Mega Pixal Mayhem!!!!

[The_Bulb]

The more and more I think about this the more crazy I am going :bang:

I currently have a Canon 30d which is an 8.2MP camera and I am looking at buying the new 5d, which is 21.1MP's

I understand that if I were to take a picture with each camera, then when viewing that image in physical pixal mode in photoshop, the two images will be different sizes. I also understand that if I set both images to 300dpi in photoshop they will have different print sizes.

So therefore, what do you do when you want to print an image at say 6x4 size??? Do you adjust the image size and retain the 300dpi, presumably loosing some detail, or do you adjust the dpi to a higher value therefore reducing the print size to that required????, I am assuming most printers would also have a max dpi they can print to????

What got me onto this thinking was, when a tog is using two bodies on assignment, and these bodies have differing megapixal values, do you incorporate something into your workflow to achieve a standard image output at the end of your processing???

I use Lightroom and Photoshop, so could I have two export settings in lightroom, varying the dpi output depending on which camera has taken the image?

please

Thanks

 

[MisterE]

For home printing I have never adjusted any image - size or dpi - to print it. My software (both viewing and printer) has the option to fit to the size of paper you wish to print on. I've printed up to A3. No problem with the finished results.

Store printing - Tesco etc - again I do nothing to the size.

Online printing - I downsize from, say 12 to 18mb down to around 2 or 3mb file size only for 6x4 prints, for reasonably quick uploads. The site (Photobox) tells you if the uploaded file is of good enough quality to print at your chosen size, and these are. Maybe I could go smaller for even faster uploads. I don't know.

Biggest print I've had done is 30x20ins, Uploaded a 10mb file to Photobox, downsized slightly from 12mb. This is the biggest file size you can upload to them, and it came back absolutely brilliant. Again I didn't adjust image dimensions or dpi, just file size for the upload.

 

[Chappers]

Most if not all printer drivers will automatically re size the image to fit the image to the print size. I wouldn't worry to much about that. The question I would ask though , what size do you need your images to be. If you are only planing on say A4 max then a 5Dll may be a bit overkill. I.ve had 20 " x 30" prints made from a 20D and they are more than adequate

The other point about super megapixel cameras is the optics in front of the sensor. To get the most you are going to need top quality glass, so bear this in mind as well.

Although I have a IDslll I still rate the images that come out of my trusty 5D.So more pixels doesn't necessarily make a better camera. Although the extra pixels are useful for larger images

As far as mixing and matching is concerned, all my editing is done in Lightroom, so as far as the overall viewing is concerned the images are the same size.

As far as identifying which image came from which camera I have different prefixes for the file name. However I normally don't need to know which camera shot which image so they get renamed within Lightroom. If I do need to track back a quick look at the exif info tells me. My normal export options are the same in Lightroom irrespective of the camera used

 

[MisterE]

Although I have a IDslll I still rate the images that come out of my trusty 5D.So more pixels doesn't necessarily make a better camera. Although the extra pixels are useful for larger images

Never a truer word......

My old 10D (6mp) has produced many a picture that still stands up well against the 5D.

 

[The_Bulb]

For home printing I have never adjusted any image - size or dpi - to print it. My software (both viewing and printer) has the option to fit to the size of paper you wish to print on. I've printed up to A3. No problem with the finished results.

Store printing - Tesco etc - again I do nothing to the size.

Online printing - I downsize from, say 12 to 18mb down to around 2 or 3mb file size only for 6x4 prints, for reasonably quick uploads. The site (Photobox) tells you if the uploaded file is of good enough quality to print at your chosen size, and these are. Maybe I could go smaller for even faster uploads. I don't know.

Biggest print I've had done is 30x20ins, Uploaded a 10mb file to Photobox, downsized slightly from 12mb. This is the biggest file size you can upload to them, and it came back absolutely brilliant. Again I didn't adjust image dimensions or dpi, just file size for the upload.

Thanks for that information - Maybe I am getting into something that I shouldn't be worrying too much about!

Most if not all printer drivers will automatically re size the image to fit the image to the print size. I wouldn't worry to much about that. The question I would ask though , what size do you need your images to be. If you are only planing on say A4 max then a 5Dll may be a bit overkill. I.ve had 20 " x 30" prints made from a 20D and they are more than adequate

The other point about super megapixel cameras is the optics in front of the sensor. To get the most you are going to need top quality glass, so bear this in mind as well.

Although I have a IDslll I still rate the images that come out of my trusty 5D.So more pixels doesn't necessarily make a better camera. Although the extra pixels are useful for larger images

As far as mixing and matching is concerned, all my editing is done in Lightroom, so as far as the overall viewing is concerned the images are the same size.

As far as identifying which image came from which camera I have different prefixes for the file name. However I normally don't need to know which camera shot which image so they get renamed within Lightroom. If I do need to track back a quick look at the exif info tells me. My normal export options are the same in Lightroom irrespective of the camera used

Thank you for this insight - I have just turned semi-pro and I am aiming at the outdoor portrait sessions and weddings. I find photographing people to be a real inspiration, so I suppose the images could get quite big in terms of printing a family portrait or a double page spread in a 12x12 digital wedding album!!

Never a truer word......

My old 10D (6mp) has produced many a picture that still stands up well against the 5D.

Thanks for your input