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How Many Megapixels Do You Really Need?
How Many Megapixels Do You Really Need?
by Keenan Hursh
When it comes to modern-day digital cameras, one of the most common specifications that people look at is the megapixel count. Megapixels are the unit of measurement used to describe the resolution of a digital image, with one megapixel being equal to one million pixels. But how many megapixels do you really need in your camera? Is a higher megapixel count always better? In this article, we'll take a deep dive into these questions and more.
First, it's important to understand what exactly a megapixel is and how it affects the quality of your images. Simply put, a higher megapixel count means that your camera is capable of capturing more detail in each image. This can be especially important if you plan on printing your photos at larger sizes or if you want to crop your images heavily while maintaining a high level of detail and sharpness.
That being said, it's worth noting that a higher megapixel count doesn't necessarily equate to better image quality. Other significant factors such as sensor size, lens quality, and camera settings can all have a significant impact on the final image. In fact, cramming too many pixels onto a small sensor can actually result in more noise and reduced dynamic range, which can lead to lower image quality overall.
So, how many megapixels do you really need? Of course, there isn’t a simple black-and-white answer to this question. What it really comes down to is your style of photography and what you plan to do with your images. To start let’s look at the most popular types of sensors available today. Once we have a better understanding of what’s out there, we can dive into the primary question of today’s article.
First, it's important to understand what exactly a megapixel is and how it affects the quality of your images. Simply put, a higher megapixel count means that your camera is capable of capturing more detail in each image. This can be especially important if you plan on printing your photos at larger sizes or if you want to crop your images heavily while maintaining a high level of detail and sharpness.
That being said, it's worth noting that a higher megapixel count doesn't necessarily equate to better image quality. Other significant factors such as sensor size, lens quality, and camera settings can all have a significant impact on the final image. In fact, cramming too many pixels onto a small sensor can actually result in more noise and reduced dynamic range, which can lead to lower image quality overall.
So, how many megapixels do you really need? Of course, there isn’t a simple black-and-white answer to this question. What it really comes down to is your style of photography and what you plan to do with your images. To start let’s look at the most popular types of sensors available today. Once we have a better understanding of what’s out there, we can dive into the primary question of today’s article.
Types of Sensors:
The art of photography has come a long way since its inception, and with the advent of digital cameras, the way we capture images has drastically changed. One of the most critical components of a digital camera is the sensor, which is responsible for capturing light and converting it into an image. Just like in the olden days, size is the main factor here. Just as 120mm film is higher quality than 35mm film a larger sensor will most likely be higher quality than a smaller one.
There are many different types of camera sensors currently available, so let’s dive into the most popular options and discuss the differences between full-frame, crop sensor, and micro four thirds camera sensors.
The art of photography has come a long way since its inception, and with the advent of digital cameras, the way we capture images has drastically changed. One of the most critical components of a digital camera is the sensor, which is responsible for capturing light and converting it into an image. Just like in the olden days, size is the main factor here. Just as 120mm film is higher quality than 35mm film a larger sensor will most likely be higher quality than a smaller one.
There are many different types of camera sensors currently available, so let’s dive into the most popular options and discuss the differences between full-frame, crop sensor, and micro four thirds camera sensors.
Full-Frame
Apart from medium format cameras, which are very expensive and not widely popular, full-frame sensors are the largest you can get your hands on in consumer-facing digital cameras. These measure roughly 36mm x 24mm and are the same size as a 35mm film negative, which is where the name “full-frame” comes from. These sensors capture the entire image that is projected through the lens and don’t crop into the image at all.
Full-frame sensors are larger, heavier, and more expensive than their smaller counterparts but this is for good reason as they come with many benefits. To start, as we mentioned before, the more pixels you can squeeze into a sensor the more detail you can obtain. And the larger the sensor, the easier it is to add more pixels. So probably the most important benefit of full-frame sensors is the increased detail and information in the images you’re capturing. If you want to turn your images into massive prints, then a full-frame sensor is the way to go.
In addition to this, the pixels are often larger on full-frame sensors allowing each pixel to capture more light ultimately producing images with greater color depth and dynamic range. Full-frame sensors, especially those in newer mirrorless cameras, also perform better in low-light situations allowing you to shoot at higher ISOs without adding too much noise to your images.
