I have a 7 MP Oly SP550UZ and the 8x10 prints I make from it and my
previous camera the C-7070WZ look very sharp to me. I use a HP 3110
printer set to maximum resolution. I have read that 7 MP should be
just about big enough to print at 8 x 10, but the maximum print from a
6 MP camera would be smaller. I was planning to get a 10 MP DSLR
camera for a trip but it now seems the best I get at the moment is a 6
MP DSLR. I realise the results from the 6 MP DSLR will be better than
the 7 MP compact but how will an 8 x 10 print fom the 2 cameras
compare?
"MikeM" <mmo45018@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:v75i33dkp6clhhf45uugr1703b2jf7uq9i@4ax.com...
>I have a 7 MP Oly SP550UZ and the 8x10 prints I make from it and my
> previous camera the C-7070WZ look very sharp to me. I use a HP 3110
> printer set to maximum resolution. I have read that 7 MP should be
> just about big enough to print at 8 x 10, but the maximum print from a
> 6 MP camera would be smaller. I was planning to get a 10 MP DSLR
> camera for a trip but it now seems the best I get at the moment is a 6
> MP DSLR. I realise the results from the 6 MP DSLR will be better than
> the 7 MP compact but how will an 8 x 10 print fom the 2 cameras
> compare?
Look at the pixel dimensions between 6 and 7 MP. We are talking about just a
few hundred pixels either way. In the grand scheme of things it won't much
mater. What you get in the extra image quality from a 6MP dSLR more than
makes up for the loss of a few hundred pixels in both directions.
> I have a 7 MP Oly SP550UZ and the 8x10 prints I make from it and my
> previous camera the C-7070WZ look very sharp to me. I use a HP 3110
> printer set to maximum resolution. I have read that 7 MP should be
> just about big enough to print at 8 x 10, but the maximum print from a
> 6 MP camera would be smaller. I was planning to get a 10 MP DSLR
> camera for a trip but it now seems the best I get at the moment is a 6
> MP DSLR. I realise the results from the 6 MP DSLR will be better than
> the 7 MP compact but how will an 8 x 10 print fom the 2 cameras
> compare?
There are web sites which offer sample pictures from a LOT of different
cameras - take a look - I don't recall the URL, but I'm sure someone here
has it.
Focusing totally on the number of pixels is a very narrow view of an
extremely complicated topic. Pixel count is just part of what contributes
to a high resolution photo. The lenses, type of processor and other
considerations impact the quality of the photo a lot. I've seen people opt
for a 10 MP point and shoot and then later not understanding why an 8 MP
camera such as the Canon 20D is taking better photos. It's not just about
pixel count.
My suggestion, given all of the variables involved, is to look at some of
the tests done by leading photo magazines both in hard print and on-line.
Using just pixel count as the criteria is much like trying to determine
which race car is the best for any given course and focusing solely on the
horsepower of the engine to the exclusion of all other attributes.
Barry
"MikeM" <mmo45018@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:v75i33dkp6clhhf45uugr1703b2jf7uq9i@4ax.com...
>I have a 7 MP Oly SP550UZ and the 8x10 prints I make from it and my
> previous camera the C-7070WZ look very sharp to me. I use a HP 3110
> printer set to maximum resolution. I have read that 7 MP should be
> just about big enough to print at 8 x 10, but the maximum print from a
> 6 MP camera would be smaller. I was planning to get a 10 MP DSLR
> camera for a trip but it now seems the best I get at the moment is a 6
> MP DSLR. I realise the results from the 6 MP DSLR will be better than
> the 7 MP compact but how will an 8 x 10 print fom the 2 cameras
> compare?
I asked the question because I have been looking at comparison photos
of my camera vs 6 MP DSLRs and have seen how much better the pics from
a 6 MP DSLR are than mine when viewed at 100 %. The reason I asked the
question is that I looked at a couple of sites that compared the
maximum size a given MP image can be printed before it starts to lose
resolution. At least that's what I thought they were saying. On the
last site I looked at it had the print size of a 6 MP print as smaller
than a print fom a 7 MP camera.
What I would like to know is does the larger size refer only to a 7 MP
image from a DSLR or both DSLR and compact. If I got a 6 MP DSLR would
I see much difference between photos from the 2 cameras in a 8 x 10
print?
On Wed, 02 May 2007 22:59:23 GMT, MikeM <mmo45018@bigpond.net.au>
wrote:
>I have a 7 MP Oly SP550UZ and the 8x10 prints I make from it and my
>previous camera the C-7070WZ look very sharp to me. I use a HP 3110
>printer set to maximum resolution. I have read that 7 MP should be
>just about big enough to print at 8 x 10, but the maximum print from a
>6 MP camera would be smaller. I was planning to get a 10 MP DSLR
>camera for a trip but it now seems the best I get at the moment is a 6
>MP DSLR. I realise the results from the 6 MP DSLR will be better than
>the 7 MP compact but how will an 8 x 10 print fom the 2 cameras
>compare?
> I asked the question because I have been looking at comparison photos
> of my camera vs 6 MP DSLRs and have seen how much better the pics from
> a 6 MP DSLR are than mine when viewed at 100 %. The reason I asked the
> question is that I looked at a couple of sites that compared the
> maximum size a given MP image can be printed before it starts to lose
> resolution.
The loss in resolution on larger prints can be compared only the same
picture from the same camera when it is printed on a smaller sheet.
If the greater megapixel camera has a poorer image taking ability to
begin with, the enlarged shot will be just that much worse.
A case in point...My 6MP Pentax K100d prints noticeably better pictures
than the 8MP Panasonic Lumix FZ30 at *every* identical print size. There
is far more to picture quality than just pixel count.
