D2X Full Frame vs. D3 Cropped

[Robert / Seattle]

Greetings,

A theoretical(?) question:

What will yield better resolution, a full frame image capture from the D2X or the equivalent image cropped from the full frame D3 capture?

Thoughts, please.

Robert / Seattle

[Robert / Seattle]

One problem posting a new thread at the end of the work day from the leading edge of the Pacific Ocean, is that it goes all the way to the back of the line by the time the rest of the world is up and running.

So, one more time - this time at the end of the work day European-style.

[Telecorder]

Greetings,

A theoretical(?) question:

What will yield better resolution, a full frame image capture from the D2X or the equivalent image cropped from the full frame D3 capture?

Thoughts, please.

Robert / Seattle

A theoretical answer would be it depends on the amount of crop... In my experience, IQ begins to show deterioration at ~1/3 crop of the full FOV. But, max resolution generally would be in an uncropped situation-- for the same FOV, how many photo sites are included for each? The FOV having more photo sites exposed would probably be capable of having the better resolution....

[Neil]

Robert,
I have both cameras but as I only take bird photos with them your question is not something I've thought about or compared.
There's plenty of discussion on DPReview on the technology of the sensors
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1021
My impressions are that the D3 is a much better camera both at the sensor level and the AF level. My images out of the camera are much sharper and will stand a bigger crop than I was getting with the D2x. I do miss the extra 1.5x crop but I can use the 1.4x on my lenses all the time with little apparent loss of AF. This was not true with the D2x.
Most of the recent images in my gallery with the D3 have been in poor light at iso of 800 - 3200 and I'm happy with the results. The D2x was not really acceptable over iso 400.
Neil.

[Robert / Seattle]

Very revealing, Gentlemen ...

I thank you both!

But my central question remains -- if you crop an image from the D3 to match the uncropped image produced from the D2X, would it be as sharp?

Robert

[Guidenet]

Very revealing, Gentlemen ...

I thank you both!

But my central question remains -- if you crop an image from the D3 to match the uncropped image produced from the D2X, would it be as sharp?

Robert

Sharpness and megapixels are not so related. However, the D2x would have a higher resolution. I believe the D3 in crop mode is 5.1 megapixels. You can look it up. It's on the Nikon site.

DX format (24 x 16): 2,784 x 1,848 (L), 2,080 x 1,384 (M), 1,392 x 920 (S)

[pe'rigin]

But my central question remains -- if you crop an image from the D3 to match the uncropped image produced from the D2X, would it be as sharp?

Robert
Morning Robert,

Very interesting question indeed.

Which would be good to see a comparison on the forum if someone has both cameras.

I base everything I do on enlargement factor against true resolution for the output.

We use the D2xs, which we do not like to push over 125% enlargement on our chosen resolution if we can help it.

We have just used the D3 in the studio and the initial results seem to be that we can increase our enlargement percentage.

Probably not the answer you’re looking for, as people want facts and figures to quote. The only way I can see would be to take a simultaneous shot and produce two high-end outputs, then compare.

My feeling would be the D3 would produce the cleaner brighter colours and the bigger enlargement factor.