Print sizes from Digital cameras

madmike · 29-12-2005, 10:33

Hi there and Happy New Year to you all at PF.
Does anyone know what is the maximum print size possible from a Canon 20D and/or 5D.
Just a ball park figure really, ie say 6x4ft or whatever. The size I mean is one where the image has not started to break up at all.
Also, I recently took some photos with my 20D using flash that were quite a bit overexposed. I have tried all sorts of different PS progs but can't seem to improve things - any ideas anyone. Are there perhaps any specific download progs that could help?

Thanks,

Cheers,

madmike

Joe T · 29-12-2005, 11:09

Hi there

Firstly, welcome to TPF. If you like you can pop along to the welcome forum and introduce yourself.

With regard to your query, I dont think I can help you, but I'm sure someone hwo can will be along shortly.

CT · 29-12-2005, 12:18

Hiya Mike. Didn't you ask this question before?

On max print size opinions will vary depending on who you ask. I'd say that from a 20D a print size of A3, possibly larger, is perfectly reasonable to expect. As for absolute maximum size possible I don't know, but you'd have to go very large indeed before the pic started to break up to the extent that you could see the pixel construction. Bear in mind that the larger you go with a print the longer the normal viewing distance becomes, so if you're going to get your nose down on a large print, you may well find fault that you wouldn't see at normal viewing distance. The same was true of film anyway.

The 5D has a full size sensor but only 4 million extra pixels over the 20D, so you may well not see any appreciable difference from the 20D. With a digital sensor you have to quadruple the amount of pixels to double the resolution, so you're talking 1DSMk2 territory (16 million pixels) and five grand if it's really big prints you want to make. Did you have a print size in mind?

Re your over-exposed shots, it's hard to advise Mike without seeing them - posting an example would help a lot. It depends how over-exposed they are whether you can rescue them or not. Shooting in RAW format gives you the most exposure latitude.

Hope that helps mate. Sing out if not.

IanC_UK · 29-12-2005, 12:23

I have printed A3 from 20D and they came out fine

I would say they could go quite a bit bigger if no glaring problems at A3 resolutions

madmike · 29-12-2005, 12:55

Hi CT,
I posted this question the other day but it seemed to disappear for some reason - anyway thanks for your reply. I'm sure A3 is no problem, but a friend for example has had a print from his top end Nikon blown up to 6x4 ft. I'm just interested to know if this sort of size is possible from a 20D/5D.
As for the OverEx, I normally use Raw, but for various reason did not on this occasion. I somehow set the incorrect ASA by one stop, but even after I corrected this, the pics were all overEx. As some of the subjects were wearing white the problem became more accute. I think digital seems to act a bit more like Transparencies in that they are particularly bad with Overex images.
Any further help or advice re both the above would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

madmike

CT · 29-12-2005, 13:08

Which top end Nikon does your friend have? Their very new D2X is their flagship model with 12 million pixels, but Nikon use only a 1.5X sensor, so while it has an advantage in pixel count, a bigger degree of enlargement would be required than either the 20D or 5D. Without getting into any Canon versus Nikon arguments, I don't think there'll be an appreciable difference at that huge print size, it's all down to how critical you are and the normal viewing distance, but the only way to be sure is order your print and see how it goes.

Sorry to hear about your pics - they sound like they might be wedding shots? If you post an example people may be able to help!

madmike · 29-12-2005, 13:33

Hi Again,
Yes the Nikon the friend has is a D2X - I've not seen the print yet but he reckons there is no breakup at all.
I have had an aerial photo from a 6x45 neg blown up to 8x10 feet and it looks great from a few feet away but it was of course pretty grainy.
The job I did was just a kids Xmas party so not that important, just a bit of a pain. I think I may have found a way to sort most of them out using Adob Photo Album.

Cheers,

madmike

IanC_UK · 29-12-2005, 13:34

The only thing that stopped me going bigger is my printer wont do it

and bigger than A3 pics are an absolute fortune normally !

6foot by 4foot ! blimey ! thats quite a pic

CT · 29-12-2005, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmike

Hi Again,
Yes the Nikon the friend has is a D2X - I've not seen the print yet but he reckons there is no breakup at all.
I have had an aerial photo from a 6x45 neg blown up to 8x10 feet and it looks great from a few feet away but it was of course pretty grainy.

People tend to forget that exhibition print size from a 35mm negative was always considered to be 20 x 16 inches and it often wasn't easy to obtain a quality print at that size.

chuckles · 29-12-2005, 15:23

Another factor, straight from the camera anyway, is the pixel per inch (ppi) setting the manufacturers impose upon the digicam.

Nikon dSLRs are usually set to 300 ppi whereas Canon (I think) use 240 ppi. That means, even for the same size sensor/pixel count the Canon will always produce a bigger print.

Most compacts are set to 72 ppi so they go bigger still!

All this before you start fiddling in Photoshop or Paintshop, what-have-you

GfK · 29-12-2005, 15:29

Quote:

I posted this question the other day but it seemed to disappear for some reason - anyway thanks for your reply.

That's odd. I was about to say I'm sure I replied to this thread already??

madmike · 29-12-2005, 15:43

Thanks for your answers,but let me perhaps re-phrase the question!

What is the largest 'good quality' print anyone has produced.

A3 seems to be no problem - any advance on A3?
Are there any digital lab printers in PF?

Cheers,

Madmike

CT · 29-12-2005, 15:48

Mike if I were you I'd speak to a lab. I used to use Colab for my printing and they've been into digital printing since the early days so I'm sure you'll get a realistic answer. I'm sure there are other labs but Colab is the one I know best.

CLICK HERE

chuckles · 29-12-2005, 15:54

In that case - it all depends how far away from it you are!

Based upon the rule of thumb "a print should be viewed at 1.5x it's diagonal dimension" A picture 1 kilometer across the diagonal can be adequately viewed without any irregularites 1.5 kilometres away!

Whether you can get any body to print it though ......

We've had 30" x 20" size from a 6 Metal-Pixie camera without a problem from Photobox who will print all sorts of sizes for reasonable money and they do a good job. There are other Photo Finishers, it's just I've used them with no bother!

Baz.

GfK · 29-12-2005, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles

We've had 30" x 20" size from a 6 Metal-Pixie camera without a problem from Photobox who will print all sorts of sizes for reasonable money and they do a good job.

I had photobox print two 2mpx images at A3 size (20" x 16" i think?) as an experiment. I don't think I would have got away with anything bigger than that, but the results were very impressive.

CT · 29-12-2005, 16:24

A3 = 11.7 X 16.5 inches. (297 x 420 mm) I just checked a pack!

Photobox have an excellent reputation.