Which resolution do I use?

[Bobby]

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I'm thinking about using 36MP for street and 60MP for architecture (which I do a lot too). 

36MP for street is mainly because of storage considerations, but I'd like to know what other people are doing with the M11. For context, I mainly use wide angle lenses, 35mm and wider. 

 

Thank you, 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Bobby

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[Guest]

Use it as intended, full resolution. Why pay for it and use it restricted. Just buy larger SD cards and bigger SSDs. 

Edited August 22, 2022 by OThomas

[Stuart Richardson]

I would say the same. You can buy a 12TB hard drive for a few hundred dollars these days, which you would struggle to fill...keep your recent shots on an SSD for the faster speed, then move it over.

[Bobby]

is there an advantage using 36MP in terms of shaking?

[Guest]

49 minutes ago, Bobby said:

is there an advantage using 36MP in terms of shaking?

Not at all. Several of us have experimented with that, there has been no case where I have seen any feedback that it would help. Besides the smaller file size, there have been no reports of any advantages whatsoever with the reduced resolution images.

Mathematically, to achieve true benefits from 'pixel binning', you typically would expect an even multiple of pixels to be merged, e.g. 48MP -> 12MP, it is quite clear how 4 pixels contribute as an average to achieve lower noise and greater per-pixel fidelity. It has never been explained by Leica how 60MP -> 36MP -> 18MP is supposed to improve any aspect of image quality (60MP -> 15MP would have been logical, but that doesn't even exist!). There were initial claims of increased dynamic rage, but that has not manifested in reality, or substantiated theoretically.

Some people believe that a mythical 'version 2' firmware upgrade for the M11 might be able to change the implementation of how lower resolution files are generated by the camera, and hypothetically deliver against the initial hopes of improved 'per pixel quality'. Along the same lines some people hope that Leica might fix the purple fringing issues, e.g. with Noctilux 75mm, via firmware. This is very much speculation at this point and I don't see how it could be done, but of course the people in Wetzlar may surprise us all and find a clever engineering solution.

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, Bobby said:

is there an advantage using 36MP in terms of shaking?

Short answer: No.
Long answer: 
At higher input resolution (sensor), you may see more camera motion effect when pixel peeping. However, at the same output resolution (print), the camera motion effect should be the same. 

In my tests, I get a slightly better IQ (less aliasing) when using 60MP and resizing it in post than using one of the lower camera resolutions.

The main (only?) benefit of a lower resolution is reduced file size in the original DNG.

[SrMi]

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18 minutes ago, mzbe said:

Not at all. Several of us have experimented with that, there has been no case where I have seen any feedback that it would help. Besides the smaller file size, there have been no reports of any advantages whatsoever with the reduced resolution images.

Mathematically, to achieve true benefits from 'pixel binning', you typically would expect an even multiple of pixels to be merged, e.g. 48MP -> 12MP, it is quite clear how 4 pixels contribute as an average to achieve lower noise and greater per-pixel fidelity. It has never been explained by Leica how 60MP -> 36MP -> 18MP is supposed to improve any aspect of image quality (60MP -> 15MP would have been logical, but that doesn't even exist!). There were initial claims of increased dynamic rage, but that has not manifested in reality, or substantiated theoretically.

Some people believe that a mythical 'version 2' firmware upgrade for the M11 might be able to change the implementation of how lower resolution files are generated by the camera, and hypothetically deliver against the initial hopes of improved 'per pixel quality'. Along the same lines some people hope that Leica might fix the purple fringing issues, e.g. with Noctilux 75mm, via firmware. This is very much speculation at this point and I don't see how it could be done, but of course the people in Wetzlar may surprise us all and find a clever engineering solution.

Initially, Leica's PR was claiming better IQ at lower resolutions, but their representatives clarified that the same IQ effect (DR/noise) can be achieved by downsizing the image in the post.

I do not think that "per-pixel fidelity" matters much. Instead, "per-image fidelity" is what we should care about.

[Photoworks]

1 hour ago, Bobby said:

I'm thinking about using 36MP for street and 60MP for architecture (which I do a lot too). 

36MP for street is mainly because of storage considerations, but I'd like to know what other people are doing with the M11. For context, I mainly use wide angle lenses, 35mm and wider. 

