Crop the SL image vs using CL

[globalwander]

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Hi everyone,

If I use the 90-280 SL lens on the SL camera, I max out at 280mm, obviously. Less obvious to me is the difference in image quality if I then crop the full-frame image in post, vs using my APS-C CL camera with the 90-280 to get the FOV equivalent of 420mm (280x1.5).

Cropping the full-frame SL image to the 420mm equivalent FOC would yield an approximately 10 megapixel image. But using the CL on the 90-280 would still yield the full 24 megapixel resolution. 

Given a choice, I would opt for using the CL because I would think the 24 megapixel image result would be better?

Do you agree/disagree? 

P.S. I want to get into bird photography. That’s my motivation. 

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[tom0511]

I agree.

But I doubt handling would be great. Too big lens on too small camera.

For birding I would  prefer a Nikon or a m43 camera.

Or I would get a s1r or SL2, so for max reach you could crop but for less reach you have the full resolution.

 

[SrMi]

48 minutes ago, globalwander said:

Hi everyone,

If I use the 90-280 SL lens on the SL camera, I max out at 280mm, obviously. Less obvious to me is the difference in image quality if I then crop the full-frame image in post, vs using my APS-C CL camera with the 90-280 to get the FOV equivalent of 420mm (280x1.5).

Cropping the full-frame SL image to the 420mm equivalent FOC would yield an approximately 10 megapixel image. But using the CL on the 90-280 would still yield the full 24 megapixel resolution. 

Given a choice, I would opt for using the CL because I would think the 24 megapixel image result would be better?

Do you agree/disagree? 

P.S. I want to get into bird photography. That’s my motivation. 

APS-C format (1.5x) gives a 20 Mp image, not 10Mp.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

4 minutes ago, SrMi said:

APS-C format (1.5x) gives a 20 Mp image, not 10Mp.

10MP for SL. 20MP for SL2. OP mentioned SL. I assume that's what he has or is considering.

Gordon

[FlashGordonPhotography]

36 minutes ago, tom0511 said:

I agree.

But I doubt handling would be great. Too big lens on too small camera.

For birding I would  prefer a Nikon or a m43 camera.

Or I would get a s1r or SL2, so for max reach you could crop but for less reach you have the full resolution.

 

I have tried it. It works OK, especially if you use the optional grip. SL body is better but CL with grip isn't terrible.

Gordon

[SrMi]

3 hours ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

10MP for SL. 20MP for SL2. OP mentioned SL. I assume that's what he has or is considering.

Gordon

Oops, you are right. Sorry for the noise.

[bags27]

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Just to say that the equivalent of 420mm isn't considered sufficient focal reach by most birders. It'll work for stationary birds that you can sneak up on a bit, but for anything that keeps a distance or is on the move, you should be thinking of > 500mm equivalent. Remember: great bird photos usually require filling the screen, so either get close, have a very long focal length, or crop a lot (and get a lot of noise). I suggest you pair your outstanding L zoom with the CL, and see if you like birding, but appreciate that you may well feel limited pretty quickly.

If you do feel that way, I think the best kit would be with the CL and use of the outstanding R mount 2x APO extender. There are a number of fine R lenses to pair with that which will bring you in the = 550+ mm. The R 80-200 f/4 is excellent and the 180 f/3.4 APO is superb. Some others are rarer and more expensive still. But the kit I'm suggesting can usually be had for $1500-$2000 US and will give excellent results.

You could also, more simply, pair the CL with the Nikon 200-500 or the legendary Canon 100-400 II. You won't get autofocus, which you do get with the L 90-280, and you will have to do a work around on changing focal lengths on the fly, but avoiding the x2 extender of the R combo gives you a faster kit. The most important consideration, after reach, is avoiding camera shake with a long lens, meaning you'll want to shoot at 1/1000, and that will naturally affect ISO and/or aperture/depth of field.

Getting "into" birding is like getting "into" Burgundy wine. It is a bottomless pit of exaltation and frustration. But when you nail it, it seems to make all the pain worthwhile...at least for a couple of minutes.

 

Edited December 25, 2019 by bags27