All Those Megapixels – A Digital Camera Resolution Comparison

So you’ve finally decided to get yourself a brand new digital camera, but upon entering the store, you are overwhelmed by the wide variety of choices. Every model boasts different features and strengths such as Shooting Modes, Image Stabilization System, large Lcd Display, etc. However, there is that one term which usually raises the eyebrows of consumers and that’s ‘resolution’. So what is a ‘resolution’ and why is it a vital component to consider when purchasing a digital camera? Read on to find the answers.

‘Resolution’ Defined

A resolution is simply the sharpness and clarity of an image. It is measured by pixels which are dots arranged vertically and horizontally to form a picture. When you multiply both pixels, you get a megapixel which is used to label a camera’s resolution. For example, a camera with 2,048 (horizontal) x 1,536 (vertical) pixel count yields 3,145,728 pixels, or 3 MP. In a nutshell the higher the resolution, the higher the image detail.

Besides image resolution, there’s also a screen resolution which describes the amount of pixels displayed in television sets and monitors. It is expressed in dots per inch (DPI) so that for a 640×480 pixel screen, it denotes that there are 640 dots for 480 lines. Additionally, a print resolution is the number of dots per inch when printing on paper.

Comparison of Digital Camera Resolutions

Of course,
digital cameras
started at 1 MP which has a resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels. 4 x 6 prints from these are usually grainier though, compared to those taken from a 2 MP camera or 1600 x 1200 pixels. However, prints larger than 4 x 6 will lack significant image details.

Meanwhile, a 3 MP camera which has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels produces images that aren’t nearly as good as that of 35 mm film cameras. Even a 5.3 MP camera of 3008 x 1960 resolution barely matches up to film.

Your best bet would be a 6 MP digital camera. With a resolution of 3088 x 2056, your are assured of quality prints, not only in 4 x 6 sizes but even for 8 x 10.

However, if you want to level with professional medium format cameras, you can opt for those with a 7-8 MP resolution. Better yet, go for the 10-13 MP, but you must note that high resolution images use up a lot of space. Thus, your memory storage device must be relatively large.

Nikon COOLPIX S600 10.0 Megapixels Digital Camera

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