aps vs full frame second thread

[mikeispot]

Very interesting article. Was rather surprised that one conclusion is that there is not much difference between aps and full frame in terms of maximum quality of image e.g. comparing the two Canons. However I have found that there is a big difference in quality when using the 65mm 5x macro lens, the full frame camera seems to produce much better images. Whichever aps sensor camera I have tried with the 65mm always seems to give softer pictures even accounting for diffraction and all the other effects that go on in this macro range.

[Roger_Provins]

I've not seen the article, was the conclusion based on equal size prints or pixel peeping at 100% (pixel level) ?

[Roy5051]

We used to hear the same arguments when APS film cameras were compared with 35mm cameras. There has always been a rule in photography - that the bigger the film (or sensor) the better the quality. It was even suggested in some reports that the Lubitel 66 medium format camera gave better results than a Leica!

[beejaybee]

It was even suggested in some reports that the Lubitel 66 medium format camera gave better results than a Leica!

Depends of course what criteria you're using. Grain (noise) at the same ISO (same film type & development), the larger format wins.

The Lubitel lens was actually pretty sharp - in the centre half of the frame, when stopped down to f/11. It did have rather marked falloff in illumation towards the corners, a fault which many Leica wide angle lenses also tend. The Leica's nicer to carry, though, as well as having a better range of shutter speeds (in "modern" variants - say from the introduction of the III).

[daft_biker]

Whichever aps sensor camera I have tried with the 65mm always seems to give softer pictures even accounting for diffraction and all the other effects that go on in this macro range.

Welcome Mike. Sounds like you're a bit of a MP-E addict too

Have you tried the 7D? I agree with the comment in the article that says the 7D can "produce significantly larger, cleaner and more detail-rich images" than previous Canon APS-C DSLRs. I haven't had the pleasure of a 5D2 yet but the 7D certainly seems to be a big improvement on the 40D I was using before. And not just with the MP-E, it's the same sort of story with other lenses. Pic with 7D and 100mm macro.

I've got a few full res shots from the 7D and MP-E 65mm online too if you're interested - Clicky.

My own preference is for for a small sensor as I mostly shoot small subjects. Most of the above were shot at 5x so a bigger sensor would just mean more space round the subject where higher pixel densities mean more chance of resolving the detail required to ID the subject properly.

I hope to have a go with a 5D2 myself when there's more beasties about and the trees are green. I want to see what's better for long lens 'macro' where magnification and aperture are balanced to get the whole of the subject sharp against a background that's as blurry as possible.

Using a larger sensor (good) will involve using a longer lens at a higher magnification (not good) at an even smaller aperture (not good). Is that one "good" worth two "not good"? At 5x I also want to see if there's details a higher pixel density can resolve more clearly.

[Roy5051]

I couldn't agree more.

So, do the results from the 7D equal those from the 5D Mk2, using the same lens and producing the same size subject in the prints? Or is this just journalist talk, trying to sex-up the 7D (which is undoubtedly a good camera)?

[Angela_Nicholson]

So, do the results from the 7D equal those from the 5D Mk2, using the same lens and producing the same size subject in the prints? Or is this just journalist talk, trying to sex-up the 7D (which is undoubtedly a good camera)?

Ahem! You cheeky boy! My conclusion is that the EOS 7D is a very close match for the EOS 5D MarkII. This means that photographers need to decide which camera best suits their photography. Wildlife and sports lovers might want the crop factor of the APS-C sensor for example.

Of course the situation may change when the technology in the EOS 7D is transferred to a full-frame camera.

Angela

[jennief]

I dont know what this beastie is but its a great shot! Are these to be found in the garden? The water droplets are lovely.
Was it the 100 mm macro?

[daft_biker]

I dont know what this beastie is but its a great shot! Are these to be found in the garden? The water droplets are lovely.
Was it the 100 mm macro?

Thanks Jenny Aye, I used the (non-L Canon) 100mm and a tripod. At 4:47 in the morning

If you have a pond in your garden you might be lucky enough to have damselfly in it. I have to walk a couple of miles through the woods to get to some ponds they live around. Lochs should be good for them too. I'm sure you'll have plenty of them up there come summer time