Articles. News. Information.

Category of Information, News & Articles


Digital Cameras: How Many Pixels Do I Need?


With the bewildering number of digital cameras on the market, it's increasing difficult to know where to start for your first purchase. One of the major determining factors of the price of a digital camera is the number of pixels. Nowadays, even 5.0 megapixel cameras are affordable, even for casual snapshots.

But is bigger always better?

Higher megapixel cameras do have some drawback. The first, and most obvious, is price. A basic 5.0 megapixel camera currently runs between $200 and $300. A 1.2 megapixel camera can be had for less than $50. Storage for those large pictures will also cost you more. A 32 MByte memory card will hold around a hundred 1.2 megapixel pictures. This drops right down to around 60 pictures for 2.0 megapixels and to around 40 pictures for a 3.0 megapixel model. One other consideration, not often mentioned, is that a higher megapixel camera has to do more work to compress and store images, leading to longer waits between picture shots and viewing.

Before you rush off and spend $300 for a camera, consider what you will be doing with the pictures. Are you viewing them just on your computer? Sending them as email attachments? Printing them on an existing inkjet printer? Having them professionally printed?

The larger the number of pixels, the larger the file size. An important consideration if you are emailing them as attachments. The following chart shows sample file sizes, typical resolution and maximum print size for different pixel counts stored as high-quality JPEG files:

Pixels - - - File Size - - - Resolution - - - Print Size

1.2 - - - - - 480k - - - - - 1152 x 864 - - - - - 4 x 6 inches
2.0 - - - - - 980k - - - - - 1600 x 1200 - - - - 5 x 7 inches
3.0 - - - - - 1.2M - - - - - 2048 x 1536 - - - - 10 x 8 inches
5.0 - - - - - 2.3M - - - - - 2592 x 1944 - - - - 11 x 14 inches

Most computers will only display the 2.0 megapixel image (at most) without scrolling, so you may find yourself resizing all your pictures - or not using the maximum resolution of your camera - if you have a 5.0 megapixel camera.

Only ever print pictures at 5 x 7, or only view them on a computer? Then a 2 megapixel may be enough for now. The prices will be lower next year if you want to upgrade later.

Obviously, the higher pixel cameras do have some advantages, especially when it comes to cropping and editing - and you know the salesman will want to sell you the best camera in the store - but I hope this information will help in making an informed decision.

Marty is the editor of a number of websites including http://1PhotoProducts.com and http://discountgolfequipment.us


MORE RESOURCES:

Personal Tech: Phishing attacks get personal
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - Jan 5, 2009
By Kim Komando You know to watch for phishing attacks, which use e-mail messages purporting to be from legitimate businesses to trick you into divulging ...


BluePhone Personal Tech Experts Offer Five Tips for Building a ...
International Business Times, NY - Dec 23, 2008
Here are five tips to consider before you make your decision,according to BluePhone (www.bluephone.com), the Personal Tech Supporthotline that helps ...


Personal Tech 'Zune 30 Midnight Meltdown' Angers Music Lovers
CIO Today, CA - Dec 31, 2008
Web forums are churning with angry reports of frozen 30GB Microsoft Zunes, labeled a Z2K problem and the Zune 30 Midnight Meltdown. ...


Making connections, gadget to gadget
International Herald Tribune, France - Jan 7, 2009
(A gallery of some duds from past CES shows is at nytimes.com/personaltech.) This year there certainly are many efforts to create products so stupendous ...


BRIEF: Personal Tech: Student finds way to extend battery life
TMC Net, CT - Dec 22, 2008
Imagine your cell phone lasting 12 times longer than before and you see the potential of Atif Shamim's invention. The electronics PhD student from Carlton ...


Personal tech to be focus of trade show
Daily Gleaner, Canada - Jan 8, 2009
By LUANN LASALLE MONTREAL - The television, the grande dame of household technology, should have a starring role again at this year's International Consumer ...


Solutions: Tips for troubleshooting in Internet Explorer
Tampabay.com, FL - Jan 2, 2009
Send questions to personaltech@sptimes.com or Personal Tech, PO Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Questions are answered only in this column.


Personal Tech LG Announces Broadband HDTV with Netflix Built In
CIO Today, CA - Jan 5, 2009
By Barry Levine LG Electronics will will add broadband and Netflix streaming software to its new high-definition TVs. LG's new sets will be shown at the ...


Blake Trchka: Central's go-to technology master
TheDoings-ClarendonHills.com, IL - Jan 6, 2009
Junior Blake Trchka of Clarendon Hills is the school's personal "tech guru". PHOTO COURTESY OF BLAKE TRCHKA Blake Trchka, 16, of Clarendon Hills works as a ...


Personal Tech Acer Launches Extreme Gaming Aspire Notebook
CIO Today, CA - Dec 29, 2008
By Jennifer LeClaire Acer America has launched the $1799 Aspire 8930G-7665 notebook for extreme gaming on the go with an 18.4-inch CineCrystal ...

Personal-Tech - Google News

Home | Sitemap
© 2006 eInfoJunction.com Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory| Bid Directory