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Megapixels
Pixels and megapixels
Digital cameras capture images as pixel elements, known as pixels. Simply put, a megapixel is equal to one million pixels.
Digital images are made up of thousands of these tiny, tile-like picture elements. The more pixels, the higher the image resolution. Resolution relates primarily to print size and the amount of detail an image has when viewed on a computer monitor at 100%.
The number of megapixels is only one aspect relating to the quality of a camera, or the actual quality of a photo it is capable of producing. Factors such as camera sensor and the optical quality of a lens play equally important roles.
If you buy a digital camera with too few megapixels for your printing and editing needs, your photos will be degraded.
Deciding the "right" number of megapixels does not have to be confusing. Two main factors should be at the core of a decision when purchasing a digital camera: desired features and the number of megapixels based on the maximum print size you plan to make.
