[westmill]

What has been your Biggest print made from the K5
and what was the quality like ?
Genraly my biggest prints are done at A3 +
Which is 13" x 19". At this size its hard to tell the differance between my 12 million pixel D300 and 16 K5.
So It is obvious the K5 is capable of pretty large print sizes. It would be nice to know just how big you can print while still retaining pin sharp detail !

[philbaum]

What has been your Biggest print made from the K5
and what was the quality like ?
Genraly my biggest prints are done at A3 +
Which is 13" x 19". At this size its hard to tell the differance between my 12 million pixel D300 and 16 K5.
So It is obvious the K5 is capable of pretty large print sizes. It would be nice to know just how big you can print while still retaining pin sharp detail !

My largest size so far is 20"x30" and its pin sharp. However, i just ordered a canvas print and stretcher bars for a 24"x36". Paid the invoice yesterday so should be here in 2 weeks (slow factory). I think its a winning photo (just placed first in BW (at the 12x18" size)as judged by another club). I intend to enter it into a local juried art show in the fall. This year, they accepted a 60" BW photo (not mine), which was nice, but fuzzy in the details. I exported a 60" file from LR of this photo and examined it. Looked good, but i do my own canvas stretching and i'd have to use braces for something that big. Very tempting - i'll see what kind of reception i get with the 36" version - i have a show at a wine shop for the month of April.

Hey, you only go around once, or more depending on the religion - might as well enjoy it and print large

[RonHendriks1966]

I have a canvas print from K-7 that is 44x66 inch. So there is no problem in making such a large print from a K-5 file.

[demp10]

I routinely make my own prints at 24" x 48" both from the K10D and K-7. The largest was from K10D at 44" x 60" on EPSON Enhanced Matte paper in B/W. Quality was great as it was sold at a high price.

Those are from single frames. When I stitch panoramas I can go to more than 12 feet wide easily.

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Last edited by demp10; 02-18-2012 at 12:20 PM.

[Winder]

I have done a lot of 24"x36" posters for bands that printed out great, but I am not printing super detailed landscapes. These are bands looking for the gritty 1960's look.

It depends on you expectations.

[bilybianca]

I had a landscape taken with the K20D printed for me at 20"x30", and it leaves nothing to desire.

Kjell

[philbaum]

I have done a lot of 24"x36" posters for bands that printed out great, but I am not printing super detailed landscapes. These are bands looking for the gritty 1960's look.

It depends on you expectations.

You make a good point. I went back and looked at some files to see which would be suitable for the 30" size. What i'm going to state is probably not going to surprise anyone. But high ISO files (and those requiring NR) are not compatible with large size prints. IMO

Tripods are compatible with quality large-sized prints, but are a lot more trouble to carry around and use. tripods aren't absolutely required, but help.

[westmill]

It would seem then, basicly totaly huge prints are within grasp at base ISO.
How does 1600 ISO fair ? or even 3200 ?
I have printed again to 13" x 19" at these settings and have had good results. I cant imagine 3200 going much bigger without breaking up but again,
Ive not tried. Maybe better than I thought !!!!!
I will add at this point.... there is a notable differance at this size and ISO between the D300 and K5.
The k5 wins quite easily here. Especialy at 3200 ISO ! Not much differance at 1600 ISO but still the K5 has less noise finer grained, and
better overall detail.

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Last edited by westmill; 02-18-2012 at 01:23 PM.

[toooldtocare]

Also 13x19, and they match the quality I used to get with my 5DII with Zeiss and L-series Canon lenses. I assume somewhere the Canon will surpass it, but I have not found that limit yet, even when I crop the photos.

[bkpix]

I regularly print 20x30. Results match 20x30 prints from my 1Ds. Both cameras require good shot discipline and post processing to obtain good large prints.

[rawr]

Imaging Resource tested K-5 print output at various print sizes and ISO's (results at the bottom opf the page under 'Output Quality')

Their summary is:

"Makes great 20x30 inches from ISO 80 to 400; ISO 3,200 shots make quality 13x19-inch prints; even ISO 51,200 makes a good 4x6."

So it sounds like if you stick to low ISO's you could get great results at least at 20x30, and probably even larger if everything else was done right with the shot and the file.

[demp10]

Their summary is:

"Makes great 20x30 inches from ISO 80 to 400; ISO 3,200 shots make quality 13x19-inch prints; even ISO 51,200 makes a good 4x6."

Their summary is meaningless because they evaluated the prints at "Arms' length" distance. This is fine for a 4x6 but the reason you print big is to frame it on the wall and view it from an appropriate distance. All poster size prints look grainy and fuzzy at arm's length, but when they are viewed from the intended distance they look fine.

Is like buying a 60" HDTV and conclude that the pixels are visible from 12" therefore it is not good.

[areidjr]

Up until now my largest print has been 16x20. However I have a 14x34 print coming tomorrow. If it's half a s good as the last 16x20 I had printed from my K-5/18-135WR I'll be one happy camper

Al

[ozlizard]

My largest print so far was 40" x 14". It was printed on Museo Portfolio Rag by Image Science (Melbourne) and framed by a local framer who does excellent work.
It was entered in a local competition and received a "Highly Commended" award and it sold, which was great.
It looked stunning and I am sure I could go much larger than that.
This is the image for those who are interested.

[Winder]

It would seem then, basicly totaly huge prints are within grasp at base ISO.
How does 1600 ISO fair ? or even 3200 ?
I have printed again to 13" x 19" at these settings and have had good results. I cant imagine 3200 going much bigger without breaking up but again,
Ive not tried. Maybe better than I thought !!!!!
I will add at this point.... there is a notable differance at this size and ISO between the D300 and K5.
The k5 wins quite easily here. Especialy at 3200 ISO ! Not much differance at 1600 ISO but still the K5 has less noise finer grained, and
better overall detail.

In the film days I did posters shot on T-max 3200 which would look like 6400 from my K-7. With a K-5 I'm sure I could do 6400 posters with the right processing. It really depends on the look you are going for. I have some 16x20 canvas prints done with my K-7 at 1600. You don't need 12 EV for every picture, and a lot of images work better with more contrast and narrower EV. I intentionally black out shadows if they contain distracting objects and blow out highlights in post to make sure my subject stands out.

For commercial product photography it is a different animal and you have different needs. It depends on the look you are going for.