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Is it better to crop in camera or in post (on a D810)?

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glaucocastro

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So, I've been searching online for this answer and I just can't find the it. Everytime someone asks this question, the answer goes to using DX lenses on a FF body, and that's not what I'm looking for.

So, my question is mainly about IQ. I know all the benefits of croping the D810 sensor to DX format (faster fps, better focus coverage, etc). I'm not shooting sports or something that requires fast fps. All I need is extra reach and good IQ. That said, if I use a 24-70mm FF lens on my D810, should I crop the sensor to DX format in camera to have the extra reach or I can do it in post and have the same quality result?

Thanks
 
At least, assuming you are shooting from the same position or zoom setting and are ONLY swapping in camera from FF to DX.

If you have a subject filling the frame in DX and moved forward to create the same framing in FF, that would be different, as would the angle.
 
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In regards to IQ, cropping in-camera or in post makes no difference.

In-camera cropping serves different purposes, like increasing the FPS rate, or reducing the file sizes, for example.

As said above, it's a question of workflow rather than IQ.
 
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glaucocastro said:
So, I've been searching online for this answer and I just can't find the it. Everytime someone asks this question, the answer goes to using DX lenses on a FF body, and that's not what I'm looking for.

So, my question is mainly about IQ. I know all the benefits of croping the D810 sensor to DX format (faster fps, better focus coverage, etc). I'm not shooting sports or something that requires fast fps. All I need is extra reach and good IQ. That said, if I use a 24-70mm FF lens on my D810, should I crop the sensor to DX format in camera to have the extra reach or I can do it in post and have the same quality result?

Thanks
Click to expand...
if you don't need the xtra frame rate and don't mind the bigger files do it in post you may be cropping something out that you may wanna leave in at least you'll have the option to do so.

And your not really gaining reach your only cropping the same image in-camera so image quality is exactly the same either way.
 
glaucocastro said:
So, I've been searching online for this answer and I just can't find the it. Everytime someone asks this question, the answer goes to using DX lenses on a FF body, and that's not what I'm looking for.

So, my question is mainly about IQ. I know all the benefits of croping the D810 sensor to DX format (faster fps, better focus coverage, etc). I'm not shooting sports or something that requires fast fps. All I need is extra reach and good IQ. That said, if I use a 24-70mm FF lens on my D810, should I crop the sensor to DX format in camera to have the extra reach or I can do it in post and have the same quality result?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi, I've been shooting indoor events with the D800/24-70 combination for 4 years and I always crop in post. It allows you to compose your shot with a big image on the screen which gives you a much better view of the details and also lets you compose in any orientation, size and perspective you choose,
 
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
 
on my d800 i use the 1.2 crop mode for the additional FPS, and smaller file sizes (and corresponding buffer depth)

Pretty handy if you know you're going to be cropping in post anyway
 
glaucocastro said:
So, I've been searching online for this answer and I just can't find the it. Everytime someone asks this question, the answer goes to using DX lenses on a FF body, and that's not what I'm looking for.

So, my question is mainly about IQ. I know all the benefits of croping the D810 sensor to DX format (faster fps, better focus coverage, etc). I'm not shooting sports or something that requires fast fps. All I need is extra reach and good IQ. That said, if I use a 24-70mm FF lens on my D810, should I crop the sensor to DX format in camera to have the extra reach or I can do it in post and have the same quality result?

Thanks
Click to expand...
As stated by others, above, it makes no difference. The pixel density is the same in all crop modes, just the file sizes decrease as you crop down the image size. So cropping a D810 image either in camera or in posting processing produces no additional reach.

FX = 36mp

1.2x = 25.1mp

DX = 15.4mp

The reason people point you to DX for more reach is that with a D7100 or 7200, for example, your file size is 24mp versus 15.4 for the D810. Thus, the DX cameras with higher density sensors give you more reach than the D810. However, this is where IQ comes into play. The DX sensors will generally exhibit higher noise levels than the D810 sensor for the same ISOs and they will have less dynamic range than the D810.

Alan
 
Is the answer to buy some longer focal length lenses?

More MP on the intended subject area is always better, whether it be via a longer focal length of a DX body instead of FX when you cannot get close enough.

Cropping FX to DX discards a lot of MP, limiting the degree of enlargement possible from the recorded MP. Cropping DX from 36 MP is not too bad but it is still less than either 24 MP DX or 36 MP with a 70-200 lens.
 
