Q3: Triple resolution Sensor

[Riz]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi, Can someone help me understand what does this Triple resolution Sensor means and how it effect/impact/improve/degrade Image quality? When to use what option (Beyond considering 18MP can save storage), Is saving storage the only benefit? I was reading somewhere by choosing 18MP instead of 60MP can help produce better low light images not sure how and even if it's true.

If my use is to take 28mm images but later do in-camera or otherwise 35mm/50mm crop then should I be using full 60MP only? (My usage is never going to be taking prints, pure 100% intent is to enjoy pictures on devices from iPhone to a 120" Projector screen.

Please don't kill me if it was such a simple question that every noob should know  

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Riz said:

Hi, Can someone help me understand what does this Triple resolution Sensor means and how it effect/impact/improve/degrade Image quality? When to use what option (Beyond considering 18MP can save storage), Is saving storage the only benefit? I was reading somewhere by choosing 18MP instead of 60MP can help produce better low light images not sure how and even if it's true.

If my use is to take 28mm images but later do in-camera or otherwise 35mm/50mm crop then should I be using full 60MP only? (My usage is never going to be taking prints, pure 100% intent is to enjoy pictures on devices from iPhone to a 120" Projector screen.

Please don't kill me if it was such a simple question that every noob should know  

You're paying a large premium for a 60MP sensor and the flexibility it gives with cropping. The only benefit I can see is a reduction in file size, but storage is fairly cheap nowadays.

There has been some talk of slightly increased Dynamic Range with the reduced sizes but I can't imagine that being significant in real world use even if true.

[Riz]

1 minute ago, Corius said:

You're paying a large premium for a 60MP sensor and the flexibility it gives with cropping. The only benefit I can see is a reduction in file size, but storage is fairly cheap nowadays.

There has been some talk of slightly increased Dynamic Range with the reduced sizes but I can't imagine that being significant in real world use even if true.

Thanks that's the reason I ask this question cuz many ppl talk about Triple resolution sensor as a Key feature and I don't understand where and how it's beneficial, As I don't see saving on storage is a huge benefit especially when storage is cheap. So I asked this question why would someone select lesser MP to shoot with and how this is a selling point?

[Guest]

17 minutes ago, Riz said:

.... and how this is a selling point?

The main reason is because other brands offer it and it is a marketing tick-box.

Actually, I would be interested to know how many folk in the forum use the reduced sizes, maybe I'm missing something too.

[Le Chef]

As I understand it, it's marketing bollocks. 

You can crop in LightRoom or CR to reduce file size.

Unless by some miracle Leica have figured out to make pixels bigger with reduced resolution  but in theory better low light gathering (as oppose to just cutting some of them off) and can make them smaller when you want a full frame 60MP image, it's really BS. 

As Corius says storage is cheap, and you can crop to whatever you want in post.

Edited June 20, 2024 by Le Chef

[01af]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Riz:

Is saving storage the only benefit?

Yes.

[bobtodrick]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Don’t know if it’s true or not, but I’ve heard that at maximum burst 15fps) the lower resolution will shoot more frames before buffering.

Anyone experience this?  I can’t imagine it being an issue for 99% of users even if true.

[Denebola]

A good technical explanation of the BSI sensor,  triple resolution, pixel binning, dynamic range and so on are quite well discussed in this video:
 

 

[Driften]

5 hours ago, Le Chef said:

Unless by some miracle Leica have figured out to make pixels bigger with reduced resolution  but in theory better low light gathering (as oppose to just cutting some of them off) and can make them smaller when you want a full frame 60MP image, it's really BS. 

Through pixel binning they are in a way making the pixels larger by combining them to act as larger ones. They are not just tossing the data away to make a smaller file size.

[Le Chef]

If that’s true that’s wonderful, but I had read elsewhere that this was false. The trade off in any case is that you lose resolution and detail.

Edited June 21, 2024 by Le Chef

[JNK100]

I read that there is a slight improvement in DR ,but I can't remember where I read this!

I will look later.

