Digital BW, The Print

In striving for perfection this issue has again come to the surface and placed itself on my current agenda.

My current SLR is an "old" Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n ay 13.5Mp. I have used this camera for many years mainly for studio work and to a lesser extent in the field. Reluctant to carry this monster when out and about and the consequent limited portfolio, I acquired a Nikon Coolpix P7000, 10Mp. I now use this exclusively, shooting RAW, editing in Photoshop CS and converting to B&W in Picture Window Pro. I re-size in PhotoZoom Pro 4 to A3, my size of choice and print using QTR on Epson Enhanced Matte and 7 day shop Matt paper. The prints from this combination are to me absolutely amazing.

With the rapid advancement in camera technology and the raising of the bar with regard to the Mp issue (now at 24-35Mp) and more particularly, in my opinion, the "anti shake" technology, although the P7000 does have this latter innovation, I have been toying with the idea of upgrading to a higher Mp camera.

Having studied the reviews of all the relevant cameras on offer, size being important, I have concluded that the Sony NEX-7, with the 18-200 lens would fulfil all my criteria, including the all important "anti shake" with its Optical Steady Shot (in the lens). The EVF with shooting information in the viewfinder and 100% image is far superior to the OVF of the P7000.

I would appreciate members views on the above and whether the 10 to 24Mp upgrade is justified in view of my A3 B&W print size of choice