Is 24MP and a KIT lens GOOD ENOUGH? Nikon Z5 vs Z7 Surprising result!!

One of the questions I get asked more than another is how big you can print a certain megapixel camera. So in this video I took an entry level full frame 24MP camera with kit lens and pitted it against a 45MP full frame with top of the range lens. The results are surprising.
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NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)
Current landscape camera - Nikon Z7 - geni.us/nikonz7
Awesome telephoto lens - Nikon 70-200m f/2.8 - geni.us/nikon70200
Great ultra-wide angle lens - Nikon 14-30mm f/4 - geni.us/1430mm
Hiking mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f4 - geni.us/nikon2470
Sharpest mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f2.8 geni.us/2470mm28
Very long lens - Nikon 500mm F5.6 - geni.us/nikon500mm
FILM GEAR
Nikon Z6 - geni.us/z6nikon
Nikon 20mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon20mmz
Nikon 24mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon24mm
Nikon 50mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon50mmz
Nikon 85mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon85mmz
OTHER PHOTO GEAR
Amazing Umbrella - geni.us/blunt
Microfibre Cloths - geni.us/microfibre
Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket - geni.us/Rainjacket
Rab Downpour Pants - geni.us/rainpants
Awesome sensor brush - geni.us/brush4sensor
GorillaPod - geni.us/Kb9mV
The great printer I use Canon P1000 - geni.us/cIIc
Clever camera strap (peak design) - geni.us/PDstrap
Great bag for hiking - Tenba 24L - geni.us/orPwh
Great bag for travel (carry on) - Tenba 32L - geni.us/tenba32l
Super light Benro Travel Tripod UK - geni.us/Benrotravel
A must have for tripod (L bracket) - geni.us/myLbracket
Lightweight tripod - Benro Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod - geni.us/benromach3
Paper I use for all my prints - Fotospeed - geni.us/fotospeed Use DANSON10 to get 10% off your paper.
Screw on ND filter - geni.us/polarproND

[@jakewisshack7198]

Nigel, this is my idea for a video I think would be quite fun. As many people can't always travel very far to cool places to take photos, we find ourselves in common places such as the zoo, park or our neighborhood. I challenge you to find a popular/common, more highly trafficked area, and walk us through how you can capture great images even in places that aren't quite as interesting as they seem.

[@sebidoo]

This needs more attention

[@NigelDanson]

Hi Jake - congrats on being the most liked idea for a new video! Send me a DM on instagram or twitter and I will send you out the print. Awesome idea by the way!!!!

[@robertwarner3769]

I love this idea. I struggle to find anything in my local area of Rugby.

[@moonprobe8751]

@@robertwarner3769 I used to live in Rugby. You could try the old railway lines converted into footpaths, or the country lanes going towards Coventry? Also the nearby canals and locks are great, especially with the right lighting. There are some interesting old buildings in Rugby I remember? Cheers, Steven

[@Nitidus]

@@NigelDanson You never did this, though

[@NigelDanson]

Hope you enjoyed this longer than usual video. Let me know your ideas for a future video and the most liked comment suggesting an idea will win the lighthouse print.

[@joao.s.cardoso]

Nice video Nigel. I was guessing that using the same high end lens on the cheaper 24mp camera the difference is even less noticeable. With the lighthouse photo seems that for 90% or more of the use cases you can get away with a 24mp camera and invest a bit more in good glass. And then as budget permits upgrade the body.

[@stephenbowman8085]

Brilliant as ever. My suggestion would be to take a photograph representing each letter of your name

[@boiledrumham7940]

Video suggestion: Getting out of your comfort zone and shooting subjects you wouldn't normally shoot. Like street photography.

[@Michael-Bennett]

My suggestion is micro-landscapes....small details instead of the grand vistas.

[@draganmilosevic201]

Excellent video, thanks! For some reason I can not add comments although I am signed in and subscribed. Therefore I leave the idea for next video here, if possible it would be fantastic to share a video about prints selling options, many people speak about it but quite generally, not the way you approach your videos, thoroughly and with concrete facts and arguments. Thanks again!!

[@kevins8575]

Too many variables for me to calculate, but I'm sticking to the belief that the lens makes more difference than the camera.

[@johndowie8916]

I agree.

[@denisgeorge9287]

The 3rd part is us. The most important part, hopefully

[@henrykg]

This is a myth from analog photography times, when the body had almost no impact on quality. In our digital world the sensor size and type matters.

[@jwebcoding7289]

@@henrykg It does matter, just not as much as the lense. A $5,000 camera with an amazing sensor is useless if the lense is a piece of junk.

[@henrykg]

@@jwebcoding7289 we have XXI century - all lenses are good. You pay for light, distorsion and AF speed, but resolution is always good enough.

[@Azdak]

I'd love to see a video on overcoming imposter syndrome and being accepting of your photos, especially when you view the raw unedited versions ie how to not dismiss your photos as bad

[@ItsAMbutyoutubechangedmyname]

Yes please

[@sebbywakenshaw3395]

typically, i would go through them all and delete any out of focus or blurred ones. Then go through them again and get rid of any duplicates (and find the sharpest one) and that usually boils it down to 20-30 unique photos for me

[@robertlindgren8168]

One of the best compare on youtube!👍

[@davefarmer8775]

Many of us have to fit our hobby around normal family life. That means for many of us, we are in the best locations when on holiday, out for a walk with the family, in the middle of summer. I think the topic that could have the greatest impact is how to tackle amazing scenery in the middle of the day, with a bright blue sky. Golden hour and blue hour are great, but not everyone has that kind of freedom with other responsibilities taking priority.