So there are some clear benefits to full-frame sensors but these do come at a price. First of all the actual price of any full-frame camera body will be significantly higher than cameras with alternative sensors. Not only that, but full-frame bodies are often larger and heavier than cameras with smaller sensors. If you have the money and don’t mind a bit of extra weight and volume, then a full-frame sensor might be the right option for you.
Apart from medium format cameras, which are very expensive and not widely popular, full-frame sensors are the largest you can get your hands on in consumer-facing digital cameras. These measure roughly 36mm x 24mm and are the same size as a 35mm film negative, which is where the name “full-frame” comes from. These sensors capture the entire image that is projected through the lens and don’t crop into the image at all.
Full-frame sensors are larger, heavier, and more expensive than their smaller counterparts but this is for good reason as they come with many benefits. To start, as we mentioned before, the more pixels you can squeeze into a sensor the more detail you can obtain. And the larger the sensor, the easier it is to add more pixels. So probably the most important benefit of full-frame sensors is the increased detail and information in the images you’re capturing. If you want to turn your images into massive prints, then a full-frame sensor is the way to go.
In addition to this, the pixels are often larger on full-frame sensors allowing each pixel to capture more light ultimately producing images with greater color depth and dynamic range. Full-frame sensors, especially those in newer mirrorless cameras, also perform better in low-light situations allowing you to shoot at higher ISOs without adding too much noise to your images.
So there are some clear benefits to full-frame sensors but these do come at a price. First of all the actual price of any full-frame camera body will be significantly higher than cameras with alternative sensors. Not only that, but full-frame bodies are often larger and heavier than cameras with smaller sensors. If you have the money and don’t mind a bit of extra weight and volume, then a full-frame sensor might be the right option for you.
Crop Sensor
If achieving maximum detail or producing large prints of your work aren’t deal breakers for you then perhaps a crop sensor is a good route. Crop sensor cameras are smaller than full-frame sensors, with sizes ranging from 23.6mm x 15.7mm to 22.3mm x 14.9mm. The term "crop" comes from the fact that the sensor captures a smaller portion of the image projected by the lens, resulting in a narrower field of view. This also means that the advertised focal length on many lenses will increase when shooting on a crop sensor camera.
Perhaps these sensors are a bit smaller and produce images with fewer pixels but there are some benefits after all. The first benefit has to be the price. You can still capture gorgeous pictures and achieve many things with crop sensors all at a fraction of the price of full-frame cameras. In fact, if you’re mostly shooting images for social media or to be viewed on phones, tablets, and computer screens then a crop sensor will probably be able to achieve whatever you need it to. Unless you’re massively cropping images or printing them very large you won’t even be able to tell the difference in image resolution.
Additionally, these cameras are often smaller and lighter than full-frame cameras making them ideal for traveling, hiking, or any situation where you have limited weight and space capacity. And finally, if you’re shooting wildlife or far away subjects the built-in crop factor can actually extend the focal length of your lens bringing you closer to your subject.
That being said, there are some drawbacks to crop sensors. The first obvious one is image quality and resolution. There are fewer pixels on these smaller sensors and the pixels themselves are often smaller. This results in lower-resolution images as well as lower dynamic range and color depth. Your photo won’t lose all color or look blocky by any means, but these are important factors to consider. You will also have less performance in low-light situations and your images will have more noise added to them when shooting at higher ISOs. And finally, due to the crop factor, your wide-angle lens may not be quite as wide as you’d like.
If you’re working with a budget, want a lightweight and compact camera body, and aren’t planning on printing your images super large then a crop sensor is a great option. I started out on a crop sensor body, and I was amazed at some of the images I was able to capture.
If achieving maximum detail or producing large prints of your work aren’t deal breakers for you then perhaps a crop sensor is a good route. Crop sensor cameras are smaller than full-frame sensors, with sizes ranging from 23.6mm x 15.7mm to 22.3mm x 14.9mm. The term "crop" comes from the fact that the sensor captures a smaller portion of the image projected by the lens, resulting in a narrower field of view. This also means that the advertised focal length on many lenses will increase when shooting on a crop sensor camera.
