Comparing Megapixels

 

Pixels are small dots. They are so tiny that your eyes can’t even detect one pixel. Look at the eraser end of your pencil. In a compact camera (like your waterproof camera) these 10 or 14 million dots are crammed into an area smaller than that eraser’s surface.

The more pixels you cram in a compact, the tinier they’ll be. And the less effective they’ll be at collecting light. They’ll also be jammed so tightly that they began to interfere with each other, causing random noise or colored speck in your pictures.

To correct this, your camera needs to process the pictures, a process that end up leading to softer images. That’s why higher resolution doesn’t mean better pictures. And that’s why the last year’s model may give you sharper picture than the latest camera with much higher megapixels rating.

Remember, when it comes to megapixels, more is not necessarily better.

Note:

1. The cameras are grouped into the selling price at the time of their release. The price of a few high end cameras could be lower than $200 right now.
2. This high resolution=soft pictures issue is a problem for compact cameras, but not DSLR cameras. They have much larger sensor.