The Megapixel Myth
Read the following exchange:
"Hello sir, may I help you with some cameras?"
"Oh, yes. Thanks... I was trying to decide between the Nikon d7000 and the Canon 7d... Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, as you can see, the Nikon shoots at 16 megapixels. The Canon shoots at 18. That's why you see such a price jump from $1,299 to $1,699."
"So you think I should get the Canon 7d?"
"Yes, it is much better because it shoots at a much higher resolution."
If that is your only reason for choosing the Canon 7d over the Nikon d7000, you are off to the wrong start in the digital photography business. Digital cameras cannot be defined by their megapixels. For example, the 6 megapixel Nikon d40 dSLR camera is much better than almost any 10 megapixel point and shoot camera. There are many reasons for this, from sensor size and quality to the lens on the camera.
The megapixel myth is the belief that more megapixels equals a better camera. The problem with most small point and shoot cameras is that they have such a small sensor inside them that having a lot of megapixels is probably worse for them.
If you imagine a camera sensor, there is only so much space on it. The more tiny little light sensors (called pixels) you try to cram on that small space, the smaller each will be. Smaller pixels have a harder time capturing light, therefore the noise (grain) of the camera image will increase. On the other hand, having a large sensor with fewer pixels will equal much better light capturing ability. That's why point and shoot cameras look horrible when you shoot in low light without a flash. Most dSLR cameras look fine in the same situation because the actual size of each pixel is much bigger, since there is more space on the large sensor.
Be wary when buying a camera just because it has more megapixels. What's much better than more megapixels is a bigger sensor size.
"Hello sir, may I help you with some cameras?"
"Oh, yes. Thanks... I was trying to decide between the Nikon d7000 and the Canon 7d... Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, as you can see, the Nikon shoots at 16 megapixels. The Canon shoots at 18. That's why you see such a price jump from $1,299 to $1,699."
"So you think I should get the Canon 7d?"
"Yes, it is much better because it shoots at a much higher resolution."
If that is your only reason for choosing the Canon 7d over the Nikon d7000, you are off to the wrong start in the digital photography business. Digital cameras cannot be defined by their megapixels. For example, the 6 megapixel Nikon d40 dSLR camera is much better than almost any 10 megapixel point and shoot camera. There are many reasons for this, from sensor size and quality to the lens on the camera.
The megapixel myth is the belief that more megapixels equals a better camera. The problem with most small point and shoot cameras is that they have such a small sensor inside them that having a lot of megapixels is probably worse for them.
If you imagine a camera sensor, there is only so much space on it. The more tiny little light sensors (called pixels) you try to cram on that small space, the smaller each will be. Smaller pixels have a harder time capturing light, therefore the noise (grain) of the camera image will increase. On the other hand, having a large sensor with fewer pixels will equal much better light capturing ability. That's why point and shoot cameras look horrible when you shoot in low light without a flash. Most dSLR cameras look fine in the same situation because the actual size of each pixel is much bigger, since there is more space on the large sensor.
Be wary when buying a camera just because it has more megapixels. What's much better than more megapixels is a bigger sensor size.