Perhaps these sensors are a bit smaller and produce images with fewer pixels but there are some benefits after all. The first benefit has to be the price. You can still capture gorgeous pictures and achieve many things with crop sensors all at a fraction of the price of full-frame cameras. In fact, if you’re mostly shooting images for social media or to be viewed on phones, tablets, and computer screens then a crop sensor will probably be able to achieve whatever you need it to. Unless you’re massively cropping images or printing them very large you won’t even be able to tell the difference in image resolution.
Additionally, these cameras are often smaller and lighter than full-frame cameras making them ideal for traveling, hiking, or any situation where you have limited weight and space capacity. And finally, if you’re shooting wildlife or far away subjects the built-in crop factor can actually extend the focal length of your lens bringing you closer to your subject.
That being said, there are some drawbacks to crop sensors. The first obvious one is image quality and resolution. There are fewer pixels on these smaller sensors and the pixels themselves are often smaller. This results in lower-resolution images as well as lower dynamic range and color depth. Your photo won’t lose all color or look blocky by any means, but these are important factors to consider. You will also have less performance in low-light situations and your images will have more noise added to them when shooting at higher ISOs. And finally, due to the crop factor, your wide-angle lens may not be quite as wide as you’d like.
If you’re working with a budget, want a lightweight and compact camera body, and aren’t planning on printing your images super large then a crop sensor is a great option. I started out on a crop sensor body, and I was amazed at some of the images I was able to capture.
Micro Four Thirds
And finally, we’ve arrived at the third popular sensor option in today’s market. The micro four thirds sensor. These are even smaller than crop sensors, measuring 17.3mm x 13mm. They are commonly used in modern mirrorless cameras and are becoming increasingly popular. Micro four thirds sensors offer several advantages over larger sensors.
Micro four thirds sensors are even smaller than crop sensors meaning the camera itself can be even smaller. If you want a lightweight, compact camera body and smaller lens options but still want decent image quality this could be a great option for you. Additionally, cameras using micro four thirds sensors are often quite affordable allowing people with smaller budgets to break into the mirrorless market.
When it comes to disadvantages it’s really a continuation of the same conversation. Just like crop sensors compared to full frame sensors you will have reduced image quality, resolution, dynamic range, and color depth. That being said, you can still take some really solid images for such a small sensor. If you want a lightweight and compact setup for capturing content designed for social media or the web then check out some micro four thirds cameras.
And finally, we’ve arrived at the third popular sensor option in today’s market. The micro four thirds sensor. These are even smaller than crop sensors, measuring 17.3mm x 13mm. They are commonly used in modern mirrorless cameras and are becoming increasingly popular. Micro four thirds sensors offer several advantages over larger sensors.
Micro four thirds sensors are even smaller than crop sensors meaning the camera itself can be even smaller. If you want a lightweight, compact camera body and smaller lens options but still want decent image quality this could be a great option for you. Additionally, cameras using micro four thirds sensors are often quite affordable allowing people with smaller budgets to break into the mirrorless market.
When it comes to disadvantages it’s really a continuation of the same conversation. Just like crop sensors compared to full frame sensors you will have reduced image quality, resolution, dynamic range, and color depth. That being said, you can still take some really solid images for such a small sensor. If you want a lightweight and compact setup for capturing content designed for social media or the web then check out some micro four thirds cameras.
So, How Many Megapixels do you Really Need?
Now that we’ve broken down the three main types of sensors available today and discussed some benefits and drawbacks of each, we can get into the meat of today’s article: How many megapixels do you really need? Do you need a super expensive camera that has a full-frame sensor with 50 plus megapixels or will a more affordable camera with say 12-25 megapixels on a smaller surface area get the job done?
If you're primarily sharing your photos on social media or displaying them on a website, a camera with a lower megapixel count will likely get the job done. These images will still look great on a screen, and you won't need to worry as much about storage space or processing power.
If you plan on producing large prints of your photos, however, you'll want to opt for a higher megapixel count. A resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) is the standard for high-quality prints, so you'll want to ensure that your camera can capture enough detail to meet this requirement. For example, if you plan on printing a 12x18 inch photo at 300 ppi, you'll want a camera with at least 13 megapixels.