[@karlchristoffer1275]

What a great and true comment, You are spot on!

[@scotskinner4350]

Future video idea: over coming chaos in a woodland scene.

[@LOSTTIMEBANDIT]

And we never saw Nigel again... LOL

[@leannebausman285]

The basics of astro photography! How to set up your shot to compliment the milky-way or the moon with a beautiful landscape.

[@bluemarf1]

Many thanks for this video Nigel. You have confirmed that I was right to go for the Z5 when I was looking for my first full frame camera. More megapixels would have been nice but I couldn't justify the extra cost just for that. The higher burst rates and better video of the Z6 and Z7 weren't a consideration for me so I believe I made the right choice.

[@jamie555red]

A Very interesting video, mainly as I own Z5! My idea for a future video is you, travelling down to East Anglia where the land is very flat, no mountains or rolling hills to be seen and seeing what images you can capture!

[@buskman3286]

It wasn't long ago that the question was "is 6MP enough?" Then was 12 enough, then was 16 enough, then 20, then 24. In each case someone proved each one of them was 'enough'...IF you are looking at a photo and not a 400% pixel peep. I suppose it will never stop. In a couple of years the same question will come up about the current 40-50MB sensors...are they enough?

[@nieznajomy7269]

you are very much right😉😉😉

[@henrykg]

I like to look at my photos at 200% zoom (new hi res monitors have so small pixels that 100% is not enough) - how else you can see all details. Looking at whole pic from a distance? Photos are not abstract art ;-)

[@40hup]

This is actually not easy to answer (and will be long…), but it is definitely not a linear development that is just about new sensors and electronics. First of all: Is 6 MP enough? This depends on the size of the print. It really is enough for prints up until DIN/A5 or even A4 (~about letter size) - I did travel Photobooks with a D40 (6MP) 15 Years ago, that still amaze me when I look at them today, how good the pictures are - sharp, detailed, contrasted, even in complicated gradients (Shadows, darker Parts in the evening, Night Sky, …). But if you go beyond that size (A2 (Poster), A1 (Big Poster)) , you would notice subtile but visible differences - if you get close up to the printed picture. But normally, with print size you increase your viewing distance for a normal viewing angle, and that extra detail would be lost, because your Retina has not the resolution to resolve it from that distance. 24 MP is just double the detail-resolution of 6MP - it makes minor differences in Details when you crop, but not in the same shots uncropped in average size prints. Using a 6MP with the right lenses and picture composition during taking the shots, beats doing post-shot software cropping and composing with 24MP for a lazy shooter. So, now about going from 24 MP to 48MP - does it bring the same little advantages, at least noticable when going up close? No, in most cases not. First it is only 50% more Resolution, you would need a cool 96MP to double again from 24MP (and it would then only be 4 times the 6MP Resolution), but now the trouble really starts: Your standard lenses get to the edge of their physical line resolution, so you need heavier, faster and much more expensive Lenses. You need the perfect still shot on a Tripod-Setup, or any movement in the camera or the scene would destroy the perfect detail sharpness you need to see any difference to 24MP or even 6MP. It is very hard to really do a 48MP shot that preserves all that theoretical extra resolution sharpness in real life shooting situations, especially handheld. All your 48MP pictures double in size to 24 MP or are even 8 times larger than 6MP RAWs. That means bigger, faster, expensive cards for storage are needed, bigger harddrives are needed, a bigger and faster PC is needed, better Monitor-Setup, and on and on and on it goes - much more trouble and money for less an less real live advantage. So - will we see „is it enough?“ discussions for 50MP, 200MP or even 800MP in „normal“ photography (aside from super pro, astro-science, and the like)? No, we won‘t. At least not to any benefit to real life photos and prints for normal photographers. It all has a technical (physical) Border, and an end in practical use to our biological limitations. All difficulties, problems and costs quadruple each time you double resolution. And as with any exponential function, the end comes pretty quick after a few steps. The same is true for 4k Video, 8k Video that is not meant for theater-viewings on 12m-Screens… 8k on your 100-inch big TV at home is nonsense, if you do not sit with your face only 2 feet away from the screen, to be able to see all the technically possible details. And who does that? And which film would show that? Out of focus bokeh is not better in 8k than in HD… and thats 90% of every film scene… This stuff will probably go one or two iterations farther than today, but not to any real benefit for buyers and viewers, but only for demonstrating technological „progress“ and keep the industry alive that needs justification for new product generations. More and more expense for less and less real benefit.

[@user-dp8rx3tm5w]

100/100!

[@WestCoastRacingLeague]

Thanks for this Nigel! This is a fantastic video thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@stuartsilverman3797]

Dr. Danson, this was, as usual, a wonderful video. The concept was great, the educational treatment perfect and your enthusiasm was inspiring. Thank you!

[@opotopo1]

IDEA - Nigel having a go at another genre of photo-ing, e.g. street, portraits, macro etc? Great video. Thanks Nigel.

[@Steve.Daugherty]

As for my video suggestion: I'd love to see one talking about how to identify good long lens compositions, specifically when you're missing any kind of strong foreground interest when zoomed in. Thanks so much for taking the time to make this comparison! I love this kind of stuff!

[@rakshitbehel3783]

Really appreciate the hardwork you put in producing your work and the information we receive is priceless!

