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