Super enlargements?

Question

Mostly directing this question at the regulars such as Tom Tom, Morey 000, Dr. Sam, and Petra Au. Is there any digital camera out there where without hesitation I know I can get an excellent 16X20 or at least an 11X14 consistently? As we all know, there's no gurantee that all cameras with 10 megapixels or higher can accomplish this.Or do you people flatly recommend a DSLR?

Answer 1

I just answered your other question, so I'll move my answer over here and delete that one. I've been able to do a test and "enhance" my answer a bit.

VM, check out my sensor size tutorial. I think it might help answer your question. I forget which exact Fuji you have (9100??? 6000???), but either one has a sensor that is about 1/10th the size of a Nikon DSLR sensor. The Fuji's have a 1/1.7" or 1/1.6" sensor. The Canon in my example has a very comparable 1/1.8" sensor. These are about 7.2x5.3 mm. The Fuji's are SLIGHTLY larger, but I don't konw exactly how much. The Nikon DSLR sensor is 23.6x15.5 mm.

Here is a mini-tutorial I made myself to compare 10 MP sensors in a digital SLR (DSLR) and a point and shoot (P&S) camera. I have tried to keep everything on equal footing with no unequal cropping of the original images. Both images were taken at the equivalent of 75 mm from about 1,000 feet away. View this FULL SIZE and scroll through the image to compare the resolution at various points of the images. To me, the P&S sensor practically looks like an impressionist painting compared to the DSLR sensor. Please note also that this is the "large size" P&S sensor, as most are using the smaller 1/2.5" (5x4 mm) sensor.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/476181751/

I did not apply ANY post-processing to this image to keep it a valid comparison. There is no sharpening whatsoever and you would probably be able to get a better print if you did apply a little bit of sharpening in Photoshop, etc.

If you hit "All sizes" and then "Original," you will get a SENSE of the difference in trying to make a large print from each camera. In fact, I think you are able to download this image and then you can play with it on your own.

Take a look at the next shot in my photostream - http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=476181737&size=o - Look at the 4th frame, which is the full-sized image of the SAME scene at a 75 mm equivalent. You will be able to tell that the "Sensor Size" photo is a crop of about 15-20% of the original image, so as you look at the "original size" in the sensor example, pretend that it is 6 times bigger. If you can make a satisfactory 5x7 print from either half of the sensor sample, you could make a satisfactory 16x20 print from the full image. Check it out and see what you think. I think you need the SLR. Heck, if someone else was paying, you can get a Canon 5D and you KNOW you'll be satisfied. (haha)

Add'l:

I just did exactly the test I suggested. I can crop a 5x7 out of half of the sensor test and it works out to something like 235 pixels per inch. Personally, I think it is quite satisfactory from the SLR side. I'll let you do the same and do it for both sides and see what you think. I think the blur in the smaller sensor size rules out a very large print.

Answer 2

I get good enlargements, about 18x21, with my 5.1 megapixel Sony, using the highest picture quality when taking the shot.