Will a Pentax 645Z generally deliver more sharp detail than a Canon 5DS R with a top-end lens?

Asked 10/12/2015

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I'm comparing two high-resolution setups: a Canon 5DS R with an exceptional lens such as a Zeiss Otus, versus a Pentax 645Z with a good native medium-format lens. Since both cameras are around 50 MP, which setup is likely to produce more real-world detail and sharpness? I'm interested in the general principle rather than a test of one exact lens, including how sensor size, pixel pitch, diffraction, and lens design affect the result.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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(1) Irrespective of the lenses used (Zeiss Otus for example), a Nikon 810 or Canon 5ds can't produce detail that the sensor can't pickup to begin with. A small sensor can't resolve the detail that a larger sensor can even if you put an average kit lens on a 300mp camera. You'll get more detail with the kit lens and larger sensor compared to a great lens on a smaller sensor.

(2) I can use a run-of-the-mill 55mm f/2.8 lens on the 645Z and get better detail than using an Otus lens on my Canon or Nikon. Who cares what's sharper out-of-camera? The fact of the matter is that once the files are processed and sharpened, the detail is ultimately better from the larger CMOS sensor practically every time. I wouldn't go gaga over using an Otus lens on a small sensor camera... it's like a microbiologist using expensive highest quality glass slides to put samples on, when s/he's using a $50 microscope. It doesn't make sense.

(3) Many aren't used to shooting medium format (MF) and still think that MF are horrible when raising the iso. This hasn't been true for years now. Every since MF started using CMOS sensors, MF has been the highest quality high iso shooters on the market, and it is still that way today. You cannot get the same high iso quality from a Canon, Nikon or even Sony when compared to a CMOS equipped MF Pentax 645Z.

Originally by user54313. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user54313

10y ago

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In general, the 645Z is expected to deliver more usable detail overall, even when the 5DS R is paired with an extremely sharp lens. With similar megapixel counts, the larger medium-format sensor spreads those pixels over a bigger area, giving larger pixel pitch and allowing it to capture more scene detail with less penalty from diffraction.

That means the Pentax can often retain maximum detail at somewhat smaller apertures than the Canon. Also, for the same angle of view, medium-format lenses use longer focal lengths and larger image circles, which can make high performance easier to achieve.

A superb lens still matters: a weak lens can limit either system. But the answers consistently point to the larger 645Z sensor as the bigger advantage for ultimate detail once files are processed normally.

If you want a practical comparison, the best advice is to examine matched sample images from reliable reviews and, ideally, make prints at the sizes you care about. Differences may be smaller than expected depending on lens choice, aperture, and output size.

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10y ago

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