Pixels (short for picture elements) are dots of visual information that make up an image, and each megapixel translates into a million dots. So, 8-megapixels would mean eight million pixels, for example. These pixels usually expand horizontally rather than vertically when the megapixel count goes up, which means that a typical photo could get wider but not necessarily taller. One way to measure this is with a 5.1-megapixel camera as an example. It has a resolution of 2608 x 1952, whereas an 8-megapixel camera has a resolution of 3264 x 2448.
Not much of a difference, really.
However, you will note the difference if you need to crop out much of the original photo because the extra visual information will make it easier to edit the picture. That’s not to say that you’ll have a whole lot more room to work with, but it’s enough to at least make some kind of a difference.
This is also true when printing large sizes. A 10-megapixel camera should ideally be able to do a 16-by-20 print, albeit with a slight loss of visual information. Try that size with a smaller count and you might see some “pixilation” in the image. Photo labs say the sweet spots for consumers right now are 8-by-10 or borderless 8.5-by-11, two sizes that are more than doable with pretty much any digital camera out there. It’s likely that a majority of those who regularly visit photo labs like Beeline and Blue’s or Rockbrook Camera’s probably wouldn’t consider a larger print all that often anyway.
This is not to suggest that the average person wouldn’t want to print larger, but consider the last time you printed something that size or even viewed a print as large as 20-by-24. How far were you standing from it? Did you take the time to go up close and inspect the sharpness of the print? It’s true that when you stand a reasonable distance from a print that was made by a lower megapixel camera will look decent enough to present in your home. If your a professional however you may want to purchase a 10 megapixel or higher for images above 16″ x 20″. I personally have the Canon XTi at 10.1 Megapixels. Wonderful camera to say the least.
For the most part and as a matter of fact really… colors tend to stand out more than the sharpness of a photo. You can even try this at home by de-saturating a photo’s colours in Photoshop and printing it out. The photo will be sharp, but the lack of colour is ultimately what ruins it. Generally speaking, color correction holds more importance to a photo’s visual appeal than sharpness, at least in larger sizes.
Film has the advantage in this regard because it’s so scaleable that large sizes can be done with no real loss. Indeed, film can have a resolution equivalent to over 20-megapixels, so it’s easy to see why two-thirds of professional photographers still shoot with it. (Although it’s moving toward digital more and more… I know a few photographers in town that don’t even shoot film anymore because of the quality of their digital equipment)
Zooming in on the differences
Think about this: why are photos on single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras so much better than those taken with point-and-shoots that have the same megapixel resolution? The reason for this is that a good lens on an SLR can provide vivid detail and excellent range, something that’s more difficult with the smaller and more limiting lens on a point-and-shoot. That is the reason why point-and-shoot manufacturers try to make up for this with digital zooms. However, unlike optical zooms, the digital type you should avoid because it only compensates for the lack of depth by going beyond the capabilities of the lens. This, in turn, results in lower quality pictures.
Digital photos are a combination of the lens and the sensor, because the former captures the image and the latter displays the visual information on the LCD screen. Some digital cameras have a decent sensor but not a great lens, and vice versa. This is actually part of the reason why you might see a 5-megapixel camera outperform one with a higher resolution.
Better pictures, not pixels
So far in 2007, major camera manufacturers have shied away from increasing the megapixel count. Instead, they’re focusing and competing in the areas that really count: taking better photos.
Good features like image stabilization and natural light settings that help you use the flash less are what will really help you take better shots. Now that face detection and noise reduction are set to become staples of point-and-shoot digicams, there are even more options.
The next time you visit an electronics or photography store, it would probably benefit you to ask about these features that will actually make your pictures better, as opposed to the numbers that only make you think they do.
Hope this helps, but should any questions arise please feel free to give me a shout.
Megapixels vs. Maximum Print Size Chart
| Megapixels | Pixel Resolution* | Print Size @ 300ppi |
3 |
2048 x 1536 | 6.82″ x 5.12″ |
4 |
2464 x 1632 | 8.21″ x 5.44″ |
6 |
3008 x 2000 | 10.02″ x 6.67″ |
8 |
3264 x 2448 | 10.88″ x 8.16″ |
10 |
3872 x 2592 | 12.91″ x 8.64″ |
12 |
4290 x 2800 | 14.30″ x 9.34″ |
16 |
4920 x 3264 | 16.40″ x 10.88″ |
| 35mm film, scanned | 5380 x 3620 | 17.93″ x 12.06″ |
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Troy Kadavy
Creative Director
92 West
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