A reader asked if I always shoot my 1Ds MKIII at the 21.7mp all the time, and the answer for me is YES, I do. A the very rare time that I'm shooting something that will never have the possibility of getting blown up to a billboard.
I shoot mostly assignment work, but a lot of random side stuff I end up shooting can be submitted for stock . Stock agencies always need the largest file possible, and with all the new cameras coming out these days the standard keeps getting raised and raised. Every snap I take has that possibility, so I shoot at the highest res possible. I try to think as forward as possible when I'm shooting. The space gets eaten up quite a bit, but the possibility of making money with images makes that thought very minimal especially with how cheap storage is becoming. I'm in the process of building a new DAM(Digital Asset Management) system with internal hard drives and a multiple bay enclosure. 500gb internal hard drives are only $85 now.
The 1Ds MKIII does have a small RAW file that spits out files that are about 6×9@300dpi, which for most wedding and portrait uses is a great size that you can upres for regular prints. The image quality of the files is pretty amazing actually. You always have that option if you're concerned about saving disk space.
That said, whether you choose to shoot at that resolution depends on what you shoot. If you're shooting weddings and portraits, it may not be worth it to spend $9K on a camera. If you're shooting images that have the possibility of being used in POP or Billboard then it's a definite necessity.
Looks solid! Seeing the images roll off the press is so exciting. Just the whole proofing process is awesome. And I love that shot of the girl kissing that guy with her legs around him. So Fresh!
cheers-
Joey