Resolution the Same? 1DIV vs. 1DsIII

In terms of effective resolution at the same distance from the subject, are the 1DIV and 1DSIII virtually identical?

That is, since the 1DIV is 16MP and a 1.3 crop, wouldn't that amount to almost exactly the same number of pixels on a bird at 100 feet as the 21Mp of the 1DsIII?

I'm not sure I'm thinking about it the right way, but it seems that a 1.3x crop of 21MP is almost exactly 16MP (21/1.3=16). Looking at it the other way around, to extend the 16MP crop to full frame would result in almost exactly 21MP (16 x 1.3 = 21).

Is this analysis materially flawed?

The flaw is that the pixels cover an area, not a linear side. So you need to square the difference in sensor size to estimate the equivalent pixel density.

'1.3X' is a rounded value, but what the heck, 1.3 x 1.3 = 1.7 (roughly). So a FF camera would need about 27 MP to have the same pixel density as a 16MP 1.3X sensor.

The 21MP of the 1Ds Mark III (and 5D2) is the same density as 12.3MP on 1.3X and 8.2MP on 1.6X formats.

An alternative way to think about is in terms of the pixel size....

The smaller the pixels the more pixels will be on your subject. In this case, the 1D4 has pixels that are 5.7 microns (on a side) while the 1Ds3 has pixels that are 6.4 microns.

The ratio of pixels on target is thus 1D4:1Ds3 = (6.4/5.7)^2 = 1.26 - so that the 1D4 puts 26% more pixels on the subject.

If you consider the horizontal resolution......

The 1DIV has 4896 pixels across. The sensor is 27.9mm wide.. If you divide the pixels by the mm, then you get a sensor that produces 175.4 pixels per mm.

The 1DsIII has 5616 pixels across. The sensor is 36mm wide. If you divide the pixels by the mm, then you get a sensor that produces 202.1 pixels per mm.

So if the width of the focused image of the subject you photograph covers 10mm of the sensor, then:

The 1Ds111 image will be 10 X 202.1 = 2021 pixels across.

The 1DIV image will be 10 X 175.4 = 1754 pixels across.

The 1DsIII will have a slight advantage in horizontal resolution. (Roughly 15%).

All this techno babble is great, but which gives the better looking photographs?

^ Nikon... Bwahahhahaahhaa...

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #13301715
All this techno babble is great, but which gives the better looking photographs?

The 1D X will rule.

airbutchie wrote in post #13301759
^ Nikon... Bwahahhahaahhaa...

Haha!

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #13301715
All this techno babble is great, but which gives the better looking photographs?

Since when is simple arithmetic "techno babble"?

Jim_T wrote in post #13301577
If you consider the horizontal resolution......

The 1DIV has 4896 pixels across. The sensor is 27.9mm wide.. If you divide the pixels by the mm, then you get a sensor that produces 175.4 pixels per mm.

The 1DsIII has 5616 pixels across. The sensor is 36mm wide. If you divide the pixels by the mm, then you get a sensor that produces 202.1 pixels per mm.

So if the width of the focused image of the subject you photograph covers 10mm of the sensor, then:

The 1Ds111 image will be 10 X 202.1 = 2021 pixels across.

The 1DIV image will be 10 X 175.4 = 1754 pixels across.

The 1DsIII will have a slight advantage in horizontal resolution. (Roughly 15%).

Hold your horses, your math on the 1Ds3 is wrong -- in fact, the 1Ds3 has a lower pixel density than the 1D4, so you need to rethink!

As to the math, 5616/36 = 156 pixels/mm...

AJSJones wrote in post #13301922
Since when is simple arithmetic "techno babble"?

Since it includes the terms, pixels across, sensor, resolution, horizontal resolution, etc...not common arithmetic terms where I come from.

Oh and Julian, I was asking which one takes the nicer looking photos between the 1Ds Mk III, and 1D Mk IV (in case I have to lower my expectations, and won't be able to afford the 1DX)

P.S. Julian...It's hard getting used to your new Avatar.

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #13302349
Since it includes the terms, pixels across, sensor, resolution, horizontal resolution, etc...not common arithmetic terms where I come from.

Oh and Julian, I was asking which one takes the nicer looking photos between the 1Ds Mk III, and 1D Mk IV (in case I have to lower my expectations, and won't be able to afford the 1DX)

P.S. Julian...It's hard getting used to your new Avatar.

Well, I haven't had much time with a 1D IV but, it is certainly a nice camera. The 1Ds III is very nice at making photos bcoz' you already know that from using it.

My avi was given to me by the avatar fairy.

Canonswhitelensesrule wrote in post #13301715
All this techno babble is great, but which gives the better looking photographs?

Simply stated ... 1DX

tonylong wrote in post #13301961
Hold your horses, your math on the 1Ds3 is wrong -- in fact, the 1Ds3 has a lower pixel density than the 1D4, so you need to rethink!

As to the math, 5616/36 = 156 pixels/mm...

OUCH.. It is wrong.. Heck.. And I even used a calculator! The same calculator also shows 156 pix/mm this morning. I guess I hit a wrong key last night. Thanks for pointing that out.

jdizzle wrote in post #13301852
The 1D X will rule.

Haha!

Three bodies for the landscape shooters under the sky,
Seven for the sports shooters in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie,
1D X to rule them all, 1D X to find them,
1D X to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

(with many apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien)

To tally the results, the answer as to which body has the superior resolution is:

1. They are identical
2. The 1DIV by 25%
3. The 1Ds by 15%
4. The 1DIV by 10% (correction of #3 above)
5. Neither (ie, 1DX)

Averaging those together and attributing "0"s to #s 1 and 5 above (which makes perfect sense), the answer is decisively: The 1DIV has an effective resolution 4% greater than that of the 1DsIII ((0+25-15+10+0)/5) = 4. Glad to have that cleared up.

In humor, jffielde