Film Size Versus Print Quality

Film size versus print quality

Excellent 16x20 prints can be made from 35mm, but 16x20 prints from larger formats will have better resolution and sharpness.Use the chart below to compare print quality between various film sizes. DO NOT use this chart to decide how big a print you should make from an original (this is a subjective decision--we've made beautiful 48x72 prints from 35mm, while other photographers wouldn't print their 35mm larger than 20x30).

	35mm	645	6x6	6x7	4x5	8x10
8x10 print	=	=	=	=	=	=
11x14 print	almost	=	=	=	=	=
16x20 print		almost	=	=	=	=
20x24 print				=	=	=
24x32 print				almost	=	=
30x40 print					=	=
40x50 print						=

= means prints made from this film size will equal the quality of a print made from a larger film formats (an 8x10 print made from a 35mm will be equal in quality to an 8x10 print made from a 4x5 transparency).

Almost means this film size will almost equal the quality of the next larger film size. At this level, the quality of the original, film type, lens, etc. will especially determine the quality of the finished print.