Printing big from Micro Four Thirds

This video is a look into how big you can print your images from an Olympus micro four-thirds camera. I compare the print quality from an Olympus EM10MKIII, Olympus EM1X and a Phase One IQ160. After making test prints from each at 30x20 inches I wanted to give you the opportunity to download the files and see for yourself the quality you can achieve even at big wall print sizes.

* Spoiler the medium format back is amazing but only SLIGHTLY better than our Olympus cameras. Even if you make a print three feet across from an arm's length away no one I showed the prints to could pick one out from the other.

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[borderlands]

Great light over a great camera every time. A good lens over megapixels every time. An interesting subject over any of the above. Most photographers are chasing the wrong dream.

[bpcs]

Thanks! All cameras have reached an IQ standard that is usually more than we need... the handling of the gear and talent of the photographer make the difference.

[GeorgeStar]

Brilliant analysis. Youtuber gear heads obsess about sensor size, megapixels, MFT charts and hardware in general because that's what gets the clicks but the reality is if the picture is not good enough the limiting factor is usually the photographer.

[ARMAJOV]

When this video appeared in my timeline I first thought ‘not again, another print size m43 video’ but your video turned out to be very good and added value, thank you! One remark regarding your ‘10% crop from a wildlife shot’ example: Yes, if I would have taken the shot with the latest 61mp Sony a7r iv i could crop the hell out of it, but if I would have been out with a m43 camera I would have been able to cary a very long lens without the need of special large photo bag.

[jrosedds]

Did a similar test between my D800 and an E-M5 just before choosing to switch to MFT for good! It is indeed surprising how close the output is between cameras of such different resolution. Well presented and practical video as usual!

[antonydavid]

You reinforce my experiences exactly. I don’t make larger than 20 x 24 prints from my EM5/2, and no one has ever commented on any lack of sharpness or dynamic range. For me the portability of MFT systems is more important than megapixels. In addition, I make 12 x16 prints from my iPhone 7, and they are absolutely acceptable and when I challenge friends to guess which camera was used, no one can definitely decide.

[jfriah]

Fantastic! Thanks for that! I love seeing these kinds of stories! My mentor printed billboard ad photos with his 5MP camera. All in the eye of the beholder and yes for the love 'o' Mutt, don't A-B things.

[ebreckpo]

Thank you, Joseph, for this down to earth comparison. Most photographers nowedays are more concerned about pixel peeping at >200% on their 4K monitors than actually taking photographs (at least on yt). I first thought the mp race was over, we had the dynamic range rush, now that every camera has about 12 to 15 stops of DR (at base ISO), the manufacturers marketting departments started a new MP race on their camera systems. Arguably the major advantage is more room to crop an image, if you have good optics. I recently dove back into the m43 world with a OM-D E-M1mk2 paired with pro and semi pro optics. For a project I had to print a so so image to DIN A2 size (16.5"x23.4") by request of my art teacher, the image came out fine. I mostly print my images and I am very happy with the results so far.

I recently reprinted a Leica M8 picture (10Mp) to the same DIN A2 size without any difficulties.
I still have FF equipment for specific purposes like e.g. black cats in a coalmine :-)...

[AlexZafer]

I have done plenty of 16" and 24" printing from micro four thirds without issues. Last month I printed three 4ft by 7.5ft tall (approx) prints for a triptych series gallery showing - not without some trepidation mind you. The images were shot from an Olympus OMD EM5 II. They turned out stellar.

[alizaidi]

had to pause and marvel at the shot @7:59 ... that's a dream shot!!

[DerVagabundli]

I‘m just a hobbyist, like most people debating the usefulness of micro four thirds. Just for fun, I printed a 20 Megapixel Image from my LUMIX GX-9 shot with the 12-32 kit lens ad 1, 40m at the long side. If I had the space, I‘d be more than happy to hang it up, even to view at fairly close distance. Most „normal“ people won‘t see any difference between this and a 40 megapixel image shot on „full frame“. I would be so happy if people didn’t mistake „not quite as good in low light“ for „completely unusable“ and knew more about the sizes we‘re talking about when we say „large prints“.

[rhykko]

Great 'real world' advice indeed ! Thanks

[markbarnes]

Great video! The "megapixel wars" continue in the marketing of cameras. It's much better to spend $$ on good lenses than a new camera body with the latest and greatest sensor. But, alas, the "mine is bigger than yours" hype continues.

[JCStreet]

I’ve never had any problems shooting and printing with m43, despite what the internet says!

[charliemans]

Pepsi ad placement hehe, they must be great sponsor man :)

[gaoldias]

Back in the day (I'm talking 1980 for me), if I wanted to make a 3 foot wide print from a 35mm negative, I'd have to shoot PanF or Kodak TechPan and even then, my Olympus OM-D E-M5 would outresolve that. MFT cameras and sensors are capable of producing excellent large prints in most scenarios. For that tiny percentage of photographers who actually NEED more resolution, then you have full frame or medium format at your disposal. MFT has some disadvantage, but for me, the small size and light weight (not to mention less cost) are huge pluses for me.

[billj]

Several years ago I photographed that same skyline from the west. I used a D7200 with Tamron 17-50. A year later I photographed the same scene with a D750 with Tamron 24-70. Comparing these images on my screen at pixel level, the smaller sensor of the D7200 actually looked to be sharper on fine detail than the full frame sensor with the same megapixel count.

[dtrip]

Great to hear this kind of comparison! I just got back from a trip to the North Woods near the U.P. on the WI side and shot my e-m1 mark 3, and a Sony a7r3. I can definitely say that the dynamic range of the Sony was it's strength, however, many of the pics I took with the Olympus were my favorites, probably because of the colors and the lens qualities. I am doing a lot of landscape/wildlife shots, unless I needed the resolution and extra dynamic range, I prefer to use my mft. Oh should mention, that for astro shots of the milky way, the Sony definitely had an advantage (although I am not super advanced at astro yet).

[denniscowell]

I have printed a 36 inch panorama taken with my Olympus OMD em5 with the 12-50 lens. It is absolutely pin sharp despite also being hand held.

[davejsullivan]

Here in 2021 I have DXO Deep Prime and lens sharpening along with Topaz upscaling. The print sizes could be even bigger. These programs will keep my Olympus camera images as good as desired until they bite the dust. Nice videos.