Brent Rowlett Loc: Atlanta, GA

A 15 Mega Pixel back on a medium format Mamiya will blow the socks off any DSLR out there for capturing detail. My Canon 5DSr with larger censor comes close.

The new drones have increased the size of their censors comparable to DSLR full size censors producing huge improvements in quality, 60 fps video, lower light response and other improvements.

For detail quality, larger print files, you want the largest censor you can buy for the money.

kbk

this was in response to thomas902... my question has been answered about slide/film and projecting the image. he must be doing something wrong with the digital projector...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

There are actually at least two factors to consider that contribute to the ultimate resolution of the final image - the number of pixels defining the image and noise (which limits resolution). There is a member (who will likely comment in a vociferous manner) that crop sensors have higher resolution because the equivalent number of pixels are compressed into a smaller space (higher pixel density). What is missing in that argument are two things. First, your PP program or printer or display don’t know or care in the least about the pixel density - it just matters how many pixels are used to define the SAME SIZE image -more pixels equates to higher resolution assuming the noise is the same. Which brings us to the second consideration. Noise obscures detail and thus limits resolution. Larger pixels produce less noise, so given the same number of pixels and post digitizing processing, the larger sensor, with larger pixels, will contribute less noise and have a higher effective resolution.

You’ll surely get the opposite opinion, and when you do, remember that what we’re concerned with is the resolution of the entire reproduction SYSTEM, not just the sensor in isolation.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

I do not think anyone missed your question as you asked it. What WE missed is that you were projecting it, an information you only gave now.

Still, you were answered when folks mentioned the media and viewing distance. This does make a difference in perception. (Re-read my initial answer)

Yes, if both cameras produce the same number of pixel the resolution would be the same BUT (there is always one) the quality of light would different. This may also be what your friend is referring too.

Another issue: a slide is made to be projected to a screen, a digital image is not, it has to be prepared for that. This again touches the light quality.

So, in raw pixel, you are right. When it comes to light quality and color rendition, he is.

Brent Rowlett Loc: Atlanta, GA

A small censor bragging about mega pixels just interpulates say 8 pixels or more for one pixel on a large censor. No improvement and maybe less. Cell phones and cropped censors will never equal the detail provided by a medium format large censor camera for that reason. A cropped censor is just magnifying the center of a full censor area. Good for increasing the focal lengths of lens inventories but not good for large prints.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Uh?

You really think that cropped sensors were made to increase the reach of lenses????? It is a side effect. The 'cropping' that takes place is within the circle of projection/diffusion created by the lens. It does appear as magnification but in reality it is not*. If you want magnification, use an extender.

Do remember the viewing distance...

Now where have you seen a cropped sensor? I never have. I just see sensors. The 'cropped part' comes from a comparison to the 35mm film also mis-named as 'full frame' (FF).

The 'FF' and 'cropped' sensors comparisons are jokes. All sensors are FF. The only time when they are not is when a camera adapts to a lens as some of the Nikons models do when adapting down from a FX to a DX lens. At this point, one can only speak of a 'cropped' capture but not of cropped sensor.

One has to blame the manufacturer's marketing arguments for all this crappy confusion.

-----
* This leads to other meaningless arguments over the Dof.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

There are too many factors entering into how much resolution you get.

FOR A GIVEN LENS FOCAL LENGTH (and quality lens), given enough light, with the same sensor technology, (have I left anything out) the smaller 18mp sensor will have more resolution than the FF 18mp sensor. It is using the same number of megapixels on a smaller area.

HOWEVER, the FF sensor has larger pixels, so it will have lower noise (better signal to noise ratio). Noise messes up resolution, kinda.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

You might want to do a test here.

The sensor has smaller sensors, true. But in the end the image will be similar if the same subject, same lens (adapted to the camera format) and same distance.

The issue will be in light quality. Something that is fast changing due to the new sensor's capabilities.

Until one can prove the contrary a 3000x4000 pixel camera will be the same size regardless of pixel density at the sensor level. Since it is the same size the capture resolution is the same.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

NO! The area covered by a crop sensor is smaller than a FF for the same lens and distance. That is why the EFFECTIVE focal length is multiplied by 1.5 or 1.6.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Do a test.

Just remember that the focal length is not what you will be looking at but the angle of view.

BebuLamar

regardless of the the image files how many pixels can the projector handle? Unless someone use an 8K projector the digital files won't be as good as a good 35mm slide.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

This is the issue the OP was talking about from the first post as I read it. Digital projectors just don't have the resolution, because they are digital...VGA, SVGA or perhaps better today... I don't follow the market for such devices...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

BebuLamar

Very likely the guy only has a 1920x1080 projector. I know we can buy 4K projector with 3840x2160 but that still not really beat the slide. The 8K projector I heard is available but I haven't seen one yet.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

BebuLamar

A projected slide is slide at its best. A projected digital image is digital imaging at its worst. He would be more happy if he try to print a 20x30" print and compare.