How many pixels is enough for a digital camera?

Answer 1

If you always plan to compose your pictures perfectly, you don't need a whole lot of pixels. If you want to allow for cropping, which means enlarging only a portion of your image, the more pixels the better.

Imagine taking a scenic view and then noticing that the middle 20% of the photo would make an even better picture. Suppose you take a picture of a whole group of people and Aunt Clara really, really looks great in the picture, but everyone else looks lousy. If you have the pixels to work with, you can still make a decent print of Aunt Clara that she would be happy to have.

If you buy an 8-to-10 MP camera and don't want to TAKE large photos, you can always set the camera to a lower file size. You can never go the other direction, though. Unless the cost is a major issue, buy the camera with more pixels. You will never be sorry that you did, but you might one day be sorry that you didn't.
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Answer 2

Above 5 mp and you have enough to print posters. Will your photo printer or computer letter size printer print posters. But let's be the first to get the new 7 mp this Christmas season. 2 mp is enough for photo resolution 5 by 7 prints and they don't even sell those any more. At what point do we quit buying technology beyond what we need just to have the newest item. How many of you are going to buy a printer and actually print posters? Don't buy the unneeded 6 or 7 mp and we can get the 2 mp back at $19.95 for the camera and the printer.

Answer 3

I'm no expert - and I'm sure someone who is will answer too lol - but I found that 3mp meant I couldn't blow the picture up beyond 6 x 5. It started to get fuzzy above that size. I now have a 5mp camera and can print the pics off at any size. So I guess it depends what you need to use it for, if it's just family pictures that you'll print off at a normal size it won't matter much. Hope that helps x

Answer 4

I use to have 5 million pixels camera, and recently bought 10 million pix. So I could say if you are not professional photographer and if you don't need to print pic on A0 size page, then believe me 5 million is more than enough.

Answer 5

It all depends on how you what to use your pitures.

I am a photographer for my highschool so I know what I am talking about here, not to sound snooty.

1 megapixel = 1,000,000 pixels.

If you are a beginner and just plan on printing pictures for your self, then 3 to 5MP is sufficient enough for you.

But if you are really seriousl and take pictures and you would like for them to be printed or submitted to a photo site, then 7 or above.

My camera is a canon digital rebel xti and it is 10.2MP which is enough to print a poster, and can still go bigger by a lot.

I hope this helps you in some way.

PS: here is a chart to better help you.

Answer 6

Obviously, much depends on exactly what you're photographing...but I made many enquiries before buying mine...and I need mine to photograph Oil Paintings to down load onto the web....and I found that around 4~5 million pixals is enough. You might even go down to 3~4 million pixals for home use. You dont really need 8~9 million. Dont get too hung up on pixal numbers. Its not the most important aspect of a digi cam

Answer 7

When I bought my camera in Singapore, I was told you only need really high pixels if your going to enlarge the pic to A2 size.....


My camera is 7 mega pixels and its fantastic

Answer 8

it also depends on what resolution you have the camera set on, i have an old 1.3 mp camera, on low res it holds 500 pics, on the highest res (tiff format) it holds 2...they can be blown up huge no problem. also as someone else already said the quality of the lens is very important, buy a good camera with less pixels rather than some unknown make for less money with loads.

Answer 9

A camera with a good quality lens will out perform one with a cheap lens, whatever the pixel-count.

Answer 10

how good is your tv picture?thats less than 1,000,000 pixels,on average 2 mp is ok our eyes can't realy notice the difference..