This is an example of the ability to crop images from the 24.6 MP Sony a850. The vertical crop from a horizontal shot can be printed 8x12 inches at 300 ppi or 12x18 inches at 200 ppi if acceptable.

I expect in a few years this will be routine but for right now this amazes me.

From a well disciplined photography standpoint this is sloppy technique but in MY real world, I don't often have the time, position or FL lens on the camera to take an ideal photograph. Enter the 'crop'.