As digital camera pixel counts increase, higher resolution images can be captured. The higher the pixel count is the smaller the pixel size becomes, making blur more noticeable when images are enlarged on a computer monitor. With high pixel counts fine details can be reproduced and depending on the characteristics of the lens used contrast is reduced.
1. Stopping down the aperture reduces lens aberrations and increases depth of field making focusing easier, however stopping down too much may make the image look softer due to diffraction. Do not stop down the aperture too much.
2. Be careful about hand and camera movement. To reduce the effects of hand and camera movement it is recommended that you increase the shutter speed as much as your photographic intent allows. Enable lens VR function if available and where a tripod can be used, use a remote release. Features such as self-timer, mirror-up, exposure delay modes and live view photography will also help reduce hand and camera movement.
3. Image resolution varies depending on the "High ISO NR" (noise reduction) and Picture Control sharpening settings. Choose appropriate options according to your purpose.
The size of individual pixels is smaller with high pixel count image sensors than with low-pixel count image sensors. For this reason when the same lens is used, high pixel count cameras can reproduce finer details of the subject than low-pixel count cameras. However with more detailed images that a lens renders, the lower the contrast the detail becomes. The degree of decrease in contrast varies with the lens. Therefore when images captured with a high pixel count camera are enlarged for viewing purposes, focus may not appear sharp because of decreased contrast in detailed portions, depending on the characteristics of the lens used. Stopping down the aperture increases depth of field for easier focusing, and reduces lens aberrations, improving contrast. Stopping down too much may cause diffraction, replacing reduced aberrations and decrease contrast. The aperture value for highest contrast and appropriately reduced aberrations with minimal diffraction varies with the lens. A general recommendation is to stop down the aperture by 2 or 3 stops (f/8 is generally a safe value). Be careful to consider camera shake because stopping down results in slower shutter speeds.
As pixel counts have increased, the size of a single pixel has decreased. For example, if two DX-format cameras; the D40 (image size: 3008 x 2000) and the D3200 (image size: 6016 x 4000) are compared, the pixel size of the D3200 is approximately a quarter of that of the D40. When images are displayed on a computer monitor at 100%, D3200 images are actually displayed approximately 4 times larger than D40 images (area ratio). Even if images are captured under the same conditions and with the same level of hand or camera movement, blur in the D3200 images could effectively be quadrupled when displayed and become more noticeable. For this reason, it can be said that high pixel count cameras are more susceptible to slight movement.
• Hold the camera firmly with your elbows propped lightly against your torso for support.
• Set a shutter speed slightly faster than a value optimal for the speed of the subject movement.
• When a lens equipped with a vibration reduction feature is used, turn on the vibration reduction (VR) switch.
• When a lens equipped with a vibration reduction feature is used, turn off the vibration reduction switch. Turning vibration reduction on is recommended with a lens that automatically detects when it is mounted on a tripod, and enables optimum compensation. If the camera offers a Tripod VR mode, use this mode.
• Use self-timer and a remote release.
• Use exposure delay mode*
• Use mirror up mode*
• Use live view photography*
*Nb. These functions are not available with some cameras. In each mode, shutter is released while the mirror is raised, minimising shake that occurs when the mirror is raised. Please see your camera's reference manual for operations and settings.
Choose AF and AF-area*1 modes appropriate for the scene. In addition the following operations and settings are recommended in some situations.
With shooting stationary subjects, position the active focus point on the subject, and press the shutter-release button halfway several times without changing focus distance. When the in-focus indicator is displayed, press the shutter-release button all the way down to take a photograph.
When you focus on a subject at a close range, lock focus, change the composition, and then take a photograph, inaccuracy in focus in the image becomes noticeable due to cosine error*2. Stop down the aperture to increase depth of field, or compose the frame first and then select the focus point over the intended subject for autofocusing.
During live view photography you can freely change the active focus point with live view display in the monitor, allowing you to focus in a larger area than with viewfinder shooting. In addition, you can zoom in on the view through the lens in live view for more precise focus confirmation.
*1: See your camera's reference manual for more information on AF and AF-area modes.
*2: When focusing on a subject using a focus point, and locking focus and then changing the composition, the distance between the camera and the subject slightly changes before and after the composition is changed. The error in focus that occurs in this situation is called cosine error.
Nb. Autofocus does not perform well under some conditions. i.e. If there is little or no contrast between the subject and the background. For more information, please see the camera's reference manual.
Nb. AF Fine-Tune While AF tuning is not recommended in most situations, this function allows you to fine-tune focal position for different lens types according to the type of scene or your own personal preference.
Images captured at high sensitivities are more likely to be subject to noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, lines). Enabling "High ISO NR" (or "Noise reduction" with some cameras)" in the shooting menu reduces this noise. Applying too much noise reduction, however, may soften the texture of the subject, resulting in low resolution images. Depending on the purpose, you can choose "Low" or "Off" for "High ISO NR" even with shooting at high sensitivities to adjust a balance between resolution and noise. If high resolution is desired, choosing "Low" or "Off" for "High ISO NR" is recommended. Remember that images captured at high sensitivities are more likely to be subject to noise. Modifying the Picture Control sharpening value can make the image look shaper and of high resolution. Choosing "0" makes the image look soft because no sharpening is applied. As the number increases, the image looks shaper and of higher resolution. Note, however, that applying too much sharpening may make the image grainy.