what is the mega-pixel equivalent of non-digital photos?

Question

Digital Cameras have mega-pixels, but what was photographic quality measured in before digital cameras, and what approximate level of mega-pixels are regular photographs? (eg. 35mm)

Answer 1

I'm not sure you are asking the right question. For one thing, film photography images were (are) not measured in pixels. What determines a film photo's clarity is first, focus, which is determined by the equipment, (lenses, ect.) or the user (photographer, developer), and then the film's and photopaper's grain. Grain is the particles of photosensitive material in the film or the paper. Higher grain count makes for a clearer picture. Lower grain count means a less clear, grainy picture.

You may ask, why would someone bother with grainy film or paper. The answer is in the speed of the medium. For example, a low grain film can capture an image in less time, meaning, it can take a picture with less light.

Answer 2

There really is no set mega-pixel equivalent for non-digital photos, they are usually described in inches, like a 5 x 7 inch photograph. If you were to scan a photograph, it would depend on the dots per inch that you scanned it at, or if you were to take a digital photograph with a digital camera, with, say a 5 mega pixel digital camera, the resulting photo could be as large as 5 mega pixels, which means it has a lot of colors and a lot of detail, and take 5 million pixels or squares to store the color.

Answer 3

"Film Speed" ISO or ASA ratings( also refered to as DIN ratings). The higher the number the faster, and grainier the film. ISO 25 was a slow film with a fine grain, ideal for taking very detailed pictures. ISO 400 is a fast film , much improved in quality, the grain however is coarser and it usually is not good for very detailed work, like architectural shots. The digital equivalent of ISO100 35 mm film would be something in the region of 7.5 to 8 mega-pixels. To get the quality of ISO 25 would require something like 10 to 12 mega-pixels.

Answer 4

Since 35mm is not digital and therefore does not have pixels,
you can only estimate by quality.
Best estimates put normal quality color photos at no less than 8 megapixels

As for the analog quality measurement, there isn't just one measurement, (as indicated by answer above)
film speed, shutter speed, focus, paper etc

Answer 5

Is the grain size, there are Fine Grain, for example which could be a 12 megapixels.

Answer 6

u cant compare like this but u can do on sizes and precision