Largest Print Size with a K-5

cali92rs · 10-06-2011, 08:13 PM

So, those of you with a K-5, what is the largest that you personally have printed and how pleased were you with the results? I want to know real world results and not internet hearsay.

SpecialK · 10-06-2011, 09:22 PM

I don't print stuff anymore, but...the bigger the print, the further away is the correct viewing distance. So, they will all look about the same.

There is no absolute answer for something that is based on opinions :-)

cali92rs · 10-06-2011, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

I don't print stuff anymore, but...the bigger the print, the further away is the correct viewing distance. So, they will all look about the same.

There is no absolute answer for something that is based on opinions :-)

I get what you're saying...but I am not asking what the largest print size a k-5 is capable of, I am asking for personal experience and results.

rawr · 10-06-2011, 10:43 PM

I have no direct print experience with the K-5, but my 2c worth is that the maximum print size depends on the quality of the image you are printing (noise, resolution etc of the original image) as well as highly variable perceptual factors such as the distance it is being viewed from and one's personal tolerance for visible noise or softness.

Just FYI the experts at Imaging Resource regularly do a series of print tests and give their assessment of print quality X print size for the cameras they review.

According to them...:

Quote:

Pentax K-5 Print Quality

ISO 80 looks very crisp at 20x30 inches, with good color and detail.

ISO 100 through 400 also looks great at 20x30 inches, with little loss of detail.

ISO 800 starts to soften here and there at 20x30 inches, but still looks good at arm's length.

ISO 1,600 loses detail in our red leaf swatch, but other areas still look good at 20x30 inches.

ISO 3,200 looks better printed at 16x24 inches, with some luminance noise in the shadows. Overall quality looks better at 13x19 inches.

ISO 6,400 images are usable at 13x19 inches, but the luminance noise warrants a reduction to 11x14, where the whole image looks tighter and sharper. Detail in reds is quite soft now.

ISO 12,800 shots are way too noisy for 11x14 inch prints, but come right back to acceptable quality when printed at 8x10.

And so on all the way up to ISO 51200.

Ben78 · 10-06-2011, 10:53 PM

I personally have printed K-5 to 16x24" and was very happy with the results.

That said I also had prints from my *ist DS at the same size and was impressed. I think the folks doing the prints matter as much as the body behind the lens!

Please note that when I print I use photoshop to convert to the pixels required to produce 300dpi at the intended print size - so images were scaled up by me before going to the printer.

philbaum · 10-06-2011, 11:27 PM

I've printed and sold prints to 36" max dimension from a K10, and later a K20.

With the K5, the largest i've printed is 16" x 24" on canvas. looked great. I don't have any qualms in printing larger with the K5, just haven't had the need for it lately.

As someone else said, printing large is not a problem, but one may have to work harder to get a quality image to start with.

If one refuses to enlarge an image with today's printing algorithyms, then one is restricted to smaller sizes.

Val.Ou · 10-07-2011, 12:48 AM

I recently had prints 30x45cm and 40x44cm (!). The results were very fine. I think that it is possible to have 40x60cm without any problem, if the original photo is a good quality one, of course.
An example of the serial I had prints this summer:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/174/imgp3458u.jpg

**Ash** · 10-07-2011, 12:56 AM

Of course the medium you print on will determine how acceptable image quality will be presented on it as well. Canvas may only need 100-150dpi as opposed to photo paper, which is less forgiving on lower dpis. So You can go massive (billboard-size) with such prints even on a 16Mp image and still get acceptable clarity (since the audience will be standing many metres away from such a large print).

RonHendriks1966 · 10-07-2011, 01:55 AM

I have from K-7 a canvas print sizes 44"-66" that is tacksharp to look at (you obviously stand two meters away). So that should be no problem with K-5.

Max size I have for K-5 at the time is 17"-26".

I have a HP B9180 so I do make some A3+ (13"-19") prints at home and they look terrific, even when I use a crop out of a picture to print

asp1880 · 10-07-2011, 05:12 AM

I've had a 40x60 cm print made from a 6mp 3 star jpeg straight from the camera. I was very pleased
with the result and couldn't see any pixel artifacts in the print.

Sincerely,
--Anders.

pinholecam · 10-07-2011, 06:42 AM

Largest so far on K5 is 59cmx36cm. In fact the prints were just collected today.
I also made 15 other prints between 30cmx21cm and the one above.
No issues at all.

Largest I printed with K7 was A2, which is fine as well.

RioRico · 10-07-2011, 12:43 PM

You can print at any size. ANY size! Like, 20x30m if you wish. As long as viewers are at the right distance, it'll look great.

cali92rs · 10-07-2011, 01:52 PM

Thanks for the responses...
I am looking to print 20x30" so I just wanted to make sure I wasnt being too ambitious

RioRico · 10-07-2011, 02:32 PM

I've made prints that size from much lower-resolution and -DR cameras. The trick is in presentation. Framed, matted, behind glass or plexi, any minor detail issues just vanish. The viewing distance for a 20x30" picture is 36". Hopefully you won't have to worry about critics with magnifiers closing in to spot wayward pixels.

cali92rs · 10-07-2011, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

Hopefully you won't have to worry about critics with magnifiers closing in to spot wayward pixels.

