What Are the Ideal Megapixels and Zoom for the Average Novice Photographer?

Megapixels Explained

• Choosing the number of megapixels a camera takes will determine overall cost and the size of the prints produced from the images. A megapixel is equal to 1 million pixels, the computer elements used to produce a digital image. The more megapixels, the sharper the image. But the higher the megapixel count, generally, the more costly the camera. A 6 megapixel camera will produce a good-looking 8-inch by 10-inch print. That is the minimum number of megapixels a novice photographer should look for in a digital camera.

Megapixels Vs. Resolution

• Learn to adjust the resolution the camera is set at to record pictures. The resolution and number of megapixels are directly related. The megapixel count for the camera is the maximum megapixels available for use. The lower the resolution, the smaller the megapixel count and vice versa. Many cameras default to a low resolution setting which will record a lower number of megapixels. That is done to save space on the digital card, the lower the resolution, the more images that can be stored. But the resulting quality degradation when the image is enlarged will offset any gains from buying a higher-count megapixel camera.

Types of Digital Cameras

• Two types of digital cameras are available. The point-and-shoot, where the lens is permanently attached to the camera and the digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, where you can interchange lenses by removing them. The DSLR is more expensive and typically contains higher megapixels than point-and-shoot cameras. For a novice photographer, learning the basics of photography, choosing a point-and-shoot camera with a 5x to 10x zoom lens is ideal. Opting for a large zoom lens on a DSLR is expensive and heavy, burdening the new photographer to worry about another component of the camera instead of concentrating on learning to take pictures.

Zoom Lens Vs. Digital Zooms

• Digital zoom lens on point-and-shoot cameras simply magnify the pixels on the camera̵7;s playback screen and record the image at the magnified view. This allows the photographer to take a photo from a distance but the resulting image will not be very clear. When printed or viewed on a computer monitor, the image will be grainy and fuzzy. It may be of use to identify something in the shot but not suitable for framing.