2006-10-26 05:46:29 · 7 answers · asked by april_hwth 4 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
I want to make prints. I'm pretty good at photography and having a baby in March. I would want to have them print up to 11 by 17.
2006-10-26 05:50:46 · update #1
You could get nice 16:20's with 8 megapixels.
2006-10-26 05:59:05 · answer #1 · answered by bgendler79 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your question could perhaps be reworded to "how big a photo quality print can I get from an 8 megapixel camera?"
This is because, in practice you can get any size print that can be produced... if you are willing to accept low quality results (or take advantage of low resolution to get unrealistic, but interesting effects. I won a photo competition once with a 16" x 20" print from a 2 megapixel image).
A simple answer to your question can be found at the first link ... which provides a chart showing picture quality for various picture sizes and megapixel ratings. The chart suggests an 8 MP camera can deliver "excellent" 20" x 30" prints (i.e. "difficult to tell from a real photo at regular viewing distance").
Print size as a function of print resolution can be calculated using the formula: print height (inches) = number of pixels high / print resolution (in dots per inch). Generally image size for high quality prints is recommended to be 200 -> 300 pixels per inch. Therefore, for an 8 MP camera (3264 x 2448 pixels):
- a 300 dpi print will be 3264/300 = 10.88" wide (by 2448/300 = 8.16" high), or
- a 200 dpi print will be 3264/200 = 16.32" wide (by 2448/200 = 12.24" high)
The "excellent" quality 30" x 20" print suggested by the first link can be calculated to be an approximately 100 dpi print (3264/100 = 32.64" wide by 2448/100 = 24.48" high) -- somewhat lower resolution than optimum.
An article with some useful information on printing is provided at the second link.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-26 14:57:03 · answer #2 · answered by agb90spruce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You really only need a 3 megapixel camera and not even that if you arent going to only use the pictures online. For online only pictures you only need a 1 or a 1.5 megapixel cam. I wouldnt be going up into the 6,7's, and 8's unless you are a proffessional and need to print pictures that big
2006-10-26 12:49:35 · answer #3 · answered by Rae 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can have them printed that size no problem. For fun you might want to have them printed on canvas they turn out great. Do a search for printing to canvas and you will find a variety of different companies that do the work.
2006-10-26 18:17:52 · answer #4 · answered by jaggercat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
15*20
2006-10-26 12:47:56 · answer #5 · answered by bor_rabnud 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Much bigger than you'll need. I get pics from a 5.0 megapixel on my 17" iMac and it still is way too big.
2006-10-26 12:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by shashanfc 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try looking it up on http://www.dpreview.com .
2006-10-26 12:50:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