What is a Megapixel?
Definition
The term megapixel means one million pixels. A digital camera whose image sensor captures a photograph with 10 million pixels, for example, is called a 10-megapixel camera.
Pixels
Simply put, a pixel is the smallest component of a digital image. A digital image is comprised of many tiny tile-like square pixels, pieced together like a mosaic. The more pixels there are in a digital photograph, the greater the photograph's resolution. Generally speaking, greater resolution leads to higher-quality images and larger prints, although it's not always the case.
Image Sensors
Digital cameras use photosensitive electronics called image sensors to capture images. Image sensors are made up of many small individual sensor elements, each one independently recording its own bit of color and light to create a pixel within a photograph. Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras use larger image sensors than most point-and-shoot compact digital cameras, and therefore produce cleaner images with less "noise." The result is that DSLR cameras perform better in low-light conditions than digital compacts.
Picture Quality
Megapixels are only one element of picture quality. While a certain number of megapixels are needed to produce acceptable prints and enlargements, beyond that point more megapixels do not always mean higher quality. Other equally important factors that determine picture quality are:
How Many Megapixels Do You Need?
Most of today's digital cameras have more than 10 megapixels, which is far more than a casual photographer will need to make quality enlargements. Even an 8 megapixel camera will produce images that can be printed up to 8-by-12 inches at a very high resolution.
The term megapixel means one million pixels. A digital camera whose image sensor captures a photograph with 10 million pixels, for example, is called a 10-megapixel camera.
Pixels
Simply put, a pixel is the smallest component of a digital image. A digital image is comprised of many tiny tile-like square pixels, pieced together like a mosaic. The more pixels there are in a digital photograph, the greater the photograph's resolution. Generally speaking, greater resolution leads to higher-quality images and larger prints, although it's not always the case.
Image Sensors
Digital cameras use photosensitive electronics called image sensors to capture images. Image sensors are made up of many small individual sensor elements, each one independently recording its own bit of color and light to create a pixel within a photograph. Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras use larger image sensors than most point-and-shoot compact digital cameras, and therefore produce cleaner images with less "noise." The result is that DSLR cameras perform better in low-light conditions than digital compacts.
Picture Quality
Megapixels are only one element of picture quality. While a certain number of megapixels are needed to produce acceptable prints and enlargements, beyond that point more megapixels do not always mean higher quality. Other equally important factors that determine picture quality are:
- Correct exposure and focus
- Using the camera's maximum resolution settings
- Using the lowest ISO setting possible
- Proper lighting
- Lens quality
- Steadying the camera
How Many Megapixels Do You Need?
Most of today's digital cameras have more than 10 megapixels, which is far more than a casual photographer will need to make quality enlargements. Even an 8 megapixel camera will produce images that can be printed up to 8-by-12 inches at a very high resolution.