What is the difference between megapixels and interpolation mega pixels on a camera?

Answer 1

megapixels are the actual dots of color recorded by the camera that go together to make up the image. (mega means millions and pixels means 'picture elements')

Interpolation is post processing. Let's say you have a 6 million pixel shot that you want to blow up poster size and to do that you need 24 million dots. the software spaces the existing dots out and then takes it's best guess at what should go in the gaps. This is a bit of a hit and miss approach that ends up slightly degrading the image. They overcome this by intelligently trying to preserve edges and re-sharpening etc, but there is always some loss of quality.

Some cameras interpolate inside the camera - this is a no no, avoid a camera that does this.

Answer 2

interpolation megapixels = the picture taken at 1Mpixel (it's an example) can be interpolated to 3Mpixels by software, it's the same effect when you resize a picture in photoshop or another picture software.

Real megapixels are the real hardware capabilities.

Answer 3

Interpolation is a software algorithm to expand the size by mutiplying pixels, like a scanner does.

ACTUAL MP is what you want to go by.

Answer 4

interpolation is bad
the camera guesses what the picture should look like
and adds the needed pixels

Answer 5

I could tell you but then i whould have to kill you!!!!