Cropability of Q2M files

[erniethemilk]

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What’s the cropability like with the Q2M. I quite often shoot with a 35mm & 50mm on my M10-P but am considering the options of swapping it out for a Q2M. 
 

Just wondering how much you can crop before the image quality particularly degrades. 

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[ianforber]

On the Q2, I frequently crop to 75mm-ish occasionally 100mm+. I know many people get upset if you don’t use all the pixels but I just choose a crop that suits the picture. Never had a problem. I have Topaz Gigapixel but have never felt the need to use it

[hdmesa]

"How much you can crop before the image degrades" depends entirely on how large you want to print. The Q2M 35mm crop will still make beautiful, very large prints. The 50mm crop will still make very nice medium-sized prints. Cropping to 75mm looks amazing for posting online or for small prints.

Q2M advantages that help keep the quality up when cropping versus the M10-P:

• Increased resolution (24 vs 47mp)
• Non-existent noise at lower ISOs and very low noise at high ISOs
• Increased pixel-level acuity allows the monochrome files to punch above their weight – about equal to a ~75mp color sensor (better than the 47mp Q2 & SL2 but not quite as good as the GFX 100S).

Go to DPReview's Q2M gallery, which has DNG RAW samples. Download them and start cropping and see what you think.

[Jay B]

I couldn't get what I wanted due to distance from the window, so cropping was necessary.
No clue as to equivalent focal length, didn't even bother  to change the finder crop. I knew it would hold up.
It looks fantastic printed on 13x19. I disagree with hdmesa about large prints @ 75mm.
Final cropped version:

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Original full frame:

[robgo2]

My personal experience is that the enlargement/crop capacity of Q2M files is extraordinary for all of the technical reasons listed by hdmesa. Unlike with other cameras, I simply don't worry about it. I would have no problem printing a fairly heavily cropped image at 14x19in.

[prk60091]

this is anecdotal I took an image with my old **iPhone pro max 11** ran it through Topaz Gigapixel and it is now hanging in my weekend house over the couch at 36" x36".  Would my Q have done better (absolutely especially recovering  shadows)   but I did not have it with me at the time... #bestcamera is the one you have with you.

Edited December 2, 2021 by prk60091

[Steven_nl]

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I have the Q2. I do not print, but look full screen at a large professional monitor. I crop to 75mm without hesitation. Looks fine, but obviously my R5 looks better at 200mm with my   RF70-200mm. 

For me it looks fine and it is fun to use the Q2. I just forget about it.

[hdmesa]

On 12/1/2021 at 5:33 PM, Jay B said:

I couldn't get what I wanted due to distance from the window, so cropping was necessary.
No clue as to equivalent focal length, didn't even bother  to change the finder crop. I knew it would hold up.
It looks fantastic printed on 13x19. I disagree with hdmesa about large prints @ 75mm.

 

This author would agree with you, but in fairness I didn't say someone couldn't print an acceptable 13x19 print from a 6.6mp file, I said:

Quote

 Cropping to 75mm looks amazing for posting online or for small prints.

You can certainly make a 13x19 print from a 6.6mp file, but the quality of the end result depends on a lot of factors, not the least of which are the type of image and your personal standard for what is acceptable. A low-resolution image with a single area of focus may have less reason to be critically examined than a highly-detailed landscape shot.

Edited December 3, 2021 by hdmesa

[Dr. G]

This is an interesting question.  I’ve always wondered if the cropability of the Q2M was, in fact, better than that of the Q2.  Since it is recoding a full 47MP of shades of grey instead of the array of alternating red, green and blue pixels is the perceived resolution actually higher allowing for deeper crops without the same observed loss of quality?

[LexS]

I always thought that the pixels on the Q2 and the Q2M are the same ??

 

[Anakronox]

Yes the pixel count is the same, but Dr. G is referring to the better detail the Q2M shows due to lack of a Bayer filter.  The apparent sharpness at the same crop factor would be higher on the Q2M photo, but you’ll need to be pixel peeping.  At normal viewing distances, especially printed, I doubt you’d notice.  This assumes that you can edit a Q2 file to exactly match the tonality of a Q2M and all other factors are equal. 