Unless you need smaller files (perhaps to increase burst length for example) or need to publish as is, crop in post. Once cropped in camera you can never get the surrounds back. Cropping in post allows for much better composition for final picture.
 
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larrywilson said:
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
Click to expand...
Me too -- as do some other wildlife pros I know that use the D810 FF and in various crop modes -- sometimes the extra frame rate, increased number of shots in the buffer and reach of 1.2 or Dx crop is a big help.
 
I tend to shoot a little wide, one can always crop and not add.
So I crop in post prod software.

--
All comments are purely personal and generally based on my experience.
What I state is an opinion; I may well be wrong.
 
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larrywilson said:
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
Click to expand...
That's interesting to hear - I use DX crop purely for the 7fps. Both the Nikon manual and Thom's guide say this is only achieved in DX crop, not 1.2 crop.

I must give it a test.
 
colinadams said:
larrywilson said:
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
Click to expand...
That's interesting to hear - I use DX crop purely for the 7fps. Both the Nikon manual and Thom's guide say this is only achieved in DX crop, not 1.2 crop.

I must give it a test.
Click to expand...
Nope. Definitely slower in 1.2 mode than DX mode.
 
colinadams said:
colinadams said:
larrywilson said:
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
Click to expand...
That's interesting to hear - I use DX crop purely for the 7fps. Both the Nikon manual and Thom's guide say this is only achieved in DX crop, not 1.2 crop.

I must give it a test.
Click to expand...
Nope. Definitely slower in 1.2 mode than DX mode.
Click to expand...
My mistake the frame rate in crop 1.2 is 6 not 7 and I stated above. The only way you can get 7 in dx is if your using a grip with either AA batteries or the bigger battery in the grip (see manual).

Larry
 
colinadams said:
colinadams said:
larrywilson said:
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
Click to expand...
That's interesting to hear - I use DX crop purely for the 7fps. Both the Nikon manual and Thom's guide say this is only achieved in DX crop, not 1.2 crop.

I must give it a test.
Click to expand...
Nope. Definitely slower in 1.2 mode than DX mode.
Click to expand...
According to Nikon's specs, the D810 shoots the same 6 fps without a grip in both the 1.2 and DX crop modes and shoots up to 7 fps in DX mode only when used with a grip.

Alan
 
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There are only two advantages to shoot DX in camera if you intend to crop from FX.

1) the camera puts a dimmed area outside the DX frame area that helps you see the DX frame so you can frame properly.

2) averaging frame exposure is centred on the DX frame area only, whereas exposing the entire FX frame and cropping may introduce exposure errors from subjects outside the DX frame.
 
glaucocastro said:
if I use a 24-70mm FF lens on my D810, should I crop the sensor to DX format in camera to have the extra reach or I can do it in post and have the same quality result?
Click to expand...
Answer: You can do it in post and have the same quality result. (applies to both, JPG and RAW stills)

You should mark this or any of the equivalent answers as "ANSWER" as a service to fellow readers. Thanks.

--
Falk Lumo
 
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ajm057 said:
larrywilson said:
I sometimes shoot my d810 in 1.2 crop which still gives a fairly good viewfinder view and speeds up the frame rate by 1 per second (7 frames per second). I use the 1.2 crop in my bird photography a lot of times. It also gives me smaller files.

Larry
Click to expand...
Me too -- as do some other wildlife pros I know that use the D810 FF and in various crop modes -- sometimes the extra frame rate, increased number of shots in the buffer and reach of 1.2 or Dx crop is a big help.

--
Andy Miller
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I'm curious - how will the "reach of 1,2 or DX" be a big help?

With my camera (D800), the image, I see in the viewfinder has exactly the same "reach" - no matter the mode.

BirgerH.
 
glaucocastro said:
So, I've been searching online for this answer and I just can't find the it. Everytime someone asks this question, the answer goes to using DX lenses on a FF body, and that's not what I'm looking for.

So, my question is mainly about IQ. I know all the benefits of croping the D810 sensor to DX format (faster fps, better focus coverage, etc). I'm not shooting sports or something that requires fast fps. All I need is extra reach and good IQ. That said, if I use a 24-70mm FF lens on my D810, should I crop the sensor to DX format in camera to have the extra reach or I can do it in post and have the same quality result?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I have shot motorsport on the D800, when I am short on focal length I don't switch to dx, if I have to crop there are more framing options by cropping on a computer.
 
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