| If you are on the market for a new digital camera then | | | | such usage. Consider your computer screen resolution |
| there is a good chance that you are asking yourself | | | | which is in most cases 1024X768 - even when |
| that exact question. Maybe the number of megapixels | | | | viewing your digital photos in full screen mode you are |
| that you are considering is different. Do you really need | | | | only really watching 1024X768 < 1 megapixels. A 2 |
| a 16MP digital camera? 8MP? 6MP? This article tries | | | | megapixels 4X6 photo print has a DPI higher than 300 |
| to help you answering this question. | | | | which is more than enough for a good quality print. If |
| New digital camera models that are put on the market | | | | you plan to print enlargements consider the following |
| support more and more megapixels. This race for | | | | table for the recommended number of megapixels for |
| more megapixels is in part driven by manufacturers | | | | different print sizes (based on print quality of about 300 |
| who want you to buy their newest and greatest digital | | | | DPI):page 4X6 2MPpage 5X7 3MPpage 8X10 |
| camera and the easiest way for them to make you | | | | 7MPpage 11X14 14MPpage 16X20 28MPpage 20X30 |
| compare cameras is by using one simple number - | | | | 54MP |
| megapixels - the higher the better or at least this is | | | | When considering spending more of your digital |
| what they want you to think. | | | | camera budget on getting more megapixels you |
| But reality is different. When it comes to megapixels | | | | should ask yourself questions like: should I instead get |
| more is not necessarily better. Since most of us have | | | | better lenses? Should I instead get an external flash |
| a limited budget that we are willing to spend on a digital | | | | unit? Should I instead get extra storage media? |
| camera spending more money to get more | | | | Don't be a victim of the megapixels race. In many |
| megapixels means spending less on other features or | | | | ways the race for more megapixels is similar to the |
| accessories - such as storage and lenses. The overall | | | | race for more megahertz on personal computers. In |
| quality of your photography experience is dependent | | | | early days when computers speeds were slow - |
| on such extra features. | | | | more megahertz was important. Today though - |
| When deciding on the number of megapixels that you | | | | having a 4Ghz or 5Ghz computer does not make a |
| need you should first consider what your expected | | | | difference and you are better off spending more |
| usage is. You need more megapixels if you plan to | | | | money on more memory than more megahertz. The |
| print photos (especially big enlargements) or if you | | | | same is true with megapixels - in early digital cameras |
| need to zoom in and grab fine details out of big digital | | | | days the number of megapixels was low and it was |
| photos. On the other hand - you do not need much if | | | | important to get more. Today with most cameras |
| you plan to watch your digital photos on your | | | | having a high number of megapixels it is probably |
| computer screen and occasionally print a few 4X6 | | | | wiser to get better lenses or more storage than |
| prints. In fact 2 megapixels are more than enough for | | | | upgrading from 8MP to 10MP. |