NEX-5n/7 Users: Performance Gains by Lowering Resolution?

[Ron Parr]

you mean like digital zooming?

No I was referring to the actual size of which you take the picture, where it scales evenly. For instance, the NEX-7 takes pictures at 24 MP, then 12, then 6.

It always takes the picture at full size and then downsamples in the software running in the camera.

--
Ron Parr
Digital Photography FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[El Matadurr]

This isn't an NEX thing - it's a general truth.

If you view at a smaller size, then noise will be averaged out - but you don't need to throw away pixels and detail to do that.

The only exception is that some CCDs have pixel binning, which can reduce one source at noise at the cost of dramatic reduction in resolution. A few CCD based cameras I have do this for very high ISO and the results are slightly better than the alternative, but still awful.

AFAIK, there are no CMOS sensors in consumer cameras that do any kind of pixel binning. While it's easy to see how pixel binning can be implemented on a CCD, it's an entirely different thing with a CMOS sensor and it's not clear how or why this would be done.

You might gain some speed if bandwidth to your SD card is a bottleneck.

--

Thanks for the response, and I see your point. Seems for the most part shooting in full 24 MP is going to be my best bet. The card shouldn't be a bottleneck as I'm going with a 32 GB Sandisk 95 MB/s UHS-1 card. I know that the NEX-7 doesn't take full advantage of the speed, but it'll be nice knowing that I'll have blazing transfer speeds, my card will be relatively future-proof, and it won't be the bottleneck when shooting.

 

[El Matadurr]

you mean like digital zooming?

No I was referring to the actual size of which you take the picture, where it scales evenly. For instance, the NEX-7 takes pictures at 24 MP, then 12, then 6.

It always takes the picture at full size and then downsamples in the software running in the camera.

That's odd, but I see why it may do that.

 

[Ron Parr]

It always takes the picture at full size and then downsamples in the software running in the camera.

That's odd, but I see why it may do that.

The only way to read out in lower resolution would be to skip columns and rows (which some sensors do in video mode), but that can introduce artifacts in the final output that would be noticeable in a still.

--
Ron Parr
Digital Photography FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[El Matadurr]

It always takes the picture at full size and then downsamples in the software running in the camera.

That's odd, but I see why it may do that.

The only way to read out in lower resolution would be to skip columns and rows (which some sensors do in video mode), but that can introduce artifacts in the final output that would be noticeable in a still.

And....that makes sense as well. I would love if someone had a NEX-7 to do some speed tests though to see if there are any noticeable gains when shooting in RAW, because 12MP should be plenty enough for me for fast action. One thing I forgot to add to my OP was that all those were taken handheld, I can't wait to see some results once I get a monopod.

--
Ron Parr
Digital Photography FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/

 

[El Matadurr]

Is there anyone with an NEX-7 that can do a few of these tests?

 

[GaryW]

Is there anyone with an NEX-7 that can do a few of these tests?

I want to say that someone had a similar thought a while ago and there might be a thread on this already. You might try to search....

If you want smaller sizes, to gain burst speeds, you also have the option of changing the JPEG setting, rather than the file size. Your overall quality will be better using full size but "standard" JPEG -- well, try it both ways, and see which has better detail.

For myself, I don't need so many photos in one burst, and with a fast card, I feel like RAW+JPEG comes with virtually no cost. Really awesome.

--
Gary W.

 

[El Matadurr]

alright, cool. I don't see me taking more than 6-10 frame bursts at any given time, so this info shouldn't be too limiting towards my shooting. I just hope the buffer clears fast.