Several months ago I decided to invest in a new camera, I was really excited about the new Canon cameras the 5Ds and the 5Dsr. These new cameras had huge files, 51 megapixels, more than double the pixels of the camera I was currently using. It was such a giant leap in resolution I began to fantasize that this camera would be similar to the medium and large format cameras I used to use during the film days. I ended up going for the 5ds since architectural work is often full of repeating patterns like tiles and bricks I figured the anti-alias filter would save me a bunch of effort. I think the first thing to hit me after getting the camera was a little buyers remorse. I was impressed by the files but double the resolution doesn't always seem like twice as sharp. But really the issue ran deeper than that.
Once I began shooting I started to worry about these huge files, I had grown accustomed to working on a laptop with a calibrated monitor and hard drive space is at a premium these days with the switch to solid state drives. My whole system of backing up required some serious scrutiny. So, the camera sat there collecting dust. I would break it out for really important stuff but it was really just floundering there. On my little experiments with the camera as it was largely unused, I started to really enjoy the camera and the creative leeway that the huge files could provide. I was able to crop and re-compose my images like never before. The more I cropped the more I began to realize that distortion in lenses increases exponentially as it gets farther from the lens's center. So I could compose a shot and make editorial decisions later that could really improve my work.
wide shot at 51mp, more than enough for almost any use.
It was time to figure out how to deal with all of the space required for these huge files. I like keeping some work on my laptop so that I can re-visit and rework files even when not at home or work. (I can't help it, I am always messing around trying to find new cool techniques). I ended up getting a Raid drive, R.A.I.D. stands for something like, redundant automatic ice cube dispenser or something, (too lazy to check right now). The important word being redundant, in the case of my drives there are two in one enclosure and they are being run as identical copies, that way if one drive fails the other is still there with your data safe and sound. Then I signed up for a remote service that backs up everything off-site over the internet.
Tighter crop of the same image. The file is still huge, big enough for a billboard even after throwing out a ton of pixels.
Now that everything is running smoothly and I can choose between the big files or my other smaller camera, I usually opt for the larger files of the 5Ds. I might go for the other camera when I am shooting a lot or I am shooting something that I will never need to print huge like a head shot. But the advantages are so great when shooting architecture or food it seems like a no brainer. It feels like a win-win, I can deliver more options, customizable compositions that can be a dream when working with text and ad copy. It is one more thing that makes me stand out as a professional architectural photographer that always delivers solid work.
Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any questions or comments I would be glad to help if I know the answer. If you would like to get to know more about Daniel Jackson photo or my work please take a look at my portfolio, for quotes and availability I can be reached here.