[@Nico-bc4ir]

Great video, Nigel! I enjoyed particularly that you didn't just reviewed some gear, but still included your typical tutorial elements. Thank you!

[@PointBlankZA]

Ha! Just bought the Z5 and the 24-200mm for now and been just walking around handheld getting used to the camera... Got to admit, I'm impressed so far. Hardly an "entry level" camera imho ;) Great video Nigel, glad you did something real world with the Z5.

[@torngrasp]

Love this video. Would like to see a very similar comparison of the 24-200 mm against the 70-200 mm f/2.8 at the long end. Also with images printed large. Thanks for all the great content.

[@Bootstothemaximum]

A few months ago I used my D750 with a crop sensor lens for the range at an air show, and even with all that lost resolution, it still printed extremely well. I printed several 24x36 photos and it looked amazing. I just got a Z5 today and i already love this camera.

[@DONNYLAI95]

You're a great teacher Nigel... I really like your work and your videos... Good job man...

[@thedominasian]

I've heard before that the glass is more important than the body, and I think this is a good demonstration of that. The 24mp Z5 with the expensive lens took an absolutely spectacular shot of that lighthouse. Really neat comparison video!

[@davidmill7289]

Very interesting Nigel, especially for those of us who only print occasionally or up to A3 or A4. It would be good to have a video on filter usage - when best to use, how to use and which types. Thanks.

[@dimitrisskyhunter9827]

Fantastic video to watch on a saturday evening, Nigel. Thank you!

[@arttyree4504]

Nicely done again, Nigel. Well explained and informative. Thanks mate!

[@mvz]

I do a lot of remote wildlife photography with a micro four thirds kit. The results you can get if you know your gear's limits (and your own!) is always a bit surprising. Great comparison.

[@adamthomasphotography]

SHOOTING IN MIST! 🌁 As we move from summer and into autumn, I’d love to see some videos shooting in these stunning conditions.

[@danielangelov91]

Nigel, I'm your sub for a long time - somewhere in the first tens of thousand subs. I'm really happy to see that you continue to produce high quality content.

[@swirly_magnolia]

Thank you so much Nigel for all the energy and effort you put into your videos and this kind of thing really helps people starting out. I think it also gives people confidence with cameras that aren’t as expensive or classed as professional

[@MBSKanal]

I’d like a “behind the scene” video of how you make a video with camera settings, drones etc and how you edit it. What are the pitfalls you can reveal and hints you may want to give as a videographer about photography.

[@artbylukebennett]

Idea for a future video: I'd enjoy something along the lines of revisiting photos from the past, say maybe five or ten years ago and processing them again, or even re-taking and then processing them again, to reflect on how you have evolved as a photographer; what you would do differently, what you've held onto, what you cringe at now, etc.

[@wesley_b]

I think I remember him doing this.

[@shengyetang7220]

Thanks for the nice explaination of all the compsitions, really enjoy your images!

[@charlesnewsholme2808]

Really interesting and informative. Lovely images , atmospheric locations best wishes Nigel.

[@philcookeimages]

Hi Nigel, I would like to see a seascape video focusing on the difference between shooting incoming waves against outgoing waves. Thanks Phil

[@gregf5188]

Great video Nigel! Building on AC’s point regarding cropping, there is a 3rd reason many of us amateurs may need a high megapixel camera. Often, a lot of us travel to spectacular places with our families. When we see something photo-worthy, we only have a few seconds to formulate a composition, choose a lens/camera settings, and take the image. Most of the time, this leads to sub-optimal compositions. However, in post, I think it is possible to find good images hidden in a broader scene, and therefore, the need to crop. An idea for a future video would be to use the images you took in this video but add a 25% or 50% crop. It would be interesting to see how the images compare. The lower megapixel image would lose corner area softness. However, differences in center image quality should be more observable. Would be interesting to see how this plays out in a real-world, large print test.

[@FlyinRyanProductions406]

Congrats Ambassador Nigel! Very well deserved!

[@pattyhertogh9294]

Thanks for the honest comparison Nigel. I always enjoy your videos.

[@MartinFransson]

Nigel, that's a great video topic. I find people are hysterical regarding megapixels. The thing is there is one parameter that is almost never brought up: viewing distance! At home I have beautiful 75×50 cm prints from 8 Mp, at work a very nice looking 170×90 cm print from 20 Mp and the extreme case of a 6×2 meter print for a customer from 5 Mp!! What makes them work? Viewing distance! That 6x2 meter one is only viewed from quite far away and the scenery was without too many details, a seascape.

[@desgardner7169]

Glad you mentioned viewing distance, that is so important too!

[@Laudrengen]

It's brought up in literally every video and article on the subject :p

[@MartinFransson]

@@Laudrengen and still people on internet forums completely lose it if a new camera has only 20 or 24 Mp... 😉

[@claudianreyn4529]

24mp is 300dpi on a A3. If you also, crop is already cringe.

[@TheWooloomoolloo]

I just thought of some photos by Andreas Gursky in this context. What does Nigel think, was Gursky's Rhein II a photographic achievement on its own?

[@sjm81954]

Thank you so much for the interesting comparison, Nigel! It is an excellent study. I have the Z6, which has the slightly newer BSI sensor, and have felt that the 24mp is more than adequate for most needs. I do shoot mostly with Fujifilm X-H1 and X-T3 APS-C cameras, which are 24mp and 26mp respectively. With some of the better Fujifilm lenses, I have found them to be incredibly sharp, even at a pixel peeping level. I must admit, though, that I don't do much printing. With that in mind, I would be interested in seeing you do a similar comparison between one of the Nikon APS-C cameras, Z50 or Z fc and their full frame offerings. Thanks again!

