Today we are trying something new at Macfilos. Two articles on the same subject but subtly different. Macfilos authors Mike Evans and Keith James have been taking a close look at the crop-to-zoom controversy. Opinions are polarising as we write. But is crop-to-zoom, as promoted by Leica, a useful tool or just a gimmick?
Keith kicks off with his Leica Q2. This camera offers digital crop capabilities at 35, 50 and 75mm. Keith is comparing the cropped images from the Leica with similar shots taken with his SL2 coupled with either a Leica 24-70mm Vario-Elmarit-SL f/2.8 or the Leica 50mm Summicron APO. Same sensor, same resolution and Leica lenses that should both cut the mustard.
In the second part, Mike works from a different premise. Forget zooms and longer primes, he says, because they will ultimately win the argument, assuming an equivalent sensor. Instead, treat the digital zoom function as a bonus, a bit of fun, as something to use on those occasions when you wish you’d packed a camera with a longer lens. The Q makes a good fist of cropping, Mike says.
To get a balanced view, head to our two big articles of the day:
Keith James: Leica Q2 Crop-to-zoom compared with optical zoom
Mike Evans: Crop comparisons at all focal lengths with the Leica Q3
The purpose of this post is to link the two articles and to act as a home for a general discussion on crop-to-zoom. With 60MP-plus sensors and state-of-the-art lens technology, digital zoom is a much more grown-up concept than it was in the days of the small-sensor, low-resolution point-and-shoot camera.
Both the Q2 and Q3 offer competitive image resolution at 35mm and 50mm crop equivalents, and even 50mm is respectable. But using the Q3’s triple-resolution technology at lower settings is not recommended. Here are all the theoretical image resolutions.
Enjoy the articles, and let us know what you think.
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I enjoyed the article, it confirms my own feelings. I started with a Q then Q2 then Q2M, which was great but a bit restrictive, as I also like colour images. I use an M11 at the moment. Having used Q’s and the M11 where you are encouraged to “zoom in” with the electronic frames, it allows for greater creativity. Sometimes I happy to lose some image sharpness, because the overall composition makes up for this. Surely if the facility of zooming, Q style aids in creativity then that’s what counts. Of course the 28mm lens is also superb and can be pushed to its limits. Surely creativity beats pixel peeping!!