Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which type of camera sensor is ideal for high-end, large format printing?

1. Cropped sensor

2. Full-frame sensor

3. Medium format sensor

4. Point-and-shoot sensor

The correct answer is: Medium format sensor

A medium format sensor is ideal for high-end, large format printing because it offers a larger surface area for capturing light, which translates into higher resolution and better detail. This increased size allows for larger pixel dimensions, which results in images that can be printed at larger sizes without sacrificing quality. When it comes to high-end printing, detail and dynamic range are crucial, and medium format sensors often excel in these areas due to their larger size compared to full-frame and cropped sensors. They typically produce images with more tonal depth and reduced noise, which are important qualities for large prints where every detail matters. While full-frame sensors provide excellent quality and are often used in professional settings, the superior resolution and tonal range of medium format sensors make them the preferred choice for large format printing. Cropped sensors, on the other hand, have a smaller size and thus lower resolution, which limits their effectiveness in high-end printing scenarios. Point-and-shoot sensors, generally geared towards compact cameras, do not provide the necessary quality or resolution for large format prints.