645 BLOG - LIFE WITH A PHASE ONE P25
Entry #8: Comparing the Phase One P25 files to a Canon 5D - Part III
MEDIUM FORMAT VERSUS CANON 5D PART III
Yesterday I borrowed a Canon 1Ds Mark II for a 3-way test: Canon 5D vs Canon 1Ds Mark II vs Phase P25. Looking at the previous Canon 5D and Phase One P25 images, it is a difficult to tell if the P25 images look better because the files are fundamentally better, or if the difference is the overwhelming parade of added pixels in the P25 images. After looking at hundreds of P25 and 5D images, there are some trends:
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•The P25 images have more snap, pop, crispness - pick whatever word suits your tastes. This is very clear on product shots, but with landscapes the differences are not as profound. In some case the 5D images looked more pleasing when the images are scaled to the same size. The 100% P25 crop will always overpower the 100% 5D crop based upon the volume of detail.
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•The colors on the 5D (and 1Ds Mark II) look “mushy” where as the P25 images have added clarity and definition. A Canon image can be sharpened such that the edges and details look sharp, but the color information looks smudged, blurred, smeared, etc.
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•Dynamic range belongs to the P25; however, the added dynamic range lives in the shadows. Shadows are very clean and the levels can boosted be in post processing with little or no noise penalty. On the flip side the P25 will blow highlight (such as clouds), just as easily on a dSLR. With the P25 the exposure can be reduced slightly to hold the highlights, then the images rebalanced in post processing to bring the mid & dark tones. In the end the P25 will capture more dynamic range, but you have to post process the image to realize the benefits. The 1Ds2 and 5D images can be managed in the same way, but the there will be more shadow noise.
Trying to figure out how much of the “wow factor” is due to pixel count vs file quality is a very difficult to answer. To level the playing field I borrowed a Canon 1Ds Mark II. The P25 still has a megapixel advantage, but the 1Ds Mark II narrows the gap. The 1Ds Mark II also has ~2/3 to 1 stop more dynamic range compared to the 5D, so the dynamic range comparisons should be more interesting between the 1Ds2 and P25. I need to sell a Canon 24-105L IS, so it was the first subject. The goal in these images is to normalize the field of view. The tripod and subject did not move. The Canon 50mm L F1.0 was used for the 1Ds2 and 5D; the Mamiya 80mm F2.8 AF with a 12mm extension tube for the AFDII/P25 set-up. The Mamiya needed the 12mm tube to reduce the minimum focus distance.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Canon 5D & 50mm L F1.0 @ F8 ISO 100
Canon 1Ds2 & 50mm L F1.0 @ F8 ISO 100
The 1Ds Mark II sits higher due to the built-in vertical grip, so its perspective is slightly different. Overall this test is still flawed because the P25 maintains a pixel count advantage; a 1Ds3 would further close that gap. I also think the Mamiya 80mm lens is a sharper lens than the Canon 50mm L F1. For a direct pixel to pixel comparison, the same lens should be used for all three images with no change in subject or tripod placement. The only lens I have available for such a test is a Mamiya 200mm f2.8 APO.
UPDATE
Looking at the blog I realized how blah, blah, blah it has been lately - 4 entries of gear testing. Boring. Some real images would spice things up, but it is impossible to capturing identical images with two totally different systems. Taking a step back from the pluses, minuses and mundane testing, I see a different perspective. The best system is the one which leads to taking the best pictures. There are two key words - "System" and “Best”.
The Mamiya 645 AFD II & Phase One P25 cost around $13-$15k. The same budget buys a 1Ds3 and nice lenses. Which SYSTEM would net the most useful images? A dSLR system can go more places more easily. Factor in the fast lenses and high ISO capabilities, and dSLR addresses a wider range of conditions. The question is simple - would you rather have a digital back or an array of lenses? Which will help you net the pictures you want?
“Best” is very important - what does “best” mean to you? Does it mean the highest file quality, or does it mean composition and light? A lousy file can still be a great picture. This is the trap I have fallen into... Over the past several years I’ve had a picture here and there which I really liked. The next thought was, “if this file were a bit better...” In the search for higher file quality, many of the features needed (for me) to get the picture were compromised for the sake of getting a bigger, more expensive sensor.
The P25 files have redefined my benchmark for what a high quality file should look like. The Canon 5D and Canon 1Ds Mark II do not compare. When downsized and processed the playing field levels a bit; however, when viewing the RAW files the differences are clear. On the hand seeing the P25 images at 100% realizing they are out of focus is frustrating; what could have been a nice shot ends up being a deleted file.
I’ll probably continue to compare the systems for awhile because there are a couple other things I need to prove to myself. It’s safe to assume there will be no more A/B shots. This is getting way too boring...
