Canon 5d vs 30d for landscape photography with large prints 11*14 or bigger

Friends:
I need some first hand opinions on the 5D full frame vs 30D cropped sensor. I like to do landscape photography and enlarge by 11*14 or bigger. To the critical eye will I be satisfied with the 30D or 40D vs the 5D. In theory the 5D should be better especially with low lighting shots. Is the 5D worth the extra money in this situation? People who have shot with these cameras and enlarged them where noise and resolution become more apparent at big print sizes are most welcome to comment.

THank you in advance

AV

No question - 5D for sure.

5D isn't just all about low light. Higher resolution as well as full frame mean wider and higher quality images.

5D = Full Frame...that's my final answer.

AVIgh wrote in post #4191491
Friends:
I need some first hand opinions on the 5D full frame vs 30D cropped sensor. I like to do landscape photography and enlarge by 11*14 or bigger. To the critical eye will I be satisfied with the 30D or 40D vs the 5D. In theory the 5D should be better especially with low lighting shots. Is the 5D worth the extra money in this situation? People who have shot with these cameras and enlarged them where noise and resolution become more apparent at big print sizes are most welcome to comment.

THank you in advance

AV

Hi AV,

I print at 12"x18" and 12"x16" (with some cropping) and am happy with pictures from my 30D but you need to be careful about how much to crop. The 5D gives more cropping latitude, which can be very useful. Also, I see less noise with the 5D, especially in the shadows at higher ISOs. This varies, but still might be a consideration.

Hope this helps,

Tony

At the size of print you want the 40D will hold up very well against the 5D. It becomes a matter of is the extra expense warranted -- no.

If price is not a concern then the larger format camera (5D) is superior for that purpose. That doesn't mean it will always produce noticeably better images, but having a sensor that gathers 2 1/2 times as much light is always an advantage when you're comparing bodies of similar technology.

AVIgh,
Welcome to the forum
I have a 5D and a 40D and honestly I and others can't tell the difference between photos taken with 5D or 40D on 13" x 19" or 11" x 14" prints.
Not sure about the 30D as I don't have one

If you're careful in upsizing, and take the viewing distance into consideration, you can get quite respectable 11x14 prints with a 20D. I've pushed my D60, and even smaller P&S cameras, beyond 8x10 with decent results. Of course, my first choice is the 5D.

I have done 13 X 19's without any problems with my 10D...

You'll always be second guessing your decision if you don't get the 5D. For landscapes, that's the one.

JohnB
Your comments are most interesting. As you have used both cameras,what situations do you find the 5D to be superior?
AV

While I just bought my 5D, I have printed several 16 x 24 with my 300D (D-Reb).

5D[Full Stop]

Landscape photography involves more than just the print quality... it also involves going WIDE among other things. Your glass collection will give you more wide latitude on a 5D than it will on a crop.

More latitude = more freedom to compose. THAT is a beautiful thing.

5D no question

I made some GREAT 18 by 24 prints from my SD600 from my trip to Munich in the spring...