 

Thank you, 

I am from the camp Set it and Forget it! set once to 60mp and I don't forget to set it back at any point. Like others have reported have done before.

the only benefit is smaller file size, quicker buffer, and faster shooting...

In any case I started using internal storage for shooting and later copy to SD. the camera response quicker and the storage is faster.

I would think 36MP is still good for most people, and there is nothing wrong with it. for does people that claim storage is cheap... 12tb maybe $250 but in my world I would have backups so it is more like $500+ for 3 copies.

 

[lct]

I hoped 36mp or 18mp could have advantages in terms of camera shaking but i found none so aside from speed and storage those settings are useless for me. YMMV.

[calijax]

Full resolution 100% of the time for me

[jakontil]

Dang i think i might reconsider using 36mpx all the time and move to full since i was still hoping there’s a difference aside from smaller size 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 8/23/2022 at 1:44 AM, Bobby said:

is there an advantage using 36MP in terms of shaking?

No. that’s a factor of output size not resolution.

Gordon

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 8/23/2022 at 1:17 AM, OThomas said:

Use it as intended, full resolution. Why pay for it and use it restricted. Just buy larger SD cards and bigger SSDs. 

Camera is intended to be used at all three resolutions that Leica offer. What you suggest would indicate that cropping is also out. Lower resolutions aren’t restrictive. They’re options. 18MP for social media and screens is hardly restrictive. The opposite is more likely to be true. VERY few need 60MP for anything. How many A1 prints do we do in a normal year.

The pixel binning allows for a MUCH larger buffer in fast shooting environments as well as a *very* slight improvement in usable DR (also replicatable in post though). Lower resolutions also speed up image transfer and loading into post processing programs, for those without the absolute latest powerful computers.

I use all three resolutions but 18 and 60 for 90% of my shooting. I just have no need for 60MP files of family events. Especially if I just want some jpegs for Facebook.

Gordon

[pgh]

Given that the image quality advantage seems to be non-existent, the whole feature set reads as a bit of a gimmick to my mind. I'd just use 60. It's easy to batch resize quite quickly in any workflow program, and the possibility that you'd want that quality to start always looms if you got a great capture. If 36 mp actually got you a little further in terms of sharpness with lower shutter speeds or had better dynamic range I'd use that a lot - as IMO 36-42 mp is the sweet spot for a 35mm sensor, but since that's just a function of resizing - I can do that later. 

[jakontil]

So possibly no such thing extra 1 stop in DR when shot lower res than 60?

dang me! 

[tangosix]

Gordon's response makes a lot of sense. 

 

I feel so hopeful with this M11.  This old dog may get lucky just once with that magic shot and I want it as large and as rich as possible. 

Full bull for me. 

[THEME]

Since I have not discovered any low-noise benefits in using lower resolution, I go with full res – which also allows for more freedom I never enjoyed as such: you crop, and might have the perfect frame with ample detail (a frame not seen when pressing the shutter).

[chasdfg]

After shooting using the 60mp resolution for the first couple of weeks, I switched to 36mp. I export JPEGs at 18mp. I'd readily switch to 60mp if i was travelling and doing shoots which would benefit from the extra resolution, especially since the noise and DR benefits can be had when downsizing the 60mp file later, but otherwise 36mp works for me for the most part (sufficient resolution to crop and doesn't take up as much space). Storage may be cheap, but if you don't see yourself needing the extra resolution, there's no need to use the highest resolution for day-to-day stuff if your style of shooting and editing doesn't require it. 60mp is there if you want to use it and only a button push or two away.

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[SiOnara]

On 8/22/2022 at 4:06 PM, Bobby said:

I'm thinking about using 36MP for street and 60MP for architecture (which I do a lot too). 

36MP for street is mainly because of storage considerations, but I'd like to know what other people are doing with the M11. For context, I mainly use wide angle lenses, 35mm and wider. 

 

Thank you, 

 

Yeah that’s pretty much how I use mine. 60MP super for fine art shots and 36MP for street. Don’t really ever use 18MP. Maybe for something fun like a birthday with friends etc but then I’d probably just use the iPhone. 

[Antonio Russell]

I just leave it at 60 for fear of taking that one great image and regret not having the camera set to maximum...