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How many MP you need in a camera?


5 years 11 months ago #579452 by Ziggy
I just made a post in the Nikon section here talking about after 10+ years, it's time to upgrade my cameras that are crapping out on me.  

I'm so surprised with the MP ratings in todays cameras.  It seems the manufactures really push these numbers onto consumers.  

Putting all BS and vanity aside.  If you are casually printing your work for your own private use with the occasional print sale.  What MP is really needed these days?  
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5 years 11 months ago #579454 by garyrhook
"More."

:rofl:

Seriously, though, it depends upon how big you want to print, and how much you want to crop. Also, the better cameras offer 14-bit pixels, as opposed to twelve. And more data means more detail, means better print results. Who can argue with that.

Manufacturers aren't "pushing" anything: consumers demand it.

I've printed 16x24 from a 16MP crop sensor file, and been very happy. But I'd still like to be able to shoot with margin and easily crop in post, without losing the ability to print large. That means more MP, or a medium format camera. The latter won't happen.
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5 years 11 months ago #579483 by effron
Its not about need, its about want...and I want a high MP camera body,,,,
Why so serious?
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5 years 11 months ago #579488 by Addicted2Photos
At least 80mp

:rofl:

Depends on what you are going to do with the photos.   If you are looking to print, then 20mp+ I would say.  If you just posting on FB and social, 16mp.  

Oh, and how much your wallet will handle.  
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5 years 11 months ago #579500 by Shadowfixer1
My current rig is 16 MP. I personally think 24 MP is the sweet spot. The files get a little large after 24 MP.
www.betterphoto.com/?ramshots
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5 years 11 months ago #579611 by Julie Staas
20-24mp IMO
Country Girl out for a stroll
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5 years 11 months ago #579631 by Kenya See
24MP seems like a good number for me too  :)  
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5 years 11 months ago #579674 by KCook
I only "need" 8Mp. A little more does help cropping, as already mentioned. 24Mp I can live with when it comes with effective RAW compression. I have seen uncompressed 24Mp RAW go up to 50Mb for the file size, which is more than I want to deal with.

Hobbyguy
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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5 years 11 months ago #579729 by garyrhook

KCook wrote: I have seen uncompressed 24Mp RAW go up to 50Mb for the file size, which is more than I want to deal with.


I was about to say this:

Yeah, but a file size (for a 24MP sensor) going up to almost 50MB doesn't have anything to do with "needing" MP. Even if you had 8MP at 14-bit, you'd have a 16MB file. Which still doesn't impact need, right?

Then I thought further, and realize that quality affects need. If I have a 16MB sensor that works at 14 bit, I may not need 20MP. So I'm going to change my answer to, "it depends". Coupled with my initial statement, above.
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5 years 11 months ago #579752 by fmw
My first digital camera had a 1.5 megapixel sensor.  I used it for internet product photography and reduced the file size of every image prior to uploading it to a web site.  My first DSLR (a Nikon D80) had 10mp.  I didn't find it wanting in any way.  I made 11X14 prints with the files and they were excellent.  I replaced the D80 with a D7000.  While I preferred it to the D80 it wasn't because of the slightly denser sensor.  The D7000 as well as my current Fuji cameras produce better resolution than Panatomic X film so I can't imagine a need for any more.  For kicks I went out and photographed a complex subject one day with D7000 and D7100 which has slightly more density than the D7000.  Enlarged 100% crops were indistighuishable in terms of detail.  A little post process could make the images absolutely identical.

I think the reason photographers want more pixel density is that the manufacturers have used it as a major specification for advertising.  You should also note that larger pixels outperform smaller ones.  So while cramming more pixels into the same space may provide more resolution, it reduces performance in other areas like low light.  I don't think we have had need more pixel density for a while.  But ever smaller pixels will continue to be developed.
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5 years 11 months ago #579755 by KCook
  • Yeah, but a file size (for a 24MP sensor) going up to almost 50MB doesn't have anything to do with "needing" MP. Even if you had 8MP at
    14-bit, you'd have a 16MB file. Which still doesn't impact need, right?
"Needing"?  No, you are correct.  But it has everything to do with "limiting".  The Mp that some folks now "need" exceed what I would even consider in the first place.

Kelly
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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5 years 11 months ago #579779 by Tristan R
I won't get out out of bed for anything less than 80MP

:rofl:
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5 years 11 months ago #579867 by Uplander
What's funny is that I don't think we are that far from something like 80mp being norm!  
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5 years 11 months ago #579934 by ThatNikonGuy
Yeah, "More". I'm going to piggy back off Gary's answer.  LOL  it works for  me as well! 
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5 years 11 months ago #580015 by Jennifer Krueger
Well that is tricky, so what needs to be done is separate need and want here. 

Need: 16 MP+

Want: 24 MP+
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