That being said, another factor people often don’t think about when printing images is the distance the viewer is from the print. The larger the print, the farther back the viewer will stand in order to see the entire thing. This means that they will be able to discern less detail in the image. If you print a photo from a lower-megapixel camera quite large, the viewer probably won’t even notice unless they stand very close to the print.
It's also important to consider whether or not you plan on cropping your images heavily. If you do, you'll want to opt for a camera with a higher megapixel count to ensure that you still have enough detail after cropping. Keep in mind, however, that even a high megapixel count won't necessarily save an image that was poorly composed in-camera. It's always better to get your composition right in-camera rather than relying on post-processing to fix it later.
Ultimately, the decision of how many megapixels you need in your camera comes down to your own needs and preferences. Consider what you plan on using your images for and weigh the benefits of a higher megapixel count against the potential drawbacks. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t get too caught up in the number of megapixels. Of course, this is an important element of any digital camera, but it is only one among many. Perhaps it makes more sense to spend your money on a nicer lens with better optics. Ultimately, you’ll have to think about your own photography style and what will work best for you.
I sincerely hope this article was informative and educational and that it helps to steer you in the right direction when purchasing your next camera. As always, enjoy the journey and have fun on your next photography adventure!
Now that we’ve broken down the three main types of sensors available today and discussed some benefits and drawbacks of each, we can get into the meat of today’s article: How many megapixels do you really need? Do you need a super expensive camera that has a full-frame sensor with 50 plus megapixels or will a more affordable camera with say 12-25 megapixels on a smaller surface area get the job done?
If you're primarily sharing your photos on social media or displaying them on a website, a camera with a lower megapixel count will likely get the job done. These images will still look great on a screen, and you won't need to worry as much about storage space or processing power.
If you plan on producing large prints of your photos, however, you'll want to opt for a higher megapixel count. A resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) is the standard for high-quality prints, so you'll want to ensure that your camera can capture enough detail to meet this requirement. For example, if you plan on printing a 12x18 inch photo at 300 ppi, you'll want a camera with at least 13 megapixels.
That being said, another factor people often don’t think about when printing images is the distance the viewer is from the print. The larger the print, the farther back the viewer will stand in order to see the entire thing. This means that they will be able to discern less detail in the image. If you print a photo from a lower-megapixel camera quite large, the viewer probably won’t even notice unless they stand very close to the print.
It's also important to consider whether or not you plan on cropping your images heavily. If you do, you'll want to opt for a camera with a higher megapixel count to ensure that you still have enough detail after cropping. Keep in mind, however, that even a high megapixel count won't necessarily save an image that was poorly composed in-camera. It's always better to get your composition right in-camera rather than relying on post-processing to fix it later.
Ultimately, the decision of how many megapixels you need in your camera comes down to your own needs and preferences. Consider what you plan on using your images for and weigh the benefits of a higher megapixel count against the potential drawbacks. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t get too caught up in the number of megapixels. Of course, this is an important element of any digital camera, but it is only one among many. Perhaps it makes more sense to spend your money on a nicer lens with better optics. Ultimately, you’ll have to think about your own photography style and what will work best for you.
I sincerely hope this article was informative and educational and that it helps to steer you in the right direction when purchasing your next camera. As always, enjoy the journey and have fun on your next photography adventure!
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Keenan Hursh is a Photographer, visual designer, and creative story teller based out of Bozeman, Montana. He draws inspiration from his frequent excursions into the natural world and always brings his camera along to capture whatever adventures he finds himself in. Keenan is passionate about documenting and sharing fleeting moments from the natural world and focuses primarily on wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography.
When it comes to gear, he primarily shoots digital with his Canon EOS R5 and EOS 6D mark ii but also has several 35mm film cameras that get out every now and then.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images.
Growing up in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, Keenan has developed a deep passion for many outdoor activities. When he’s not out on a shoot or using his camera, Keenan enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, cycling, whitewater rafting, and paragliding. If he’s outside, away from the distractions of society and civilization, he’s in his happy place.
Keenan studied Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver while minoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Since earning his degree in 2019 he was worked with a wide range of clients, companies, and organizations throughout his career. Apart from photography he specializes in content creation, writing, brand development, and graphic design.
You can view Keenan’s portfolio on his website at www.keenanhurshphoto.com
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BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
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Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.