Re: 'A Sensitive Issue'

Mike:
Larger sensor size means each individual pixel is bigger. That gives less noise at higher ISO, and it's the main reason why small-sensored digital point-and-shoots have such poor image quality above ISO 100 or so.

Even a 6MP digital SLR will outperform a compact 8MP P&S. The 6MP EOS 10D I used to use gave excellent images... for its post-processing firmware.

Which brings me to the second issue - image post-processing. Every digital camera has an extensive suite of post-processing firmware for everything from white balance adjustment to noise reduction and sharpening. Older firmware tended to give undersaturated colors and more chrominance (color) and luminance (black/contrast) noise at ISOs above 200. The EOS 1D (no mark II) gave really undersaturated color. I could count on boosting saturation in Photoshop with every image I wanted to sell or pitch. The EOS 10D was better, but there was still a yellow color cast to everything.

Recent post-processing firmware is excellent. Canon blew its original DIGIC away with its now long-in-the-tooth DIGIC II when it was introduced in the EOS 20D. I routinely shoot at ISO 400, and ISO 800 is usable. The EOS 1D mark II and EOS 20D's ISO 1600 are noisy, but still much better than my old EOS 1D at ISO 800 or higher, and EOS 10D at 1600.

So bottom line is, buy the most recent camera with the biggest pixel sizes you can afford. Past 8MP or so, you won't see that much difference in resolution, even at 13X19, if the image is correctly focused, well-lit, and properly exposed. Artie Morris' "The Art of Birds II" has his excellent primer on correct exposure with Canon's evaluative metering.

My experience with Nikon's matrix metering in the F5 and D1H showed me it was more forgiving in difficult light - it nailed exposure much more often than Canon.

Godfrey or one of the other Pentax users will know about their metering accuracy.


At 10:36 AM 10/30/2006, you wrote: 
Ok Digital-savvy, I got a question re pixels and sensor size.

I might be buying a 6.1 mp Pentax, 'cause i don't see the new 10 MP
versions coming before Xmas. My wife currently has a Sony P&S with 6
mp, but the sensor size is tiny-- it might be half the C-sized (or
APS-sized) sensor in the SLr, so would this make any difference in
picture quality?

Or put another way: I am s told that a 6 mp SLR will easily print to
A4 size -- I assume  without radical cropping -- so the smaller P&S
sensor should do the same? Or does the pixel SIZE on the sensor make
a serious difference.

The second query is this: If the sensor is the same size in both the
Pentax 100 and the new K 10D but one has 6 mp and the other 10 mp,
what is that going to do for quality, noise issues, sharpness etc.?

BTW I am leaving out the lens, i already know the kit lens is not all
that good, but it has to be better than the Sony AP&S lens, at least
to get started.

Mike 

Mark Bohrer
Mountain and Desert Photography
www.mountain-and-desert.com
(408) 866 9405

Want better wildlife photos without expensive lenses?
Check out my Stealth Approach to Wildlife eBook at
www.mountain-and-desert.com/Photography_workshop/nature_photography_workshop.htm

or http://tinyurl.com/qj3zm 


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