|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-20-2011, 04:55 AM
|
| |
I have been fortunate to be able to indulge my hobby for photography and cameras and in the past 6 years I have owned from 6 mp to 40 mp SLR type cameras. Currently I use the GH2, Canon 7D, Leica M9, Canon 5DII and now the fantastic Pentax 645D. I would like to add my 2 cents worth.
1. Unless you are going to print larger than a 20" wide print, you probably don't need more than around 15 megapixels.
2. More pixels generally equal better picture quality and generally mean the photograph looks less digital. I believe this because the diffraction limit is larger than the pixel size. When pixel peeping the photos may look soft but in reality they do capture more detail than (say) 12 mp. More pixels probably mean one can get rid of the AA filter because the image sharpness is limited by the lens and moire isn't a problem.
3. Larger sensors means less noise and more dynamic range. The trade off, is larger, heavier glass to get the same f-stop for an equivilent view.
4. Depth of field is narrower for any given f-stop and equivilent view in larger sensors. A large DOF on larger sensors can lead to problems of slow shutter speeds, if you want narrow DOF this is great, but you have to be concerned with accurate focus. This means larger sensors are more demanding on technical technique. Additionally it means medium format often needs a tripod and is useless for moving subjects because shutter speed is too low and DOF is too narrow.
5. Optics plays a big role in IQ - large sensors and their lenses look different than small sensors and their lenses. However, a very fast lens (say f1-f2.0) small sensor lens can do a pretty good job of looking like a larger sensor and "normal" speed lens. That said, my 645 lenses just seem to have more pleasing bokeh. I believe this is due to how optics changes with sensor size. MFT with the Nokton 25mm or the Panasonic 20mm give excellent bokeh and good photos even in low light, but they are noticablly "edgier" than less expensive lenses for larger sensors. Essentially, small sensors magnify lens defects, large sensors make defects seem smaller.
The Pentax 645D is the best handling camera I have and produces the best image quality, however I pick up the 5D Mark II most of the time because it offers the best compromise in size and image look (larger sensor, bokeh, dynamic range) and useable shutter speeds. I actually prefer the 7D as a camera to the 5D (and have been looking seriously at the K-5), but the extra IQ and look of the FF means I haven't used the 7D very much.
So......
I would love to see a 24-30 megapixel FF Pentax that handles like the P645D. That, a few good primes and a range of f2.8 zooms from 16-200mm. I'll use the P645 for portraits and landscapes.
|
