The new Canon R5 feature that enables shooting 400-megapixel images is called the High-Resolution mode, which uses the camera’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system to capture multiple shots and merge them into a single high-resolution image.
Sounds good, right? But of course, Canon being Canon they forgot to mention a few details to their users (just like that time that they said you can use 4k recording in Canon 5D Mark 4, but it is going to be 2,7 times cropped… or you can surely shoot 4k videos on R5 with a bit of overheating, but come on…).
LIMITATIONS
- You can only save your captures in jpegs using this mode.
- The camera uses electronic shutter and you won’t be able to go slower than 0.5 seconds of shutter speed.
- Don’t even think about trying this feature without a tripod – there is a horrible ghosting involved if you dare to move the camera even one milimiter.
- Your computer will definitely struggle to open these files.
- It takes a while to save and even longer to transfer to your computer if you are shooting with EOS Utility.
ADVANTAGES
This feature can be useful for certain types of photography, such as landscape, architecture, fine art and product photography, where high levels of detail are required. In my case, I’d say I can take one photo of the artwork in high-resolution and then cut it down to reasonable sized details photos without the need to capture extra images.
Just imagine what a print would look like if you scaled it up to this size? Hard to imagine, right?
DO YOU REALLY NEED ALL THOSE DETAILS?
Of course in our time of most pictures being produces for social media or websites, there is no need to have such large files. For most purposes, a 24-megapixel or even a 45-megapixel image is more than sufficient. Shooting 400-megapixel images results in enormous file sizes that can be difficult to handle and process, requiring specialized hardware and software. I have the latest model Macbook and a very powerful computer, but they still struggle to deal with the files of this size.
EXAMPLES
So I had an assignment to shoot some art works in the art district of Dubai, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to test out this feature without letting my clients know (otherwise they will always want the images of enourmous sizes) and show you guys the difference. Now, of course, I feel more confident shooting artworks that involve colours in RAW, because you can adjust the colours much more precisely later and unfortunately the light in these galleries often affects the actual colour of artworks, so one would be rather adventurous shooting them just in JPEG.
Here is an image processed from the 45 megapixel RAW – plenty of details, nothing to complain about.
Now check the level of details when zooming in:
Would anyone notice if you posted 400 megapixel image on social media? Definitely not worth the sweat.
GHOSTS
If you don’t have a tripod on you, you just can’t use this feature. Here an example of a picture shot at 1/800 of a second in a rather stable position… and yet… it looks worse than the first digital point and shoot cameras that came out.
VIDEO REVIEW
Here is also a video review of the same feature for those who are lazy to read, and a little insight into what goes into shooting artworks.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the usefulness of shooting 400-megapixel images depends on the specific needs of the photographer and the type of photography they are engaged in. It’s not a feature that everyone will need or use, but for those who require extremely high levels of detail and resolution, it can be a valuable tool.
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Much love,
Anna
Playing with the Light 