Printing large (16x20 and up) with the Olympus OM-D EM-5?

Question

Is it possible to make 16x20 inch prints using images from the Olympus OM-D EM-5 (and some good Olympus primes), while retaining sharpness and detail? Especially for landscape images?

I've used a Panasonic G2 and even with the great Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens, I could not print larger than approximately 12x16 without losing detail in the prints. I always use a tripod and good technique, exposure, etc., so I attributed the loss of detail to the small micro four-thirds sensor. On the other hand, I've printed 30x40 with an APS-C sensor (Pentax K-5), with little problem in terms of sharpness and detail.

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible to print a 16"x20" print from a Olympus OM-D EM-5 16Mp file that retains it's sharpness and detail - when viewed from a typical viewing distance.

The key here is viewing distance. Typically, a person does not view a 16"x20" print from the same distance as, say, a 4"x6".

A 'safe' calculation of viewing distance for a 16"x20" print is just over 3'.  At that distance your print will appear 'just a sharp' as a 4"x6" viewed at 11". I'm using quotes because how the print is displayed plays a role - and it's also quite subjective.

Additionally, there are many factors in play regarding sharpness within an given image, regardless of print size. Luminous Landscape has some info regarding this, as well as other aspects of overall image quality.

Answer 2

Yes, but you won't match the K-5 easily. Coincidentally I just completed a review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 yesterday and had to print some 16x20" in the process. They only hold up at ISO 400 or less but larger softness becomes evident.

The K-5 was reviewed two years go and managed to do much larger prints. Actually, surprisingly large! Posters over 6' tall from my K-5 are on display at a local university and I was amazed when I saw the prints.

The sharpening done in-camera is superb. The K-5 IIs just arrived here and should exceed that. You may be able to close the gap with a good lens like the Zuiko 12mm F/2 plus some doing your own sharpening from RAW, perhaps with a specialized too rather than the usual Lightroom or Photoshop.

The difference in sharpness is not because of sensor-size but the lens first, followed by anti-alias filter and other aspects of sensor design. Smaller sensors at equal resolution are disadvantaged though because they require the lens to resolve finer.

Of course as ISO increases, you loose details from noise and softness from noise-reduction.

Answer 3

I do not have a micro 4/3, but shoot with an Oly e600, which is 4/3 12MP. I had a 16 x 20 print made of some interesting roots with moss. The photo was shot hand held and the print is excellent, very sharp and a lot of detail - even when viewed from a fairly short distance (less than one foot). This image was shot at low ISO as that is what I prefer to shoot, I bagan with film in the 1980s and shot Kodachrome 64 or Ilford 25 (B&W), so the low sensitivity is not much of an issue - at least for landscape or other still shots. I believe that this image could have been successfully printed even larger, but there was no point.