Tara R. Swartzendruber |
ISO and enlargements How high can I set my ISO and still get decent enlargements (8x10/11x14, maybe 16x20?) Does it depend on the camera? I have a Nikon D80.
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Pete H |
Hello Tara, Image "noise" in enlargements is indeed dependent not so much on the camera, but the sensor itself. I'll try to answer your question more specifically in a moment. What can and can not be enlarged without objectionable noise is intimately tied with the subject. With your D-80; let's say you need to make a 11x14 of a image that contains many sharp intersecting lines; perhaps building architecture. At ISO 400-800, the image would probably NOT be pleasing if detail is your goal. You could probably get away with a 8x10 however. The same scenario but this time an image of a family gathered around the dinner table. This would be acceptable due to the lack of necessity for detail. 11x14's are rarely viewed at close distances; perhaps 4 to 8 feet or more. How large you can make a print at a given ISO is very image driven. So yes; the camera/sensor plays a major role in ISO vs. Noise. Any print being made larger than a 8x10 should "probably" not exceed ISO 400 with the D-80 camera. You may want to do a simple experiment. Go out and photograph just the clear blue sky, starting from your lowest ISO and working your way up to 1,600. View the photo in your editor as "actual pixels." You will see a dramatic increase in noise above ISO 400. You will soon see why photographers who demand the highest possible image resolution still use large format cameras, be it film or digital. all the best, Pete
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