on or blow up a still too distant object. Of course, back home, at the computer, the more I attempt to enlarge that small part of the frame, the more image quality suffers. I'm hoping to obtain better/clearer images by upgrading to a 24.2MP Canon EOS Rebel T6s. My question is will an upgrade from 10.1MP to 24.2MP significantly improve image quality when I'm attempting to enlarge a small part of the picture? Thanks all.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

You would be better off spending your money on a longer lens

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

First of all, while a 24.2 MP camera will give a higher resolution image, you don't say what lens you've been using. You want to bring your subjects in closer, but in order to suggest a lens, it would be good to let us know what you use now. The T6s is a good camera, but won't reach out any farther than your current camera. You will, of course, be able to crop in better with a higher MP sensor, but you won't be able to zoom out any farther.

That said, please provide a few more details as to what lens you are currently using.

jcboy3

Don't upgrade the camera

Don't upgrade the lens

Instead, upgrade your shoes. So you can get closer to the subject. The only solution to atmospheric distortion.

tramsey Loc: Texas

Hey welcome to the forum. We have many who are vets and willing to help. I'm a vet in Nam

About your dilemma what you need is better glass. The camera you have admittedly is old. it still is a great camera. we have a couple o them on the forum. One user is gregory45 who specializes in herons and egrets. When you enlarge them you can see the veins in the feathers and he uses the same camera you have just better glass.

Hope this helps

Again welcome to the forum

Mark1948

Thank you all. Interesting/ironic, the problem came up on a trip to Alaska, Wingpilot's backyard, when I was trying to get a picture of a buck like the one in MT Shooter's post. At the time I was using a Canon 70-300mm zoom w/a Canon doubler so, 600mm. Although I hadn't thought about it, it does look like atmospheric interference reduced contrast etc., probably played a part. Unfortunately, because getting closer is still the best solution, my days of eagerly hoofing it through bad bush for a better picture are sadly behind me. Valuable input, Thanks all

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mark, welcome to the Hog.
Throwing money at an old 10mp camera is not the prudent answer to your situation
Several times more state of the art and higher IQ pixels will go a long way to producing higher quality images than a longer lens will. More mp and getting closer is the best and cheapest solution.
Ultimately, for things like birds you need high mp and a high quality long lens.
In your case, start with the camera and get the lens when you can afford it.
Again, welcome and good luck
SS

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

While you can get some benefit from upgrading your camera, (better focus performance, less noise at higher ISO, etc), having smaller pixels can potentially make an image noisier in certain circumstances - like when you are cropping a lot to fill the frame. Also, if you are not using L lenses, there is a good possibility that magnifying an image will expose all of the lens's faults, including lack of sharpness.

If you are shooting wildlife and birds - a great lens to use is the Canon 400mm F5.6, or the 100-400 F4-5.6 II, which are truly exceptionally good lenses.

Here is the work of a good friend, Sharron Crocker, who uses a 400mm F5.6, hand held, on a full frame 5D Mark III for most of her images. She prefers it to the results she gets with her back up 7D, dispelling the myth that a cropped sensor gives you more "reach," somehow implying better image quality. As you can probably surmise, her tight compositions are the result of extreme cropping and really great post processing, with excellent attention to detail.

https://untamednewyork.smugmug.com/Birds

https://untamednewyork.smugmug.com/Galleries/Nature/Critters-1/

You can still do pretty well with a cropped camera - and the newer ones will give you more post processing options. But without knowing what your long lens is, it's hard to give you better advice.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

If that was this past summer, there was, indeed, a lot of haze from wildfires. Made getting a decent shot difficult.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

If you don't fill the frame with a 10 mp camera it's gonna be pretty difficult to get a decent shot and cropping will be the only option. Crop 10 mp and your pic will fall apart pretty quickly!
SS

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

You will notice a difference in resolution from 10 to 24 mega pixels. It all depends
on your budget and you have not stated the focal length of your longest lens.
Welcome to the HOG.
Enjoy.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

He has said that he was using a Canon 70-300 with a Canon doubler, so to take an extender means it's a 70-300 L lens!
That's a pretty nice lens. Put that onto 24mp and it's a darned good combination especially if he can move in close and mostly fill a frame.
SS

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Oops, sorry SharpShooter I missed his other post were he does mention the focal length of the lens
and yes it is a nice lens.
I agree with you, on a 24 mega pixel camera, that would be a "good combination.
L

whitewolfowner

I can't speak specifics for a Canon camera, but assuming the difference would about the same upgrading from a 10mp to a 24mp, in Nikon, I can tell you that going from a D80 (10MP) to a D750 (24mp) is like night and day. Yes, you will notice the difference in a heart beat.

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

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