Fuji 602 upgrade to 6.3 dSLR - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

05/09/2004 11:18:59 AM · #1

Is there anyone out there who has upgraded their camera from a Fuji S602 Zoom (which can shoot photos in 6 MP mode) to an actual 6.x MP digital SLR? I am currently planning to upgrade to a Canon EOS 10d because I want to print bigger prints (that's only one of the reasons). Since I do all of my shooting in 6 MP Fine mode on the 602 camera, will I actually realize any gain by this move? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Message edited by author 2004-05-09 11:20:03.

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

05/09/2004 11:29:37 AM · #2

I upgraded from a 602 to a Canon 300d(rebel). I did not use the 6mp facility on the 602 but from what I remember this was not an actual 6mp.
You would certainly see the difference in quality between the 602 and the 10d, no doubt about that. I dont know what experience you have but its quite a steep learning curve moving from a 602 up to the dslr world but its well worth it. Try and keep your 602 because the macro facility on that is brilliant. Good luck

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

05/09/2004 11:32:39 AM · #3

From what I understand, the Fuji sensor (super CCD) is really only 3MP and interpolates somehow to give a 6MP image. The 10D has an actual 6MP sensor. In that regard the 10D should allow you to print much bigger than the S602Z since interpolation is from 6MP up and not 3.

What you might want to do is look at dpreview and do some side by side comparisons to check for differences.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

05/09/2004 11:52:08 AM · #4

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

From what I understand, the Fuji sensor (super CCD) is really only 3MP and interpolates somehow to give a 6MP image.

That's right. The SCCD has 3mpx. Because the photodiodes are in a 45 degree diagonal grid the direct capture of the CCD cannot be shown in the standard 90 degree Horizontal/Vertical grid that all monitors, LCD's and digital image algoritms (tiff, jpeg, psd, bmp). The only way to get it into the standard is fill in the gaps between the photodiodes to get a normal 90 degree grid and therefore you need interpolation. The result of that is a 6mp image in a 90 degree grid.

So with Fuji sensors the camera has always got to go trough the interpolation process to get a normal image. When you set your S602 to 3mp Fine it will still interpolate up to 6mp and then resample down to 3mp again. There is no other way to show the data. 6mp Fine is the closest to the original SCCD capture and it is adviseable to always work with the most original data. The S7000 works the same, it always has to make a 12mp first before it can create 6mp output.
From tests it is clear however that when you resample your 6mp output to say 4.5mp it always looks better than the 3mp output upsampled to 4.5mp. Staying with 6mp has its gains.

The 10D blows the S602 away in whatever setting you use the S602. In small resamples like 640x427 it can come very close if you use the S602 sweet spot (ISO 160, middle zoom, F5.6, spot on exposure). I have a great 30x45cm print hanging on the wall here and 6x4's are good as well. But the 10D is just so much better, especially with some fine lenses on it (I have about 50 fullsize samples on my pc and their prints look way better, I wanted the 10D but opt to wait for the next model, I have time).
I think there is a huge gain, especially when you want large resamples and larger prints. The body as a tool, the optical viewfinder, the faster AF, the lesser shutter lag etc etc etc are also a huge benefit. Downside is that it is heavier and it draws more attention.

Prof_Fate

05/09/2004 12:31:48 PM · #5

The S602 is equivalent in quality to about a 4Mp camera, and a dSLR has better quality and a larger sensor than a pro-sumer model the like 602 - so you will get better image quality.

In theory you should get bigger prints from the 10d BUT what you are looking at for this part ANY camera is the DPI of the output versus the size of the file in pixels:

to get a decent print, you need 200 pixels of image for every 1 inch of output - a 602 on 6Mp mode makes an image 2831x2128 - simple math rounds that to a print of 14 inches by 11 inches. For better quality yo umay want to print at 300 dpi, so the print size drops to 9.5 x 7.
The Rebl makes an image 3072x2048 - essentially the same size image so the ssame size print would be the end result.

The dSLR will in teh end cost more - considere lenses etc. If you have the money, yeah go for it!

the dSLR (any of them) don't do video or sound recording.

moodville

Nikon D100

05/09/2004 12:50:54 PM · #6

There is more noticable difference/improvement between a prosumer cam and a dSLR than just the megapixels. As with all camera purchases, decide on what you want out of the camera, read the reviews on the net, look at the pictures from the camera(s) by other photographers, consider your budget options, and get what you can live with.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/09/2004 03:32:28 PM · #7

Thanks everone. I had already done my research into the camera features, what I want etc. I am currently printing at 300 dpi with incremental upsizing to 8x10 on prints from the 602 zoom. I'm just in validate/justify mode now, and wanted to make sure that I would realize actual benefits of 6.x MP on a DSLR over 6 MP Fine mode on the 602 zoom.

marbo

Nikon D5000

05/09/2004 03:53:41 PM · #8

I also went from fuji 602z to canon 300d.
What i noticed most was not the file size difference but the quality of the images. The clarity and the lack of noise. I used neat image with every shot from my fuji 602 but i only need it at ISO 800+ now.

05/09/2004 08:16:45 PM · #9

Originally posted by marbo:

That's really great to hear that. I really like my 602 camera and have generally been very pleased with many of the images I get with it. I have noticed some issues with noise (what I think is noise anyway) on images from the 602.

jxpfeer

Nikon D70

05/10/2004 09:35:30 AM · #10

the only downside to the 602 is not being able to shoot raw. shooting TIF is better than the JPG, but impractical usually... i think the prints that come out of the 602's shots are great, but there is a HUGE difference in quality in my 602's jpgs, compared to RAW processed files from a dSLR.

still love my 602, bets 6mp range you can get without upgrading to a DSLR :)

crabappl3

05/10/2004 09:52:29 AM · #11

I went from 602 to D100 a Nikon? Yes, a Nikon. When I went to the camera store I tried both the 10D and D100 (D70 and 300D were not available at the time), and I felt that the D100 layout and control most matched the 602. My fingers already knew where everything was, and I like the quicker focus lock and overall feel of the camera more. As for print quality, hands down a dSLR 6.3 will provide better prints.