Posted: 9/19/2010 11:06:58 AM EDT
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I've been looking for a new P&S digital camera for about a year, but only seriously the last month or so. The camera I have now is a Panasonic Lumix, 6x optical zoom and 5MP. The one I'm considering is a Panasonic Lumix on for $180, 8x optical zoom and 14MP My question is: Are Mega-pixels a viable alternative to optical zoom? Example, Would a 10 megapixel camera @ 10x optical zoom offer the same quality as a 20 MP camera @ 5x optical and 5x digital zoom? (twice the mega-pixels and half the zoom). |
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Quoted:
I've been looking for a new P&S digital camera for about a year, but only seriously the last month or so. The camera I have now is a Panasonic Lumix, 6x optical zoom and 5MP. The one I'm considering is a Panasonic Lumix on for $180, 8x optical zoom and 14MP My question is: Are Mega-pixels a viable alternative to optical zoom? Example, Would a 10 megapixel camera @ 10x optical zoom offer the same quality as a 20 MP camera @ 5x optical and 5x digital zoom? I've seen cameras with 8 MP outshoot 12MP cameras... lot depends on the quality of the lens and the processing of the camera. Try to find a site that has samples of photos taken with that camera and compare them to other cameras taking the same picture. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I've been looking for a new P&S digital camera for about a year, but only seriously the last month or so. The camera I have now is a Panasonic Lumix, 6x optical zoom and 5MP. The one I'm considering is a Panasonic Lumix on for $180, 8x optical zoom and 14MP My question is: Are Mega-pixels a viable alternative to optical zoom? Example, Would a 10 megapixel camera @ 10x optical zoom offer the same quality as a 20 MP camera @ 5x optical and 5x digital zoom? I've seen cameras with 8 MP outshoot 12MP cameras... lot depends on the quality of the lens and the processing of the camera. Try to find a site that has samples of photos taken with that camera and compare them to other cameras taking the same picture. This. Go to http://dpreview.com/ and check out the reviews/samples. |
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Quoted: Megapixels are not really that important unless you will be blowing up the pictures really big or if you will be doing a lot of cropping. I tend to take allot of "long-range" shots well out of the optical zoom range and use the digital zoom quite often, which is why I'm wondering if I get a really high MP camera if the pictures in digital zoom will look better. |
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No.
Megapixels don't really mean much anymore, especially with today's cameras. It's just a marketing gimmick. What is more important is the light-gathering capability of the camera, which is very little for most P&S models when compared to dSLRs. I suppose I will post this for the second time today, along with this. Also, most Nikon and Canon P&S cameras are pretty decent if you know what you're doing.  Can't say I have much experience with Panasonic.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Megapixels are not really that important unless you will be blowing up the pictures really big or if you will be doing a lot of cropping. I tend to take allot of "long-range" shots well out of the optical zoom range and use the digital zoom quite often, which is why I'm wondering if I get a really high MP camera if the pictures in digital zoom will look better. What the hell is there to shoot in Canada anyway besides Tim Hortons & igloos? |
| Optical zoom is always superior, but if you are going to use digital zoom, the more megapixles the better. I personally would choose less megapixles and more optical zoom. Unless you are going to be making large prints, you really don't need a high megapixle camera. |
| It's not the megapixels, it's the size of the actual sensor and the corresponding size of each light gathering photosite. Bigger the sensor, less "noise" and better sensitivity. The Nikon d700 is only 12Mp, but is usable in near dark conditions, thanks to it's huge sensor and large photosites. |
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Quoted: It's not the megapixels, it's the size of the actual sensor and the corresponding size of each light gathering photosite. Bigger the sensor, less "noise" and better sensitivity. The Nikon d700 is only 12Mp, but is usable in near dark conditions, thanks to it's huge sensor and large photosites. For $2500, it better give hand-jobs to.  |