SLR for Poster size prints?

I know the "which SLR" question has been beaten up, but I can't find any info on large prints. The idea is every other month to put up a new poster size pic of my daughter as she grows up. She will be 15 mo. when I get back from deployment. Most of the pics taken will be inside the house although some outside. Almost all will be of family, with the occasional landscape on cross country trips. I've been looking at the XTi or the D80, but leaning towards the XTi. Will this work? Also need one good lens to carry aroung, more will follow. I get good pics with my S2IS, but I need more megapixels and I'm looking forward to learning more about photography with a SLR. Thanks for the input.

An XTi will work just fine. When you start printing poster size, you don't need to have super resolution. Large prints are viewed from a distance...go for it!

Hi,

I print 13 x 19 prints on an Epson R1800 made with my 30D and my 17-55MM EF-S IS with outstanding results. There is no pixelation or distortion at all. The 30D has 8.2 megapixels.

^Raw or non? Doesn't matter, just figured it'd help the guy.

I have a 20x30 shot on JPEG of an 8mp camera (therfore it's roughly a 4mp pic) and it's sweet! NO pixelation plus like the Woolbur said, large prints are put high and viewed at a distance so no worries. Just don't crank the ISO up too high.

Hehehe, I have a 20x30 from a 4mp P&S and it looks pretty darn good, from a distance (a few feet back) it looks perfect.

Larger prints should work great from any SLR camera.

Great thanks for the input. I think I'll Like the XTi. Now any idea on a lens? Like I said mainly for shots of the kid. I am a Marine so nothing real expensive, but I dont want something real cheap either. I'm guessing around $300 for the lens.

My boss has printed billboards with his 20D

4830Deuce wrote in post #3196104
My boss has printed billboards with his 20D

And for a comparison, the XTi has 2 more megapixels than a 20D. Albeit on the same size sensor.

Mark

_aravena wrote in post #3196011
^Raw or non? Doesn't matter, just figured it'd help the guy.

I have a 20x30 shot on JPEG of an 8mp camera (therfore it's roughly a 4mp pic) and it's sweet! NO pixelation plus like the Woolbur said, large prints are put high and viewed at a distance so no worries. Just don't crank the ISO up too high.

JPEG

print size past 8x10 is always possible with any slr or even p&s (though for p&s i'de suggest no higher than iso100 unless it's a new one/fuji f30/f31). i have an iso400 print of a 80% crop from an xt (8mp) and it looks great at 20x30 when past 2 feet away. the key is in the processing. the less pixelation and chroma noise, the larger you can print and feel confident about.. after all, you choose what looks good... i'de suggest an xt+500bucks in lenses over an xti and 300 in lenses.. you'll see why if you look at the lenses section

I use my 20D 8mp images and send to costco for 9.99 16*20 AND 20*30 prints and they come out awesome!

Well in my office right now (because I'm always working hard and NEVER reading POTN...) <<ahem>>

Anyways, on my walls are a couple A2 size prints (17x22" i think) that I got out of my 30D with no issues. Printed them on my Epson 3800. No pixelation at all that I can see.

Hi drunkjoho,

The slr comes with a kit lens. Its good enough for shots of your kid around the house.

You could put the $300 into buying yourself a 430ex.

-Sam

I did a 20x30 off of my Digital Rebel (6.3mp). It's hanging in my room and looks great, even close up.

The good old 50mm f/1.4 lens will take some beating or the 85mm f/1.8, both give you low light ability and good out of focus backgrounds...