Cameras and megapixels

[martinjr]

To settle an argument can anyone tell me if the quality of ordinary sized (standard photo) is noticably improved by having a camera with max megapixels. In other words will I get a better picture if I use a camera with 7.2 megapixels rather than 6 mp? I understood all along that this really only comes into play when enlarging photos or printing vary large photos?

[Mattk]

a feature on the gadget show concluded that after 6Mp you will not notice any improvements in photo quality on standard prints.it is only for the larger prints where this will come in handy.

[RogerWilco]

Basically, the main difference between 6 and 7.2 Mpix is the brag factor. It's unlikely in the extreme that anybody looking at a printed pic could tell the difference

[Robert G]

Except when the prints are much larger, RogerWilco, as martinjr says.

Don't forget, however, that the quality of the lens is also a factor. There's no point in aspiring to much higher megapixels if the lens isn't up to it.

[Buenchico]

This has been discussed before on AnswerBank. While there'll always be some differences of opinion, we managed to come to some sort of agreement as follows:

With A4 prints, there is a only small improvement in 'perceived image quality' when using a 3Mp camera instead of a 2Mp one. Above 3Mp, it doesn't matter whether you've got 4Mp, 5Mp or 1000Mp. At A4 size you won't notice any difference.

As long as you've got at least 3Mp, it's far more important to look for a decent optical zoom than it is to seek extra pixels. (By 'decent', I don't just mean a high magnification but, as RobertG says, you need high optical quality as well).

Chris

[martinjr]

Thanks everybody, exactly the info I needed.

mjr

[Jay70]

Just out of interest you need a 14Mp camera to get the same quality results as on a good 35mm SLR.

[xrayspecs]

That answer above is cobblers by the way!

[oakleydoaky]

thought i would stick my two peneth in!

The point above about 2 and 3 million pixel cameras has an element of truth. The reason why you do not really need to have 6 gajillian mega pixels is because once a photo is enlarged to A4 it is generally put into a photo frame and hung on a wall. I have photos at A4 on my wall at home which were taken with a good quality 3 million pixel canon camera and anyone who looks at these pictures cannot tell which were from my film slr or digital simply because you view framed pictures from a distance. you do not analyse them with a magnifier.

put simply. if you are bothered about the 'picture', 3 million is probably enough. if you are bothered about the technology behind it you will probably never be happy!