jamesm1291 Posted February 8, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am an M8 owner considering trading up to an M9 but am trying to evaluate the differences in resolution. Both sensors have the same pixel density, with the M8 having a 1.3 magnification, which I understand is 70% of the full frame area. Simple math would indicate that this 70% area should include about 12 megapixels of the 18 in the full frame. If this is correct, the M9 improves the M8 by only 2 megapixels, which is not that much. The other factor is the crop factor for the lens. In the M8, I figure that we start with a 30% crop. This seems a small start on resolution deterioration by crop magnification: but again, not that much. If I am correct, the gains of the M9 over the M8 in the arena of resolution are not that significant. However, I'm not an optical or a mathematics expert and would like to know whether my calculations are correct. It will help me make my decision, which will be quite an expensive one if I trade up. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Hi jamesm1291, Take a look here resolution capabilities of M8 vs M9. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
adan Posted February 8, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 8, 2011 Both sensors have the same pixel density, with the M8 having a 1.3 magnification Close, but actually 1.333 magnification or crop factor (same thing) which I understand is 70% of the full frame area. Nope - it is 75% of the length and width of the frame. To get AREA you must multiply 75% (or 0.75) times itself (area is square inches/mm, lengths is linear inches/mm) 0.75 x 0.75 = .56, or 56%. So the M8 image area is 56% of the M9's Simple math would indicate that this 70% area should include about 12 megapixels of the 18 in the full frame. Well real-world specs should tip you off. The M8 has 10 Mpixels, not 12. 18 Mpixels (M9) x 0.56 = 10.1 Mpixels (M8) If this is correct, the M9 improves the M8 by only 2 megapixels Well, even if the M8 had 12 megapixels, the difference between 18 and 12 is 6, not 2. As to the rest of your math, yes, while the M9 has nearly double the PIXELS of the M8, the linear resolution - pickets in a picket fence - is only 33% more. Same reason some were disppointed with the Nikon D3x over the D3 - a doubling from 12 Mpxels to 24 Mpixels ended up only giving a 1.4x increase in lines per mm resolution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 18, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 18, 2011 As to the rest of your math, yes, while the M9 has nearly double the PIXELS of the M8, the linear resolution - pickets in a picket fence - is only 33% more. Same reason some were disppointed with the Nikon D3x over the D3 - a doubling from 12 Mpxels to 24 Mpixels ended up only giving a 1.4x increase in lines per mm resolution. Which is a nice summary of the futility of the megapixel race Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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