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, LexS said:

I always thought that the pixels on the Q2 and the Q2M are the same ??

 

Yes, but the acuity is less on the Q2. The Bayer filter and the colour interpolation lose at least 30% of the resolution, and the lack of optical aberrations by the Bayer filter gives an additional acuity. In other words, one pixel on the sensor translates 1:1 to one pixel on your print.

[hdmesa]

 

3 hours ago, LexS said:

I always thought that the pixels on the Q2 and the Q2M are the same ??

 

The Q2 sensor was redesigned for monochrome – not just removing the Bayer color filter array, but also a new microlens setup. Same basic sensor technology and resolution, but two very different designs in the end.

[_Michael]

I think the question of how much one can crop is highly variable depending on the use of that crop. Here are two images I posted on another site sharing what I think is a massive crop. The image is not of optimal size to show here, but maybe this will be helpful. 

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[GFW2-SCUSA]

Michael, the pictures you posted cost me a lot of money. I shall be ordering a Q2M.  It is astounding what you have shown. A perfect example of a picture being worth a thousand words or pixels!  Thanks for posting... I think. 🙃

[_Michael]

On 12/18/2021 at 6:03 PM, GFW2-SCUSA said:

Michael, the pictures you posted cost me a lot of money. I shall be ordering a Q2M.  It is astounding what you have shown. A perfect example of a picture being worth a thousand words or pixels!  Thanks for posting... I think. 🙃

Sorry about that!   But I think you will find great enjoyment from the camera!  

[Stuart Richardson]

On 11/30/2021 at 8:16 PM, erniethemilk said:

What’s the cropability like with the Q2M. I quite often shoot with a 35mm & 50mm on my M10-P but am considering the options of swapping it out for a Q2M. 
 

Just wondering how much you can crop before the image quality particularly degrades. 

I know this is old, but here is another take.

How quickly does the image quality degrade? Basically, immediately. You are getting rid of resolution, so your image quality is degrading. Whether or not that is significant is dependent on your output. If you are printing at 300dpi (most printers can do 600 or 720dpi, but you do not see much visual benefit except in extremely high frequency detail, and generally only with your face right in the print), then the native size for 47mp is getting close to 20x30 inches. Anything larger than that, and you need to interpolate, anything smaller and you are not using the extra resolution (assuming you don't crop). So if you plan on printing 20x30 or larger, any cropping will degrade your image. For 24mp, like your M10P, the native print size is around 13x19 inches. Anything bigger is interpolation, anything smaller sacrificing resolution.

So in the case of the Q2, a 35mm crop is around 30mp, so using the Q2 to crop to a 35-40mm is going to be pretty equivalent to the M10P, at least in terms of resolution. That will also depend on the characteristics of the sensor and the lenses used. The Q2 has a sensor with high pixel sharpness. In my feeling, it is a "sharper" sensor than the M10 sensor. The Q2M will take this even further. So my best guess is that you would almost get to 50mm before the M10P showed itself as "superior" in terms of image quality to the Q2.  The Q2 lens is very good and you will be using the central portion, but probably not as good as the best M lenses, so you might see better results on the M with the new 35mm APO Summicron M or the 50mm APO Summicron M.

Overall, I would say the takeaway is that the Q2M would give you better image quality than the M10P up to about 50mm or a bit less. Longer than that and the M10P will pull away. This also assuming normal lighting. If you plan to photograph at extreme high ISO, then the Q2M will again be a better choice.

Finally, the Q2 and M10P are quite different cameras in use, so if you are not used to it, you might not like it as much. It is a much more "digital" experience than the M10P. You are using an EVF, using AF etc. Another option would of course be the M10R...which would outresolve the Q2 at 35mm and significantly at 50mm.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Stuart Richardson

[robnyc1]

Hey - quick question

Does the camera adjust exposure when shooting in auto, for different zooms? Or is it still adjusting the exposure for 28mm regardless of the crop?

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[Anakronox]

It only meters inside the framelines - which is really nice.  

[Alan Friedman]

 

I think Q2M sensor has greater potential for cropping than a 60mp sensor with bayer matrix.

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100% crop from the mag above (jpeg, but worth a click through to see full size):

Edited February 6, 2022 by Alan Friedman