[@RauriBarron]

Super interesting video and results! Thanks for making this, the time and effort shows! 😃 Lovely images, all wonderful. The B&W stood out to me, the inclusion of the people in the shot look great and I’m sure I could look at that print for a long time. Interesting results.

[@lukegoodloomis6750]

Great video. Thanks Nigel

[@nb7524]

Nigel, I really appreciate all of the time and effort you put into this video. As someone who shoots 24MP full frame with intermediate F4 glass, it was helpful to see the difference. I certainly expect the larger megapixel Z7 to show more detail, but I am pleased to see that the difference in an every day world scenario is not as significant as I thought. Your note that the difference in the increased megapixels translates into more detail, but not increased sharpness was helpful. I always thought the increased megapixels meant the image would also be more sharp. I also found the print out comparison interesting since I print fairly large images of my work (20 X 30 inches and 24 X 36 inches). Last, I was intrigued to hear about the photo shop resolution tip you gave, I look forward to trying it very soon. Thank you for this video!🙂

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Interesting video! Because I could write the check, when I upgraded from my D750/24-120, I went to the Z7ii/24-70 2.8. I’ve loved the results. But this reminds me again that less expensive can still be great if money is (not unreasonably) a constraint. My best photo of this summer was taken on an old D5300/28-200.

[@ianmorrison4040]

Wonderful comparison that really puts into perspective how powerful even entry level cameras are these days. An idea for the future - photos that you didn’t like, or ignored, when you first took them, but when you went back and revisited them years down the line your opinion had completely changed

[@tomaszbrodzic8381]

Priceless and helpful comparison for me. Thank you.

[@davek2559]

Great video Nigel, from a newbie who hasn’t printed any images yet. Idea for a future video: Understanding landscape light. I use apps to see the direction of the light, but I’m unclear on where to stand to capture the light on subjects, especially where hills and moorland is concerned.

[@petercollins7848]

Dave, this only comes from practice practice practice. Don’t rely too much on technology (apps), learn to ‘see’ the potential in a shot. Also there is too much hype about megapixels etc and ‘gear’. I have printed a 5 MP shot to A3 size and it looks amazing. Indeed a friend has blagged a copy off me and had it professionally framed! Just enjoy the photography and don’t get hung up on gear. Happy shooting!😀

[@RickBebbington]

You can tell a LOT of work has gone into this 👏🏻 Idea for future video: What's the biggest print you can make? Chop a photo up into, say 24 boxes. Print each box on A1 paper, then re-arrange on the floor and see how it comes out! Great excuse to get the drone out too 😊

[@Francisco.Rizzuti]

You have a good one here Nigel. And a winner for that print.

[@plantherain]

costly however a great creative idea for a timelapse video Nigel ! OR promotional advert @DJI #sponsorship

[@larshefte2403]

I'd love a video on how to get started with printing at home. Do's and don'ts on buying and what to think of. Thanks for your great work!

[@martinlawrence8427]

Very interesting video Nigel, and worth hanging around for the Lightroom upscaling conclusion!

[@gregsilver]

Thanks Nigel for this video - very interesting. One idea I would love to see would be a battle of the low res cameras (12MP - 20MP) upscaled in Photoshop using the Super Resolution. After seeing this video, I suspect there may be a less need for higher resolution cameras when you can upscale in post.

[@nickbrown9550]

my idea for future video would be industrial landscapes

[@KevinSmith-py9dj]

Hey Nigel, thank you for sharing your world ... it’s too easy for us to take for granted the amount of effort each video takes. I’m so appreciative. I’ve started land-photo less than a year ago and I’m excited for my first Autumn (and the arrival of your 2022 calendar). Cheers from NJ, USA! PS-Check out ‘Forest of Mononoke’ and others from Tokyo Lens guy.

[@xdwang55]

Really useful and beautiful video! Thanks so much!!!

[@wesley_b]

Really interesting, Nigel! I just picked up the Z6 as I'm looking to dabble a little in cinematography... I think a really cool video would be to entirely take yourself out of your comfort zone and try some street photography! Cheers from Vancouver, Canada.

[@markymark240682]

Hey Nigel, I’d love to see a video on aspect ratios and how they are suited for different subjects and ways of transforming the aesthetics of a picture. I notice that I can return to my favorite places and still find new compositions just because I restrict myself shooting square or 6:17. PS: Having a 2 m wide seascape picture on my wall that I shot with a 12 mp D700 looks great from a normal viewing distance. But I guess as photographers we all love coming closer than usual to prints and enjoy the details. So the more dpi we can get the better. Great video! Wonder what that ai based scaling would do to that D700 file.

[@steveacclaro740]

Thank you so much for making this video. It's really helped me make a decision as to which camera to buy!

[@clairebrooksphotography]

Thank you Nigel for your time on this - super interesting. Lovely to be “taken” to Llandwynn as I’ve not been back for a while. Love the vibe there. Love what you did with the composition in the B&W image. Not easy to shoot those dead trees. Deffo going to give Photoshop super resolution a go today, and top idea to share the links to newsletter subscribers as I did think, “kinda pointless watching this comparison on an iPhone!” But you explain everything so clearly anyway. Happy Sunday! Did you use the same paper type for all the prints?.

[@miljo2146]

New video idea: Planning a photography trip (using tools like google earth etc in a real world example). Kind of a step by step guide to the target image.

