Shutter speed and sensors

[DavidT]

I am curious are you using slower shutter speeds with VR with lower MP sensors say 20-24mp vs 45+ mp?

The reason I ask is I have noticed that even with VR in say a 500pf or 200-500 f5.6 and a perched bird I can't get as sharp of images with a D850 at 1/500 as I can at say 1/1000+. I have noticed Steve talk about slow shutter speeds and VR on the 500pf for example that can cause some loss of IQ however even before I have gotten the 500PF I have noticed that anything over 300mm I have to really watch the shutter speed to get super sharp images.

Is this a price we are paying for higher MP?

Would using a tripod and gimbal allow for lower shutter speeds with a higher MP camera vs handheld?

 

[DRwyoming]

Is this a price we are paying for higher MP?

Pretty much. It's not that higher resolution cameras create more motion blur but they can reveal slight issues with field technique (like insufficient shutter speed) that lower resolution cameras don't reveal. You've probably seen this but Steve discusses this issue and gives a good visual example at roughly 18 minutes into this video:

Would using a tripod and gimbal allow for lower shutter speeds with a higher MP camera vs handheld?

Sure, if the motion blur is on your end then a better support would help. But if the motion blur is subject motion then additional support won't solve the problem and of course neither would VR.

 

[FB101]

After watching a bunch of the videos on the site it seems there are 2 main parameters to consider (and a bunch of others that play a role because heaven forbid it might actually be straight forward...)

1. Pixel density - so not just resolution but resolution x sensor size interaction (ie the demand is the same for D850 and D500 because the density is very close despite the vastly different resolution). The denser the sensor, the more revealing it is of imperfections in technique

2. Animal size x speed interaction - a small and fast bird takes a much higher speed than a predictably gliding albatross to freeze the action in a sharp way. Similarly a static cheetah will take a much lower speed than a running one (excluding any attempt at artistic movement blur effects obviously).

Where it gets tricky is if the speed needed ideally requires you to bump iso in a range that will reduce quality more than a bit of movement blurring - and that's more likely to happen on a high density sensor, typically less forgiving at higher ISO. Hence the conundrum. Bump up the speed to be sharp or stay within the best ISO range? The answer is obviously to buy a D6, but then you can't crop as easily... which of course you address by buying a 1.4x converter, lose a stop of light and have to bump the iso again... see where this is going

 

[Steve]

After watching a bunch of the videos on the site it seems there are 2 main parameters to consider (and a bunch of others that play a role because heaven forbid it might actually be straight forward...)

1. Pixel density - so not just resolution but resolution x sensor size interaction (ie the demand is the same for D850 and D500 because the density is very close despite the vastly different resolution). The denser the sensor, the more revealing it is of imperfections in technique

2. Animal size x speed interaction - a small and fast bird takes a much higher speed than a predictably gliding albatross to freeze the action in a sharp way. Similarly a static cheetah will take a much lower speed than a running one (excluding any attempt at artistic movement blur effects obviously).

Where it gets tricky is if the speed needed ideally requires you to bump iso in a range that will reduce quality more than a bit of movement blurring - and that's more likely to happen on a high density sensor, typically less forgiving at higher ISO. Hence the conundrum. Bump up the speed to be sharp or stay within the best ISO range? The answer is obviously to buy a D6, but then you can't crop as easily... which of course you address by buying a 1.4x converter, lose a stop of light and have to bump the iso again... see where this is going

LOL - you nailed it

The solution is easy - find close subjects and fill the frame with a D6

 

[bleirer]

I am curious are you using slower shutter speeds with VR with lower MP sensors say 20-24mp vs 45+ mp?

The reason I ask is I have noticed that even with VR in say a 500pf or 200-500 f5.6 and a perched bird I can't get as sharp of images with a D850 at 1/500 as I can at say 1/1000+. I have noticed Steve talk about slow shutter speeds and VR on the 500pf for example that can cause some loss of IQ however even before I have gotten the 500PF I have noticed that anything over 300mm I have to really watch the shutter speed to get super sharp images.

Is this a price we are paying for higher MP?

Would using a tripod and gimbal allow for lower shutter speeds with a higher MP camera vs handheld?

If you downsample the larger MP image to be equal to the resolution of the smaller MP image, or vice versa, you will find the larger megapixel image to be superior. Otherwise you are not comparing apples to apples.