Digital cameras - is a higher megapixel number better or is a lower megapixel number better?

Answer 1

higher is better

Answer 2

Glad you asked.

Megapixels are only important if you are going to enlarge pictures. If you are just a home hobbyist (I guess you are, otherwise you won't be asking this type of q.) then, stay with 2 meg.

Tell you why -

When you print a picture (4" x 5" postcard size) taken with an expensive 6 or a 9 meg camera and an inexpensive 2 meg. camera they will look the same. If that's what you will be doing most of the time, why spend more?

There is this unnecessary hype out there about megapixels. It was all started by manufacturers so that the consumer will go for bigger, better, higher priced models. That's where they (the camera manufacturers) make the most money.

If you understand the principle behind digital cameras you will see it will all make sense to stay with a lower meg pix.

I am a semi-professional photographer. I am talking from a position of knowledge. If you have money to burn, by all means go for a high meg.pix camera. It also gives bragging rights.

Answer 3

Megapixel means One Million Pixels. You need at least 3 million to print a good 5x7 print on paper, but your computer monitor only needs a couple hundred to make the picture clear.

If you plan on printing your pictures on paper, get a higher megapixel camera. That also means larger file size, and the need for additional memory.

They almost all come with a memory card, but it is just for low-res shots (when you turn down the resolution on your camera). You wll always need to invest in a larger card, but you can reuse it repeatedly . And, you don't have to fill it completely before you transfer files off it.

If you plan on doing a lot of zoom-in shots, and you get an automatic, compact camera with a "3x" optical zoom, get a high-megapixel camera.

Optical zoom means how far the lens can reach in focus, and the digital zoom means how much the camera can enlarge the pixels (this makes it a little grainer). So the point is, if you need to zoom in closer, and your lend won't reach, and you use digital zoom, the more pixels you have, the clearer it will be in digital zoom.

Some also use AA batteries, which last about 2 hours, and some use a special-shaped, rechargeable lithium ion battery. These are great, but not when you're at the game, and halfway through, your battery dies and you forgot the special charger at home.

If your camera uses a special rechargeable battery, but an extra one, and bring it with, fully charged. If you get a AA battery model, get the long-life rechargeable nickel metal hydride, or disposeable lithium AA batteries. These last about 2 weeks. And the larger your LCD screen, the more battery power it will take.

So make sure to check megapixel resolution, battery type, LCD screen size, and zoom power before investing. Also remember to invest in additional batteries and a larger memory card.

Happy camera shopping!

Answer 4

It depends on what you are taking pictures for.

If you are taking pics just to have regular size pics developed for your photo album, then a camera with 3, 4, or even 5 MP is perfectly fine. With a 4 or 5 you can still blow up to larger sized pics and they are great quality. No use in spending the $$ if you are just using it as an everyday camera.

If you are planning on getting into higher quality prints, or photos for other purpose, then you will want the higher MPs, and spend more $$.

Think about the purpose before investing the $$.

PLUS, if you go to a reputable camera shop, then there are "reconditioned" cameras available (when people trade up). You can get a higher end camera for less. Try Henrys.com. They are a great company, and I've bought (and traded up) 3 cameras with them.

Answer 5

the higher, the better

megapixels is resolution

so 2 megapixels means 2 million pixels in the picture, the more pixels, the clearer the picture

Answer 6

Higher is better because you get a higher resolution picture, which basically means you can make the picture larger and still be clear.

Answer 7

Higher Mega Pixels is Better for Printing Images.

If you are going to publish the images on the web you want to reduce the images to optimize them for online viewing to make them transer faster.

For the web 2 mega pixels is plenty.

For Print you should have more like 8 mega pixels

Answer 8

the higher the better

Answer 9

the higher megapixel the better quality the picture.........................