[@bensilverman3837]

Yes Thank you

[@longliveclassicmusic]

I love how the video has been up for less time than the length of the video, and there are still comments from 20+ minutes ago. It is astoundingly frustrating that people only look at videos like this as an opportunity to get on THEIR soapbox about the topic instead of watching the video itself.

[@kerry5586]

It might not be that: to maximise viewing I watch all videos at double speed. Occasionally I watch at a slower speed if I think it is something that I really need to concentrate on. My time is limited and I want as much input from photographers as possible.

[@longliveclassicmusic]

@@kerry5586 It may not be what I described for EVERYONE. But I can 100% guarantee you loads of people read a title and look at a cover image and go straight to the comments.

[@massimosquillace2131]

An interesting video Nigel - as always. I love the way you compose your woodland shots, wish I had such beautiful forests near where I live! Since I am a fan of the overall mood and tonality of your images - they look so relaxing and detailed at the same time - I'd really wish you produced a video about your post processing workflow.

[@galpiper9129]

Great video, a lot of work went into that one. Really interesting results.

[@martinhommel9967]

Thank you for the video. Just one small comment: I would not really call a 24 MP camera “low pixel”. In the real world most people cannot tell the difference between images taken with “entry level” and “pro level” cameras. You confirmed that the benefits arising from the more expensive equipment are marginal at best.

[@DECKARD263354BR]

Hi Nigel, that was a great comparison 👍 Thankyou, I have a Z7 with the 24-70m F4 lens and was wondering if it is worth upgrading to the 24-70 2.8s version ? Will the 2.8 version resolve more detail and sharpness ? As i find the F4 version soft above A2 prints. I shoot mainly Landscapes and Architecture and in the F8-F11 range and will be printing beyond A2 and crop out a lot. Thankyou:)

[@andrewhookerphotography4774]

Thanks Nigel. I have often wondered the same question, and I am pretty sure you have answered it for me . I have a 20.2mp camera and often take multiple shots of a scene (as long as the wind is not blowing) and then join them as a pano and crop to what I want. I have found this gives me more data to play with. So while nothing beats a big mp count and good glass, there are ways around it, as you have shown. Thanks for sharing. Nice images as well.

[@jeromelescouzeres3701]

So much work and effort. Thank you very much sir!

[@Jake-vt4ow]

I'd like to see a "Pebbles Challenge," where each of your final images has to have a good shot of Pebbles in it. Location is your choice.😍

[@kerry5586]

Idea for another video: as lockdown is highly likely to be happening again, can you do a video on finding photos inspiration in a local small patch of woodland/park? Thank you.

[@petercollins7848]

Kerry I don’t think there are going to be any more lockdowns. Nigel has tons of videos in his back catalogue to help you find inspiration. Just ‘getting out there’ is the main thing. Best wishes taking your shots. 😊

[@kerry5586]

@@petercollins7848 If I had a million pounds in the bank I would quite happily bet it on there being more lockdowns, though I applaud your optimism.

[@AndrewRobins]

Nice idea, we still have two more months of lockdown in Melbourne.

[@MrJueKa]

that's basically quite simple, keep your eyes open, look for unusual details and change your perspective, that was all true long before "corona", you don't need video tutorials for that

[@foxyang7634]

Thanks a lot sir, I really enjoyed watching your printing series. It helps me to avoid those over advertised things.

[@markledbury3666]

Excellent video Nigel! I appreciated all the tips and tricks that you mentioned along the way as well as the main topic. Thank you! For a future topic, I would like to see a comparison of several current photo printers. I’m looking for one that will do a great job of printing moderately sized prints without ‘breaking the bank’. Thanks!

[@willtynan4530]

Brilliant video as usual Nigel! Can’t wait to tune in next week! I just want to say thank you, I’m quite new to the world of landscape photography and you’ve really helped me a lot with everything from composition to Lightroom. So thank you I really appreciate what you do! As for video ideas, what sort of process do you go through to find completely new locations? It’s something I definitely struggle with having spent hours looking on a map to pick out a landscape only to then turn up and be disappointed. It would be interesting to know your thoughts?

[@sueshyne5624]

I agree with Will. Love your videos and as I am new to this I would love to know your process of finding locations. Working a full time job during the week and only have the weekends makes it a little challenging time wise. Thanks for all you do. You are amazing.

[@colinriggs4316]

Another interesting video, and as always cracking images. Watching it got me thinking how interesting it would be to see a similar unbiased, real world comparison between APSC and full frame. I have always used an APSC camera and have some fantastic lenses to go with it - I know it is not the camera that is the limiting factor in my photography. And yet I still find my self questioning myself whether to invest further into other APSC lenses that I would like (a telephoto and a wide angle) or whether I should just bit the bullet and go full frame. As it stands I and easily see and enjoy the weight and and cost benefits of APSC but don’t really know what the real world benefits of going full frame would be. The internet is far too full of strong opinions on the topic.

