How Many Mega-Pixels Do I Need?
Posted on December 13, 2009
Filed Under Digital Camera Features, Good Digital Cameras |
One of the confusing things in choosing a digital camera is deciding how many mega-pixels you should look for. The answer relies on what you plan on doing with the enhanced pictures.
To begin with, you need to have a good understanding what a pixel is. In terms of digital prints, a pixel simply means a dot of color that makes up the image. A mega-pixel is equal to one million pixels. The more mega-pixels a camera has, the more the amount of information it records.
The easiest way to decide what to look for is to know what size prints you are likely to print from your camera. A one mega-pixel camera is fine for those who don’t plan on printing photos but rather just hold onto them for safe-keeping. A small print, say 3×5, will print acceptably from this camera.
A 2 mega-pixel camera will enable you to produce decent quality 5 x 7 prints and fair quality 8 x 10 prints. When you reach 4 mega-pixels you can print out excellent quality 8 x 10 prints and acceptable 13×19 prints and a 5 mega pixel camera will allow you to print out high quality 20×24 prints.
Most photographers buy a camera in the 3.2 Mega-pixel range to be the best choice. The quality of both 5 x & and 8 X 10 prints is great yet the files on your computer are not so large you you don’t have to be concerned about having enough hard drive space.
Any camera over 5 mega-pixels is not necessary for all but professionals in photography; even then, only those who have need for poster-size prints find that many mega-pixels worth the money. Most freelance photographers find 4 or 5 mega-pixels to be sufficient for excellent-quality prints.
It’s up to you. Look to what you plan on enlarging with your digital files and then decide. In most cases spending the money for increased optical zoom and lower mega-pixels is the proper decision.
Author: Richard’s Photography - San Antonio Portraits
Senior Portraits in San Antonio
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