Why can a full-frame DSLR make better large prints even with similar megapixels?
Asked 4/26/2014
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I shoot with a Canon 550D and am considering a move to a Canon 6D. People often say full-frame cameras are better for large prints, but the 6D’s JPEG dimensions are only slightly larger than the 550D’s. If the pixel count is fairly close, why would the full-frame camera produce better large prints? Is the advantage related to shooting RAW, or is it more about the sensor size and how much the image has to be enlarged for printing?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Theoretical discussions of print size per megapixel don't take the real world into account. But once you have a sufficient amount, megapixels aren't really the biggest factor in image detail. Enlarging a print from the recording medium (film or sensor) by the smallest amount is an inherent advantage — everything is multiplied by a smaller factor. And full-frame has that advantage.
Of course, there's some line where older full-frame technology is beaten by newer smaller sensors, but for roughly equivalent technology, lower enlargement is better.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
12y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Large-print quality is not just about megapixel count or JPEG dimensions. Once resolution is “enough” for the print size, a big factor is how much the captured image must be enlarged to reach the final print.
A full-frame sensor records the image over a larger area, so for the same print size it needs less enlargement than an APS-C image. Less enlargement means lens/sensor imperfections and noise are magnified less, which can preserve detail and make the print look better in real-world use.
So the advantage is not that a 6D JPEG is dramatically larger in pixel dimensions, and it’s not mainly about RAW vs JPEG. RAW can help you get the most from either camera, but it does not change the basic fact that the full-frame image starts from a larger recording area.
That said, sensor generation matters too: a newer smaller sensor can sometimes outperform an older full-frame one. But between roughly similar technology levels, full-frame’s lower required enlargement is the reason it can have an edge for large prints.
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