[@petercollins7848]

Colin, if you are getting cracking images, why are you worrying about ‘gear’? I have printed photos from a 5 MP bridge camera to A3 size and it looks fantastic. It is all about viewing distance. We don’t watch TV with our noses pressed against the screen do we? Well the cat might, if there is any fish in the picture! Happy shooting! 😀

[@kevinjones6328]

If the keyboard warriors were really as interested as they claim about the extra benefits of full frame over apsc and how much bigger and better the pixel sites are surely they’d all be running and gunning with a medium format Fuji GFX or the Hasselblad X1D? Bigger sensor, at least 50 meg, and top quality glass. I’ve done the apsc with a Nikon D200, then jumped to full frame with the D700 because back then high ISO and apsc didn’t really work and now I’ve gone full circle back to apsc with Fuji. The image quality at iso 3200 is more than good enough to shoot a wedding hand held in a church and light years away from the D700. The biggest difference is the quality of your lens. I had a Sigma 24-70 2.8 and the Nikon 24-70 2.8 and you could see the difference in prints from both lenses, the Nikon resolved far more detail than the Sigma, but then it cost twice as much. Carrying a full frame camera with a battery pack and fast lens all day shooting a wedding is crippling, that’s why I went mirrorless. There are pros and cons to each system but it’s not surprising to find the gear snobs are often the ones who’s egos far outstrip their talents.

[@black-and-light]

Hi Nigel! I'm glad you made this video. It shows that we should just think more about the composition. These cameras are BOTH so perfect, so invest in a good lens. A joy to see. Thank you so much.

[@marilyngiannuzzi9867]

Loved this video,thank u for sharing it with us!

[@alanevans9246]

Brilliant content, particularly for me as I am at the decision point of a new camera and lens. Lost my others to an accident, total loss…😢. Any wise, I have really been struggling between resolution as well as lens quality. I have to admit, you have made that struggle a little more difficult for me…🙃. I had my self convinced that 45 MP was the choice based on the philosophy that the tool does matter, while recognizing that 98+% of the shot is down to the photographer and composition! But, if I can get that part right, (big question marks here…😂); I then want to make sure there is nothing technically hindering the photography. So, here are my take always from this: 1). Lens quality plays a bigger part of the final output than many realize…. Therefore, maybe the choice is to spend more money on the lens and give up some MP’s…. 2). 24MP is sufficient for larger prints recognizing that the 99+% of people viewing the photography are not going to be pixel pepping anyway…. 3). Today’s software offers lower MP users some great tools that most probably do not even know are there, I did not…. So, we need to consider all the tools available when making this important decision of what camera system to purchase and then how to process them… I am a Nikon guy myself, so I have some choices available…🙂! Finally, here’s an idea for a later video that I know would help me and I presume many others…. What other tools are available to photographers in Lightroom and Photoshop that the average user may not be aware of? Maybe this is a collaboration with Mads as I know he is a power user of Photoshop…No offense here Nigel, as I believe you are quite skilled here as well…. Just might be interesting to here both your thoughts…. What ever you decide, I am sure it will be great and very useful. Thanks again for a great presentation and subject to consider…

[@DobromirManchev]

This summer, before leaving (finally) on a vacation we found a great deal for the Z5 with the 24-70 f/4 lens included for around 1200 euros. It was about time to upgrade my old D7000, so after a bit of hesitation we decided to go for it, since the deal is rare and usually just the body costs more than that. So far i find the camera very nice. I know Nikon is getting all the shit from basically every "pro" on YT, but i think they are still good and the Z5 is a great option for an amateur like me. This video reassures me of the choice to go for it! I do feel bad costing my family 1200 euros for a hobby, but it seems like we got a very good quality for the money. Hope 3rd party lenses come out soon for the Z system so i can get a native zoom. I currently have my old 70-200 Tamron with an FTZ, but honestly it doesn't work perfectly.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

Most of the "pros" on KZbin are professional KZbinrs and do photography on the side. You can really tell the difference with someone like ND or Steve Perry, who make amazing photos and also have a focus on in-person instruction. The 24-70 f/4 just looks amazing. It will definitely be in the cart the second I go mirrorless. Your path (D7000 --> Z5) is very similar to what I'll be going through (D7500 --> maybe Z6III). (I'd get the Z6-line because I also like to do wildlife and some shooting that is photojournalism-style and requires some speed, like certain street photography situations.)

[@DobromirManchev]

@@gyozakeynsianism It's all about budget, when you are a pro-summer :) I got the Z5 cause the 1200 offer with a 24-70f/4 lens was honestly unbeatable, and even today you can't find that. Otherwise i would have waited and gotten a Z62 or something else... Hope you find a decent offer this blackfriday! :)

[@gyozakeynsianism]

@@DobromirManchev Exactly! That's why I'm sticking with my D7500 for now. No more purchases this year (my last was the exemplary AF-S 85mm G) even though I'm itching for FF dynamic range and noise levels! Best of luck to you too and congrats on your excellent purchase.

[@janwilson9485]

A really interesting vlog - glad you did it and enviavle photos as usual - thanks

[@kevinburke6446]

Excellent! Time well spent. Glass can make a difference over MPs.

[@cctc788]

Let's be honest, 24mp is more than enough for 99% of the user, I will even go ahead and say 18mp is plenty. Many people's justification for getting a 40+mp camera is so they can crop, if you need that much resolution to crop, either you have the wrong lens or you have no idea how to compose and don't know what you want when you are shooting at the time.

[@OnlyCitrus]

I do like more pixels in the street. When I go out with only one prime, it's nice to have some leg room to crop the image later.

[@maze400]

The "entry level" (such a misleading term) is better than cameras of just a few years ago. I have a D850 and a Z5 and aside from drastic cropping, both cameras are more than capable. I still think 24MP is a sweet spot...

[@arvindpillai6693]

i was just curious and checked the price for the above mentioned D850....how is that entry level?? thats like 2 lakhs in india....almost 4 times what we call an entry level here...its probably that cameras in india are a lot costlier

[@maze400]

@@arvindpillai6693 My point (might not have been clear) was that the Z5 (entry level) produces images that can hold it's own against anything, including the D850.