[01af]

vor 16 Minuten schrieb JNK100:

I read that there is a slight improvement in dynamic range ...

When the triple-resolution 60-MP sensor came out some folks wrote about dynamic range increase for the lower resolution modes just because they thought it would increase—but it doesn't.

All you get from the lower resolution modes is smaller image files, hence longer bursts at high fps, faster writing to memory card, less storage consumption, and, last not least, less detail resolution.

[Riz]

1 minute ago, 01af said:

When the triple-resolution 60-MP sensor came out some folks wrote about dynamic range increase for the lower resolution modes just because they thought it would increase—but it doesn't.

All you get from the lower resolution modes is smaller image files, hence longer bursts at high fps, faster writing to memory card, less storage consumption, and, last not least, less detail resolution.

So basically if I understand correct, if I'm not bothered about storage saving, not taking high FPS photos and have a higher read/write memory card or not bothered about how long it takes to write. There's no reason for me to go below 60-MP right as I might loss details especially if I want crop image later to 35/50mm

[Riz]

9 hours ago, Denebola said:

A good technical explanation of the BSI sensor,  triple resolution, pixel binning, dynamic range and so on are quite well discussed in this video:
 

 

Phewww Man, I watched the whole hour long video to understand, I'm in IT so I did understand all the technical things but bottomline what I got is that seems like as per this video shooting in M can provide the best result at least in low light. I hope my understanding is right and it's not just a marketing gimmick. Anyways good learning but it's whole 60MP for me still

[01af]

vor 31 Minuten schrieb Riz:

There's no reason for me to go below 60 MP right as I might lose details ...

Exactly. And that's true in low light as well as in good light.

[JNK100]

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited June 21, 2024 by JNK100
Please see above relating to the M11 from AdamInsights

[David Wien]

1 hour ago, Riz said:

Phewww Man, I watched the whole hour long video to understand, I'm in IT so I did understand all the technical things but bottomline what I got is that seems like as per this video shooting in M can provide the best result at least in low light. I hope my understanding is right and it's not just a marketing gimmick. Anyways good learning but it's whole 60MP for me still

The man who made the video may be a bit longwinded; but his experiments are well designed and his measurements are very thorough. While I dont think eight places of decimals are needed to make his point, I believe his results!

David

Edited June 21, 2024 by David Wien

[01af]

vor 12 Stunden schrieb Denebola:

A good technical explanation of the BSI sensor,  triple resolution, pixel binning, dynamic range and so on are quite well discussed in this video [...]

First of all, the lower resolution modes are not based on pixel binning. Instead, it's some sort of re-scaling by software interpolation. And this in-camera interpolation isn't even made particularly well; you'd get better (sharper, more detailed) results when shooting at 60 MP and then doing the down-scaling by yourself in Lightroom, Photoshop, or whatever you're using.

And then, this chap doesn't analyse dynamic range. Instead, he analyses the difference between high-ISO and low-ISO images for each resolution. That's an entirely different topic. This difference being minimal at 36 MP doesn't mean the dynamic range was at maximum there. It just doesn't mean anything.

Why don't you just make your own evaluation? Take shots of the same high-contrast subject at all resolutions in DNG mode (not JPEG!), then see if you can find any perceptible difference in the shadows or the highlights or both. You don't need any fancy Python scripts or software tools beyond your preferred raw converter. Just use your eyes and look!

Edited June 21, 2024 by 01af

[SrMi]

On 6/21/2024 at 9:40 AM, Riz said:

Phewww Man, I watched the whole hour long video to understand, I'm in IT so I did understand all the technical things but bottomline what I got is that seems like as per this video shooting in M can provide the best result at least in low light. I hope my understanding is right and it's not just a marketing gimmick. Anyways good learning but it's whole 60MP for me still

That video is misleading, as others have answered. No difference in noise exists if you compare at the same output size.

Edited June 22, 2024 by SrMi

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[Miltz]

It’s a positive and flexible option to have. There is a definite benefit in low light high iso when using medium raw.