Just me...

10-06-2011, 08:13 PM	#1
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Largest Print Size with a K-5 So, those of you with a K-5, what is the largest that you personally have printed and how pleased were you with the results? I want to know real world results and not internet hearsay.

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10-06-2011, 09:22 PM	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	I don't print stuff anymore, but...the bigger the print, the further away is the correct viewing distance. So, they will all look about the same. There is no absolute answer for something that is based on opinions :-)

10-06-2011, 10:25 PM	#3
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK I don't print stuff anymore, but...the bigger the print, the further away is the correct viewing distance. So, they will all look about the same. There is no absolute answer for something that is based on opinions :-) I get what you're saying...but I am not asking what the largest print size a k-5 is capable of, I am asking for personal experience and results.

10-06-2011, 10:43 PM	#4
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	I have no direct print experience with the K-5, but my 2c worth is that the maximum print size depends on the quality of the image you are printing (noise, resolution etc of the original image) as well as highly variable perceptual factors such as the distance it is being viewed from and one's personal tolerance for visible noise or softness. Just FYI the experts at Imaging Resource regularly do a series of print tests and give their assessment of print quality X print size for the cameras they review. According to them...: Quote: Pentax K-5 Print Quality ISO 80 looks very crisp at 20x30 inches, with good color and detail. ISO 100 through 400 also looks great at 20x30 inches, with little loss of detail. ISO 800 starts to soften here and there at 20x30 inches, but still looks good at arm's length. ISO 1,600 loses detail in our red leaf swatch, but other areas still look good at 20x30 inches. ISO 3,200 looks better printed at 16x24 inches, with some luminance noise in the shadows. Overall quality looks better at 13x19 inches. ISO 6,400 images are usable at 13x19 inches, but the luminance noise warrants a reduction to 11x14, where the whole image looks tighter and sharper. Detail in reds is quite soft now. ISO 12,800 shots are way too noisy for 11x14 inch prints, but come right back to acceptable quality when printed at 8x10. And so on all the way up to ISO 51200.

10-06-2011, 10:53 PM	#5
Ben78 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tamworth, NSW Posts: 158	I personally have printed K-5 to 16x24" and was very happy with the results. That said I also had prints from my *ist DS at the same size and was impressed. I think the folks doing the prints matter as much as the body behind the lens! Please note that when I print I use photoshop to convert to the pixels required to produce 300dpi at the intended print size - so images were scaled up by me before going to the printer.

10-06-2011, 11:27 PM	#6
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	I've printed and sold prints to 36" max dimension from a K10, and later a K20. With the K5, the largest i've printed is 16" x 24" on canvas. looked great. I don't have any qualms in printing larger with the K5, just haven't had the need for it lately. As someone else said, printing large is not a problem, but one may have to work harder to get a quality image to start with. If one refuses to enlarge an image with today's printing algorithyms, then one is restricted to smaller sizes.

10-07-2011, 12:48 AM	#7
Val.Ou Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Near Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 39	I recently had prints 30x45cm and 40x44cm (!). The results were very fine. I think that it is possible to have 40x60cm without any problem, if the original photo is a good quality one, of course. An example of the serial I had prints this summer: http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/174/imgp3458u.jpg

10-07-2011, 12:56 AM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Of course the medium you print on will determine how acceptable image quality will be presented on it as well. Canvas may only need 100-150dpi as opposed to photo paper, which is less forgiving on lower dpis. So You can go massive (billboard-size) with such prints even on a 16Mp image and still get acceptable clarity (since the audience will be standing many metres away from such a large print).

10-07-2011, 01:55 AM	#9
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I have from K-7 a canvas print sizes 44"-66" that is tacksharp to look at (you obviously stand two meters away). So that should be no problem with K-5. Max size I have for K-5 at the time is 17"-26". I have a HP B9180 so I do make some A3+ (13"-19") prints at home and they look terrific, even when I use a crop out of a picture to print

10-07-2011, 05:12 AM	#10
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	I've had a 40x60 cm print made from a 6mp 3 star jpeg straight from the camera. I was very pleased with the result and couldn't see any pixel artifacts in the print. Sincerely, --Anders.

10-07-2011, 06:42 AM	#11
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Largest so far on K5 is 59cmx36cm. In fact the prints were just collected today. I also made 15 other prints between 30cmx21cm and the one above. No issues at all. Largest I printed with K7 was A2, which is fine as well.

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10-07-2011, 12:43 PM	#12
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	You can print at any size. ANY size! Like, 20x30m if you wish. As long as viewers are at the right distance, it'll look great.

10-07-2011, 01:52 PM	#13
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Thanks for the responses... I am looking to print 20x30" so I just wanted to make sure I wasnt being too ambitious

10-07-2011, 02:32 PM	#14
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I've made prints that size from much lower-resolution and -DR cameras. The trick is in presentation. Framed, matted, behind glass or plexi, any minor detail issues just vanish. The viewing distance for a 20x30" picture is 36". Hopefully you won't have to worry about critics with magnifiers closing in to spot wayward pixels.

10-07-2011, 02:41 PM	#15
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico Hopefully you won't have to worry about critics with magnifiers closing in to spot wayward pixels. Just me...