[@chrisbartlett8146]

See Canons latest high end mirrorless camera the R3 using only 24.1 MP and allowing it to achieve 30 frames per sec.

[@maze400]

@@chrisbartlett8146 I think Canon is a great system, but I have never liked the way they feel. This goes back to my first holding (dating myself) the A1.

[@chrisbartlett8146]

@@maze400 I bought my first camera, a kodak retina 2nd hand 60 years ago and have quite a few since but weight is now a big consideration for me. I use a Canon M5 with EF lenses which is an APS-c camera and 24 mp The reason I mentioned Canon is because their latest Camera which is supposed to compete with other brands and which they are releasing as their top mirrorless camera (almost double the price of their next camera down and 45 mp) has been reduced to 24 mp. This was to enable them to achieve 30 Frames per second so is aimed at wildlife photographers who usually have to severely crop their photo particularly of birds so must consider the resolution is as good as is required for extremely good detail. I have tried other cameras but prefer the feel and size of the camera I have got so understand what you are saying about feel.

[@MPB35S]

Nigel- Great video, one of your best. It dealt with several types of shooting environments and addressed the important balance between megapixels and lens quality. Really useful for me as a micro four thirds shooter and encourages me to continue with my path of sticking to pro grade lenses. Love your Channel from far away in Australia.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

Very nice video. I can listen to you talk about photography for hours and I'd learn so much. Professional standards and hobbyist standards aren't the same, but the Z5 with the kit lens really is an amazing deal for us hobbyists and most of us would be very happy with those results. That upscaled shot was a shocker. Off topic: your American touristy shirts are on point!

[@richardowen4558]

I quit worrying about how big one can enlarge images when a client took a 4.1MP image from a Nikon D2H, blew the middle half of it up to roughly SIX FEET BY 12 FEET and used it on a billboard. Granted it was not a shot from a kit lens (a Tokina ATX Pro 80-200mm f2.8 zoom) but megapixels have meant little to me ever since those days.

[@alfredv9902]

Viewing distance matters, but like large format film.....it is not just resolution, but the immense color saturation you get withi bigger film (or more MP), and this you notice at any distance. Whatever distance you view at (make it a constant for both cameras), the higher MP camera (or larger film format) always wins. Now add great glass, and you have a winning combo. Women are right, size matters.

[@nickreid5939]

@@alfredv9902 Everything you said ..except the last part...its how you use it..🙃

[@richardowen4558]

@@alfredv9902 I understand what you are saying here but, for me, it is more about content. While looking at a medium format image vs 35mm you will see the differences you mention if viewed at the same distance, you will always see differences in resolution and color saturation. But content can win over resolution and saturation for me. As someone who is mainly a black&white documentary photographer, I can live without the need for extras cited in your comment. Thanks for responding though. I loved your thoughts.

[@alfredv9902]

@@nickreid5939 Yeah, they tell me that too.

[@sjSilvain]

I‘d love you to have a look at alternatives to Lightroom and Photoshop for RAW development and image processing. Like Affinity Photo, Luminar, DxO Photolab etc. I know this would be really extensive and expensive but it would be awesome to have a professional photographer compare multiple tools, not only Lightroom vs something

[@martharetallick204]

Affinity user here. Very happy with it.

[@davidfrost3770]

Another Afinity user here learning how to use it.

[@AntonisKorakakis]

I always press the thumbs up before watching any Nigel's video. I know it won't disappoint - and indeed it never does.

[@wernerkotzee352]

Thank you Nigel, it surely helped me to decide my new camera.

[@weisserth]

Print size depends on subject matter and viewing distance to a large extend. You will have seen iPhone commercials printed as massively large billboards with photos shot on iPhones from 8MP files. Did you ever think these billboards looked horrible? Probably not, because you looked at them from a reasonable viewing distance. I make large prints from 10MP and 12MP files I shot more than ten years ago. How? I use the "Enhance" and "Super Resolution" feature in Lightroom and if required Topaz Sharpen. My subject matter is mostly street photography - dynamic shots, sometimes with motion blur. They upscale well. They print well to much larger than you would think they should. In my opinion, you only need more than 24MP if you excessively crop into your shots, losing massive amounts of resolution. Or if you shoot subject matter where every tiny bit of detail across the frame REALLY matters - like macro shots, wildlife detail shots. Maybe some landscapes with massive amount of fine detail you need to preserve for viewers to step up close to a print where they'll look at a particular detail, rather than the whole print.

[@MartinFransson]

Very good points, I just commented about the same thing. Viewing distance is a real thing 🙂

[@davidpearson3304]

Someone always makes the “you only need x number of pixels” or “nobody need more than x number of pixels” in pretty much every video comparing cameras of different pixels.

[@brucefulton]

@@davidpearson3304 Usually in response to videos that claim, "you need at least x number of pixels..."

[@weisserth]

@@MartinFransson I actually just had a 12 megapixels file shot on a 11 years old Micro Four Thirds camera, at ISO 400 with a 60 years old manual focus lens printed at 30 by 40 inches and the print looks absolutely stunning. You'll have to move in to the image at a feet to notice lack of fine detail. With a print that large, that's basically irrelevant. Don't obsess about print size and megapixels. Basically ANY advanced camera of the past 10 years can produce prints at 30 by 40 inches if you know how to create a great image in camera of the motive you're shooting.

