Nikon Rumors Forum

where there’s smoke there’s forum fire

1. 

   Kanichiro
   

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   Joined: Apr '10
   Posts: 16

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   Gareth said:
   There is a place for large MP and there is a place for small.

   I bought Nikon because 12Mp was enough for me and is actually better in low light. I have no trouble printing up to A3 size, and I am very unlikely to need anything this big. Most of my shots are of people and will be viewed on screen at screen size, or printed up to maybe A4. I shoot 14bit RAW and delete all of the pics i take that don't make the grade. I still have a more than 100 GB worth of files after less a year.

   There is a need for large format for people who NEED large format. People who print cosmetic posters for "drug stores", billboards, train advertising etc. If you dont do these things, you dont need anything more than the D3x.

   If one "needs" high MP's, there is always the new Phase One IQ180, 80 MP back. It goes for a paltry $44,000 not including the camera, or a lens.

   As my income over the past two years has rapidly traveled south, I plan on buying a 4x5 Field camera. A good used one may well cost half of what I paid for my D700, 14-24mm lens, and assorted other accessories. Technology is great, but it does come at a high cost.

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   spraynpray
   

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   Joined: Feb '10
   Posts: 1,514

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   I came from an old Oly E10 (4mp) to the D5000 (12.3) and the difference was awsome. I will not blink before 25-30mp on DX now as I want the same 'WOW!' factor.

   12 to 16? *Meh*.

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   Drab
   

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   Joined: Aug '10
   Posts: 540

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   The problem with 35mm (as opposed to any larger format) is a matter of information density, not MP.

   Current lenses are already being taxed by DX sensor densities and in many cases theoretically exceeded.

   All the larger formats are far less demanding of lenses, as the resolved dimensions of any given line (lines per picture height = acuity) are larger giving more room for lens imperfection and physical limits.

   BUT, larger format cameras are (get this) larger, and always will be.

   Fact is the demands on lenses are growing at a much faster rate than lens technology, and there are no signs of this trend ever ending. Just compare the computed (theoretical) MTF numbers for lenses over the last two decades to the increase in sensor resolving power.

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   Mike Gunter
   

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   Joined: Sep '10
   Posts: 946

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   Hi all,

   "BUT, larger format cameras are (get this) larger, and always will be."

   Aye, there's the rub...

   A keen part of local marketing, for those who keep tabs on such things, will be the guys who say, 'I have the latest and best gear - (psst mine is the largest sensor), ergo, I have to be the best!'

   Clearly, that kind of puffery can only go so far, but I've seen a lot of it taken as fact, even on this forum. Puffery just becomes buffoonery at a point.

   What's tough for a lot of beginners in any 'art' is getting that it's like flavoring food. There's no better to it. You can like a lot of it. Taste is taste.

   I get it when you're hungry for work, but not every job is a fit.

   And where this comes into MP, is staying with in budget for purchases. If the need isn't there, don't create one based on someone else's idea of what he thinks you need. ;-)

   My best,

   Mike

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   Gareth
   

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   Joined: Sep '10
   Posts: 591

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   Mike.
   Close your eyes.
   Tap your heels together three times.
   And say "I don't need a D700, I don't need a D700, I don't need a D700"

   hahaha.

   I have been lucky enough to buy some very good gear here in japan and when i go back to new zealand I will have better gear than many pro's. I bought the gear with the intention of being freelance in a city of 300000 people. my wife has decided she wants to move a city of 1300000 people, where there are more than 300 professional photographers as opposed to a couple of dozen. now I plan on working under someone as I don't have enough skill to go freelance in that competition. even with all my nice gear I still wont be good enough.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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