Image Quality

Introduction

It is astonishing that midrange smartphones today can offer up to 200-megapixel cameras.

  • However, in 2014, bulky DSLRs only came with 20-36 megapixels.

Despite high megapixel counts, image quality still tends to suffer, especially during night-time shooting.

  • Simply put, megapixels are not the sole factor that determines image quality.



Megapixels

Pixels are small points that make up the image on a computer screen, digital camera or other devices. The pixel count limits how detailed an image can be.

  • In other words, the higher the megapixel number, the more detail an image can capture.

For a picture to be of sufficient quality in print form, it typically needs to have 300 pixels per inch (PPI). Thus, to calculate the required megapixels,

  • Determine how large you want the print to be in inches.
  • Multiply the length and height (in inches) each by 300 to convert the distances to pixels
  • Multiply the length and height, and then divide the resulting number by 1 million
Print Size and Megapixel Needed Guide

If the images are for online use (e.g. on social media), fewer megapixels are required, with 72 pixels per inch is enough for most screens.

  • Additionally, online media often compress images to reduce file size and loading time, which may affect the image quality.

While more megapixels allow for more extensive cropping of images, they can reduce low-light performance.

  • On two sensors of the same size, the sensor with less megapixels will have physically larger pixels than one with more megapixels, and therefore will capture more light and produce less noise.



Summary

Image quality is not solely determined by megapixels. Factors such as lens quality, image processing, and camera settings also play significant roles.

  • Larger sensors and photosites can capture more light and produce cleaner and sharper images.
  • Better lenses can reduce distortion and aberration, as well as improve contrast and sharpness.
  • Image processors can also enhance image quality by applying noise reduction, colour correction and other adjustments.



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