[@KNURKonesur]

Of course it's good enough. It's about the frame, the skill and the editing. It's not that far back into past when we only had 12Mpix cameras and 24Mpix was only for super pro top level cameras... Let's not be ridiculous.

[@petercollins7848]

Absolutely! Also the false description of certain cameras being so-called ‘full frame’ is just a marketing ploy to get people to spend money they don’t need to! What does ‘full frame’ mean? It is only a description of a camera that has a sensor the size of the old 35mm film cameras. But there is no comparison in reality. Modern digital cameras, in the hands of a non-professional are more than capable of taking equal or even better photos than the old film ones. (Comparison between old lab produced film prints, and the capability of almost anyone at home to produce large and amazing prints).

[@KNURKonesur]

@@petercollins7848 great point about "full frame". Cause what if I shoot medium format most of my life (which I do) and "full frame" to me is a huge crop from my 6x7cm film negatives? I'm not even gonna start with large format :D

[@claudianreyn4529]

If you want to live in the past is OK. But don't confuse clarity with resolution. You need sharp lenses in order to take advantage of a big res. He's using a zoom lense, not quite the sharpest, which makes the whole demonstration quite pointless.

[@petercollins7848]

@@claudianreyn4529 But obviously not pointless, as we saw various differences/ or not which helped us consider whether we need to go to a high MP. And as most non-professionals will be using moderate level zooms the video was very helpful.

[@peterdavis4816]

Just found this video in my Z5 research. Without a doubt the most informative and comprehensive comparison of not only premium vs entry camera bodies, but kit vs pro lenses (and a mix of both). Excellent work. Thanks Nigel. Also nice to hear it called a 'zed 5" not a 'zee 5'.

[@darcybrown7369]

thanks for this Nigel - very interesting to see the differences or not as it may be

[@listonheinz9103]

20MP with my tiny m4/3 Olympus is good enough for me. My old and tired computer can handle those file sizes in LR just fine… 😀👍

[@MikePageKaltenberg]

m43 for the win! Love my Oly.

[@ReclusiveEagle]

Well the thing about technology is "Good enough" is not equal to equivalent. Yes a Nikon D1 was the standard in the 2000s. And with 5MP it will make prints that are "Good enough" to be used in a gallery. The same with APS-C cameras today. However compared to work using a Z7 or an A1/R3, you aren't playing the same game. And any work done on a Z7/A1/R3 is "Good enough" compared to a GFX100/Phase One XF/Hasselblad H6D-400C but not anywhere near equivalent. There is a reason Movies are shot on either Film or Cine cameras. Yes Full frame Mirrorless/DSLRs are "Good enough" to make a movie out of so why aren't they being used? Because "Good enough" is not good enough when you are competing with people who have the best. The quality of work is constantly getting higher. As it does in every industry. What people get wrong is although you might have gotten by with a 10MP full frame camera in 2008, you were competing with other photographers who had 10MP full frame cameras in 2008. IE the same or equivalent hardware. Which is so different from today. In 1931 an Alfa Romeo 8C won Le Mans with 140 bhp. In 2021 a Toyota GR010 won with a combined horse power of 939 hp. Yes they both competed in the same race and were the best at the time but comparatively they aren't even in the same league. Its the same for Photography and every single other industry. Entry level - "professional" is not an artificial barrier. Its a physical one.

[@TrevorEMayo]

99% of the folks buying photo equipment wouldn't have noticed if he had used an iPhone - hence the precipitous and continuing drop in traditional camera sales.

[@borderlands6606]

Landscape photography is not a forensic exercise in data gathering, it's the evocation of a mood in two dimensions. One of my favourite landscape shots was taken on a 16mp aps-c camera and kit lens I keep to hand in the car. Driving over bleak moorland in hill fog and rain, the sky cleared just long enough to pull over and grab a single image, before the weather closed in for the day. In that moment a shaft of golden light illuminated a stone path over the hills, while the rest of the landscape was in semi-darkness and swirling mist. A second before or after, and no amount of megapixels or lens sharpness would have made a better image. If technology makes a photograph objectively "better", it must mean old tech makes in worse. Which is clearly untrue.

[@simewn]

This is one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen on KZbin. Explaining the reasoning behind the amazing photographs you take on location, with the same composition as the photo itself creates an illusion in my mind of extra dimensionality. Hard to explain, but I enjoy it, haha.

[@danr6255]

As always brilliant video Nigel, Keep up your good work so inspiring :)

[@cpplinford]

Thank you! This is exactly what I needed!

[@shereesweeney]

I thoroughly enjoy your videos and quality content! Thanks so much for all your effort. I just picked up your comment about super resolution, found it easily on photoshop. Handy little tip! Appreciated 🙌🌟

[@Dario_R_3]

You are doing a great job, thank you so much for your videos!

[@relaxingnaturewalks]

Love the video and the beautiful scenery!

[@bayerlemerz]

Super Video thanks for making it!

[@analogoutdoors]

Henry Turner basically answered this question a long time ago. Great video, Nigel. Always a pleasure.

[@tjcuneo]

Thanks for the great video and taking all the time to produce it. I have had the same question but not the equipment to use for testing and this video has help me as I consider moving from Nikon SLR to mirrorless.

[@SuperRockinRobert]

Excellent Nigel. A video idea may be a time lapse of you in your office as you look over all the photos you've taken, picking the ones you like, making adjustments, printing out (if you do that as part of your system), rechecking and making final adjustments and with a generalized talk over of what really happens in a day at the office.