D500 Image Area Selection
Dec 12, 2018 09:44:52 #
I have searched here for some information and previous posts do not entirely satisfactorily answer my question (S).
I am beginning to shoot primarily wildlife with a crop frame Nikon d500 and a 400mm f/2.8 lens. In the camera shooting settings I can choose DX mode (5568 x 3712) or 1.3 crop (4272 x 2848). I believe that if I use the 1.3 crop selection, all the camera does is crop away the perimeter of the larger image leaving me with a smaller 4272 x 2848 sized image. Is this true ?? If I cropped the image to 4272 x 2848 in post processing do I have the same quality as if I cropped it by designating 1.3 crop in camera ?? What's the difference if any ?
A quote from a non Nikon after market manual on the d500 says "Sports and Wildlife photographers often find this option which produces 12.2 MP image a very useful to give their images EXTRA reach". Of course i want the best image quality, but at which "Image area" setting ??
I am beginning to shoot primarily wildlife with a crop frame Nikon d500 and a 400mm f/2.8 lens. In the camera shooting settings I can choose DX mode (5568 x 3712) or 1.3 crop (4272 x 2848). I believe that if I use the 1.3 crop selection, all the camera does is crop away the perimeter of the larger image leaving me with a smaller 4272 x 2848 sized image. Is this true ?? If I cropped the image to 4272 x 2848 in post processing do I have the same quality as if I cropped it by designating 1.3 crop in camera ?? What's the difference if any ?
A quote from a non Nikon after market manual on the d500 says "Sports and Wildlife photographers often find this option which produces 12.2 MP image a very useful to give their images EXTRA reach". Of course i want the best image quality, but at which "Image area" setting ??
Dec 12, 2018 09:55:35 #
Yes, in camera or software the crop is seeing the same pixels.
You could prove it to yourself by simply taking 2 shots.
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You could prove it to yourself by simply taking 2 shots.
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Dec 12, 2018 09:56:08 #
Which one do you find more effective for your needs?
(Surmising that you tried them.)
(Surmising that you tried them.)
Dec 12, 2018 09:58:41 #
'Extra reach' by cropping???????????
Sorry I have a D500 and it would not come to my mind to throw the sensor real estate out for no reason. If you want that 'extra reach' you can always crop after the fact.
Another marketing BS.
Difference between the two? Most obvious is that you limit your editing potential (straightening, area selection for cropping [for any reason] are the first things to come to mind.) Only advantage I see is that it would force you to use the center of your lens which offers the best sharpness.
After reading again there is a double edged sword here. Smaller sensor size (cropped) means smaller file size on the card, so more images using the same card capacity. As to buffering, this may also have an effect but considering how big the buffer is (D500), there is no point to crop.
Sorry I have a D500 and it would not come to my mind to throw the sensor real estate out for no reason. If you want that 'extra reach' you can always crop after the fact.
Another marketing BS.
Difference between the two? Most obvious is that you limit your editing potential (straightening, area selection for cropping [for any reason] are the first things to come to mind.) Only advantage I see is that it would force you to use the center of your lens which offers the best sharpness.
After reading again there is a double edged sword here. Smaller sensor size (cropped) means smaller file size on the card, so more images using the same card capacity. As to buffering, this may also have an effect but considering how big the buffer is (D500), there is no point to crop.
Dec 12, 2018 10:03:10 #
I just did an article all about camera crop modes that I think you'll enjoy:
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
Dec 12, 2018 10:38:09 #
A great article by Steve. Certainly worth a read. From my point of view, I would be very reluctant to use the in-camera crop mode on my D500. I do a lot of burst shooting and, somewhat surprisingly, many of my better frames from those bursts are off center. Sometimes way off center. If I was in crop mode I would probably miss those shots. I may try this with my D810 though just to see what kind of results I can get.
Dec 12, 2018 10:42:08 #
Steve Perry wrote:
I just did an article all about camera crop modes that I think you'll enjoy:
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
Dec 12, 2018 11:19:03 #
Steve Perry wrote:
I just did an article all about camera crop modes that I think you'll enjoy:
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
I know there should be no difference at all in the IQ, so I've never seen any reason to shoot in crop modes (especially as I already shoot in DX format), but I hadn't thought about buffering and continuous shooting. I just tried it out on my D7100 and it improved the buffer from three shots to four. Although that's not much, it's one extra shot in high speed mode, 25% speed improvement, without having to resort to JPEG. I'll keep this in my bag for the next time I'm shooting sports or wildlife (neither of which are very frequent activities). If I did this more often, I'd look to go to a faster and newer model, but for the rare times I shoot wildlife or sports, this is a nice little trick.
Thanks, Steve!
Andy
Dec 12, 2018 11:30:57 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
You have a great setup for wildlife and birding photography. I think you have your answer on crop modes. Have you looked at back button focus yet? Steve Perry has some great material on the topic.
Dec 12, 2018 12:00:20 #
Strodav wrote:
You have a great setup for wildlife and birding photography. I think you have your answer on crop modes. Have you looked at back button focus yet? Steve Perry has some great material on the topic.
Yes, I have both my d7100 and my d500 set up for back button focus. Once you have used it for a while it becomes second nature. I don't even think about focusing anymore. It is a must for any bird photography.
The only time it becomes a problem is when you hand your camera to someone and ask them to get a shot of you...............
Dec 12, 2018 12:04:06 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
Yes, I have both my d7100 and my d500 set up for back button focus. Once you have used it for a while it becomes second nature. I don't even think about focusing anymore. It is a must for any bird photography.
The only time it becomes a problem is when you hand your camera to someone and ask them to get a shot of you...............
The only time it becomes a problem is when you hand your camera to someone and ask them to get a shot of you...............
Yes, too bad "Auto" mode won't revert back to shutter for when you hand the camera to another person.
Too many details to explain, especially if you use single point focusing.
Dec 12, 2018 12:07:59 #
Longshadow wrote:
Yes, too bad "Auto" mode won't revert back to shutter for when you hand the camera to another person.
Too many details to explain, especially if you use single point focusing.
Too many details to explain, especially if you use single point focusing.
I wonder whether you could set up one of your "user" presets for auto? That would be a handy use.
Andy
Dec 12, 2018 12:10:25 #
AndyH wrote:
I wonder whether you could set up one of your "user" presets for auto? That would be a handy use.
Andy
Andy
Worth checking! But I'm not expecting.
Dec 13, 2018 07:11:24 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
GC likes NIKON wrote:
I have searched here for some information and prev... (show quote)
If you have the money for a 400 2.8 you have the money for a 1.4 teleconverter. This would give you much more pixels on the subject than by using the crop factor in camera. And it would result in a much sharper image too.
Dec 13, 2018 07:21:27 #
Steve Perry wrote:
I just did an article all about camera crop modes that I think you'll enjoy:
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
https://backcountrygallery.com/all-about-your-cameras-crop-modes/
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