Is a cropped full-frame image equivalent to a higher-megapixel APS-C image?
Asked 9/23/2012
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If I mount a DX lens on a Nikon D700, the camera crops to about 5.1 megapixels. Since the D700’s full-frame pixels are larger than those on many APS-C cameras, does that 5.1 MP cropped image deliver image quality comparable to, say, a 10 MP APS-C image, assuming similar sensor technology and all else being equal?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
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Assuming the same sensor generation, if you are comparing 5MP 8.45um pixels to 10MP 6um pixels, then the "quality" of the 5MPs will be better (better light sensitivity, less noise visible in high ISOs), so in a situation where that is important to getting the good image (regarding exposure, motion blur, etc. ) then that would be preferred. It you are making a huge print where the lower image resolution would be visible, and where you could get the right image with the lesser quality 10MP, that would be preferred. So the simple answer is: no, it is not the same, nor equal. But it is also not black and white, which one is best.
Originally by user11455. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11455
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No. A 5.1 MP crop from a full-frame sensor is still a 5.1 MP image, not the equivalent of a 10 MP APS-C image.
What larger pixels can improve is per-pixel performance: typically better high-ISO noise and potentially better dynamic range, assuming similar sensor generation. So a cropped D700 image may look cleaner than a 10 MP APS-C file, especially at higher ISO settings.
But resolution is separate from pixel quality. A 10 MP APS-C image records more detail and will generally support larger prints before softness from lower resolution becomes visible. The 5.1 MP crop may look excellent for smaller prints or screen use, but it won’t match 10 MP for detail.
So the tradeoff is:
- cropped full-frame: fewer pixels, but potentially cleaner pixels
- APS-C with more megapixels: more detail, but possibly more visible noise at high ISO
Also, this assumes the lens is sharp enough that the sensor is the limiting factor.
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