Megapixels describes a digital camera that can capture over a million pixels of image data per picture. The higher the megapixels rating, the better the image qualities. Images may look fine on your camera's LCD display or your computer screen, but megapixels quality becomes more important with prints.
- 1-megapixels cameras have a resolution of 1280x1024 and higher. A photo with this resolution will give you fine 5x7 prints but should not be enlarged beyond that or you'll notice a loss in image quality.
- 2-megapixels cameras have a resolution of 1600x1200 or higher. Images at this resolution give you good quality 8x10 prints. This type of camera is the best choice if you want the same qualities and size prints as you get from a standard film camera.
- 3-megapixels cameras capture 3 million pixels and can produce quality 11x14 prints. Even if you don't intend to make prints that big, it's good to have the resolution because it lets you to crop your images and still keep a high quality picture.
Example: If you cropped out one-third of a photo you took with a 3-megapixels camera, you'd still have 2 million pixels left. This means you'd still have enough resolution to make a high quality 8x10 print. If you started with a 2-megapixel image and cropped out one-third, you'd now only be able to make a high quality 5x7.
Quick Reference Chart
| |
Print Size and Quality
|
| Resolution |
4"x6" |
5"x7" |
8"x10" |
11"x14" |
| 1 Megapixel |
High |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
| 2 Megapixels |
Excellent |
High |
Good |
Fair |
| 3 Megapixels |
Excellent |
Excellent |
High |
Good |
|