In the smaller, point and shoot category, I was very impressed with the
Fujifilm F10 6MP. That also takes better pictures than the FZ30 Lumix. I
keep the Lumix only because of the zoom. Leica should make sure that
people using their lenses ALSO use equal quality sensors. Putting that
glass in front of such poor firmware is shameful.
You answered my exact question this time. I was hoping to get a Pentax
K10d but because of the cost I am considering the K100D, which is the
camera I had in mind when I asked the question.
To me at least the pictures taken with the C-7070 seem to be slightly
sharper and generally better, than those taken with the SP-550, but I
suppose I couldn't expect to get the same quality photos with the
massive range of the lens.
I was going to use my Oly cameras for a trip I leave on in a couple of
weeks, but as the time gets closer I have been worrying about spending
3 months in the UK and Europe and taking lesser quality photos, it is
unlikely I will ever get back there again to take better ones.
On Thu, 03 May 2007 03:15:33 GMT, m II <c@in.the.hat> wrote:
>MikeM wrote:
>
>> I asked the question because I have been looking at comparison photos
>> of my camera vs 6 MP DSLRs and have seen how much better the pics from
>> a 6 MP DSLR are than mine when viewed at 100 %. The reason I asked the
>> question is that I looked at a couple of sites that compared the
>> maximum size a given MP image can be printed before it starts to lose
>> resolution.
>
>The loss in resolution on larger prints can be compared only the same
>picture from the same camera when it is printed on a smaller sheet.
>
>If the greater megapixel camera has a poorer image taking ability to
>begin with, the enlarged shot will be just that much worse.
>
>A case in point...My 6MP Pentax K100d prints noticeably better pictures
>than the 8MP Panasonic Lumix FZ30 at *every* identical print size. There
>is far more to picture quality than just pixel count.
>
>In the smaller, point and shoot category, I was very impressed with the
>Fujifilm F10 6MP. That also takes better pictures than the FZ30 Lumix. I
>keep the Lumix only because of the zoom. Leica should make sure that
>people using their lenses ALSO use equal quality sensors. Putting that
>glass in front of such poor firmware is shameful.
>
>
>
>
>
>mike
m II wrote:
> MikeM wrote:
>
Snip>
> A case in point...My 6MP Pentax K100d prints noticeably better
> pictures than the 8MP Panasonic Lumix FZ30 at *every* identical print
> size. There is far more to picture quality than just pixel count.
>
You must have a duff FZ30. My Panasonic FZ20 produces slightly better
(sharper) images than my Nikon D70s with it's 18-70 kit lens, and using a
non-auto lens on the Nikon, such as the F2.8 24mm Nikkor renders the 2
images from these cameras about the same.
Perhaps your FZ30 has been damaged in some way?
There can be a difference between 2 cameras of the same make and type, due
to manufacturing tolerances, lenses etc.
On May 3, 5:38 am, MikeM <mmo45...@bigpond.net.au> wrote:
> You answered my exact question this time. I was hoping to get a Pentax
> K10d but because of the cost I am considering the K100D, which is the
> camera I had in mind when I asked the question.
You also need to consider what lens goes with the body. Some are
sharper than others...
But the difference between 6MP and 7MP is too close to call. The lens
quality used with the sensor will pretty much always dominate the
notional 16% increase in the finest detail the sensor could record.
And a 6MP image will look pretty good when printed at A3+ provided
that you don't stand too close to it. If you are the sort of obsessive
that cannot cope with anything printed at less than 300dpi then 6MP
(3000x2000) gets you 10x6.6" and 8MP (3500x2300) is still short of the
8" mark (even in 4:3 ratio 7MP doesn't quite reach 300dpi at 10x8).
Pixel number wars is useful to marketting departments because it is an
easy number to sell.
> To me at least the pictures taken with the C-7070 seem to be slightly
> sharper and generally better, than those taken with the SP-550, but I
> suppose I couldn't expect to get the same quality photos with the
> massive range of the lens.
Optical superzooms with a range >3x tend to be lower contrast. Digital
zoom murders image quality but may be useful if you have a tiny region
of interest like a bird in a tree and are running out of memory.
> I was going to use my Oly cameras for a trip I leave on in a couple of
> weeks, but as the time gets closer I have been worrying about spending
> 3 months in the UK and Europe and taking lesser quality photos, it is
> unlikely I will ever get back there again to take better ones.
One point here that you may have missed. It is often better to use a
familiar camera for taking once in a lifetime shots than a brand new,
higher spec camera that is more complicated to operate correctly.
Otherwise you risk missing the shot while consulting the manual or
taking shots with the camera in a less than optimal configuration.
Buying a new camera a couple of weeks before you leave is cutting it a
bit fine for learning how to use it effectively.
I always carry a compact and a DSLR on my travels (the compact Ixus
goes everywhere). I once had a film camera body fail on a trip to the
USA a spare camera body and the film compact saved the day..
MikeM <mmo45018@bigpond.net.au> wrote:
>I have a 7 MP Oly SP550UZ and the 8x10 prints I make from it and my
>previous camera the C-7070WZ look very sharp to me. I use a HP 3110
>printer set to maximum resolution. I have read that 7 MP should be
>just about big enough to print at 8 x 10, but the maximum print from a
>6 MP camera would be smaller.
I've done a 20"x30" print from a 6MP camera that looks really nice.
But I also used a quality lens and camera.
> I was planning to get a 10 MP DSLR
>camera for a trip but it now seems the best I get at the moment is a 6
>MP DSLR. I realise the results from the 6 MP DSLR will be better than
>the 7 MP compact but how will an 8 x 10 print fom the 2 cameras
>compare?
If you see any difference it will because of the quality of the camera
and lens and not because of the number of pixels.
Print size 7 MP compact vs 6 MP DSLR 
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