Posted by Bill Dark on December 28, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Just wanted to share a website that many of you may already know about, but may be of interest if you haven't seen it. http://www.dxomark.com has some very interesting technical data on many camera sensors (sorry, nothing about black dots or helicopters with little green men...). Comparisons are easy to do, but I'll warn you, if you're shooting with anything over three years old (like me) you're shooting with a dinosaur!
Posted by Randy Wilson on December 29, 2008 at 2:07 AM
Does it strike anyone else as odd that a purported measure of image quality would completely ignore resolution? Of course color depth, dynamic range, and low-light ISO are all important, but there's an elephant in the room that isn't getting much respect, isn't there? Or am I missing something? Wouldn't surprise me at all if I am.
I know you shoot Nikon, Bill, although I don't know which model. But I have no doubt that it's a very high quality dinosaur that you're using. I know I'm still blown away by the level of detail that I see in images from my 3+ year old 5D.
That said, I'm looking forward to getting a 5DII with its greater color depth, dynamic range, low-light ISO, and, yes, resolution. What about you, Bill? Is it going to be a D700 or a D3? Assuming you don't plan to plunk down the $8000 for a D3x?
Posted by Ed Cooley on December 29, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Thanks for posting the link Bill. It is pretty interesting to see a scientific confirmation of some of my personal experience.
I suspect in a few months the D3x will be price competitive with the 1dsIII. I wouldn't be surprised to see it below 7k by the end of the summer.
Posted by Bill Dark on December 29, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Randy, I think they're assuming that resolution differences are sort of a given, and that the reader would certainly take that into account when deciding on a purchase. One's maximum acceptable print size is something most everyone considers, but its all those other vague, unquantifiable (until now) qualities that come into play that I thought were interesting.
As far as what to get - I'll probably stick with my dinosaur D2x for a while longer...
Ed - the way the economy is in Japan right now, not to mention right here in the good ol' USA, we may see a price drop before the end of summer.
Posted by Randy Wilson on December 29, 2008 at 7:34 PM
No doubt you're right, Bill. The number of pixels in a camera's sensor is certainly an easily quantifiable property, and the manufacturers tend not to keep it a secret.
And like you, I'm in no hurry to replace my dinosaur and plan to wait a while and hope the price will drop some, that is if I can keep my mouse finger away from the buy button at B&H.
Discussion
4 repliesI know you shoot Nikon, Bill, although I don't know which model. But I have no doubt that it's a very high quality dinosaur that you're using. I know I'm still blown away by the level of detail that I see in images from my 3+ year old 5D.
That said, I'm looking forward to getting a 5DII with its greater color depth, dynamic range, low-light ISO, and, yes, resolution. What about you, Bill? Is it going to be a D700 or a D3? Assuming you don't plan to plunk down the $8000 for a D3x?
I suspect in a few months the D3x will be price competitive with the 1dsIII. I wouldn't be surprised to see it below 7k by the end of the summer.
As far as what to get - I'll probably stick with my dinosaur D2x for a while longer...
Ed - the way the economy is in Japan right now, not to mention right here in the good ol' USA, we may see a price drop before the end of summer.
And like you, I'm in no hurry to replace my dinosaur and plan to wait a while and hope the price will drop some, that is if I can keep my mouse finger away from the buy button at B&H.