Megapixel Myth?
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- Projectile0
with a lens the size of those on a normal compact camera, anything above 5mpx is pretty much pointless imo.
haha my first camera was 3mpx.. but had "pro" mode where you could go up to 7!!!!! bearing in mind this was in 1999.. there was no such thing as a 7mpx sensor. I even tested it. Took the same photo with both of a deodorant can, and when you zoomed in, the detail level was still the same- just couldn't read the fine print
- vaxorcist0
For some people, DXO Mark sensor scores are the new megapixels
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php…
but really... good gear, actual talent, good subject, pick any 2
- wow, my D90 beats an EOS 1D Mark II N and 5D according to thisenfocusmedia
- check in various conditions... like low light... they do like D90 though... I like 5D m1vaxorcist
- akrokdesign0
maybe it's not a myth. more of being misinformed.
it's not like a reviewer says, but you probably don't need it if you already have a 5mega pixel camera.
- felizfeliz0
you can change the megapixel settings on a camera. i've got a crappy 5megapixel pental but i shoot at 3 megapixels. and it still looks shite.
- Hear, hear! I once switched my K10D from 10MP to 6MP in Cuba to save memory card space :)raf
- ayport0
Seems to me that it is the process by which an image is scaled up from its original dimensions is most important.
- quamb0
It's common sense really, though I guess people get caught up on the tech-stats.
A 1-megapixel camera compared to a 20-megapixel camera, obviously there is going to be a difference. Just like shooting on 8mm vs IMAX film. Seems for 90% of people, the sweet spot is around the 6-megapixel mark, anything more is kind of useless data.
The real con imo, are these cropped sensors being used and sold in "prosumer" SLR's.
- I prefer to have about 8MP then from there its all in the sensor and lens quality.ETM
- raf0
At some point sensor resolution isn't a problem anymore, it is when the lens becomes a bottleneck.
Not everyone realizes, lenses do have physical limitation as to how many lines of resolution they can deliver.
- sequoia0
the test also doesn't deal with color resolution and dynamic range, which are important features that are updated with every generation of a camera.
- version30
"lenses do have physical limitation as to how many lines of resolution they can deliver. "
what?!?!?!?!
i want to kick someone so hard right now- sounds like you hve anger management issues. take it easy dude.felizfeliz
- version30
- MTF is a factor of the lensesversion3
- http://www.tmworld.c…version3
- raf0
I strongly disagree with high ISO being a hype. I would easily trade MP for ISO.
Being able to shoot hand-held in low light is something that was beyond reach with 35mm film. Actually, good high ISO performance is the only reason I am planning to upgrade my 5D to 5D MkII.
- DoktorDavid0
Lighting; subject; skill; "eye" - the rules really don't change - I've seen some 5mp images that totally stopped me dead in my tracks and some 20mp of my own that I go "what the fuck was I thinking?"
- quamb0
"lenses do have physical limitation as to how many lines of resolution they can deliver. "
Lenses have nothing to do with resolution. Sharpness & contrast is what you're after. This is the difference between a 200$ and 4000$ lens.
- It's not exactly "resolution", but detail. Is there a point a lens will not deliver more detail regardless of megapixels?raf
- raf0
I once read an opinion that the ability of point&shoot camera lenses to resolve image ends at about 7MP (they have all small lenses, no matter Zeiss or Schmeiss).
I don't know how true this is, but I must say I kind of doubt I'd get a sharper image from a 12MP €300 camera than its 8MP predecessor from 2-3 years ago.
- you'd need to take the improvement in mechanical and onboard software also.airey
- raf0
Just to be clear, I am not sure about the relation of lens limitation to sensor resolution, I am not a physicist.
I understand there is a limit beyond which a lens will not deliver more detail. If someone can prove me wrong and educate, I'll be happy.
- sequoia0
raf you are correct. I'm not a physicist either but I did study photographic optics in college. Lenses do have a limitation to how much they can resolve, which as V3 linked can be measured, usually in the form of a MTF chart. But this usually is not the limiting factor in a cameras final resolution. It's usually the senor.
Here's an odd fact. The smaller a lens the higher it's ability to resolve. But at the same time then you en up with a smaller image circle, which limits the size of senors that can be used.