How many megapixels does your camera have? Mine has about 10 megapixels. But how much of it do you really need for a print? Here’s a small reference table to outline the pixels required to print some common sizes. This assumes that you print them at 200 dpi (dots per inch).
| Print Size (in.) | Diamension in Pixels | Megapixels |
|---|---|---|
| 3½ x 5 | 700 x 1000 | <1 |
| 4 x 6 | 800 x 1200 | 1 |
| 5 x 7 | 1000 x 1400 | 1.5 |
| 8 x 10 | 1600 x 2000 | 3.2 |
| 11 x 14 | 2200 x 2800 | 6 |
So just in case you thought the pictures taken with your old 2 megapixel cameraphone were a waste, don’t give up hope yet. Retouch them to your liking and feel free to press the print button when you are satisfied. And if you want do bookmark this post – those reference tables do come in handy.
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{ 8 comments on Busting The Megapixel Myth — How Much Resolution Do You Need For Print?… read them below or add one }
I have a 6MP Nikon D70s, and I made GREAT looking 75x50cm prints…
I wish I could leave a collaboration in your work at Mozilla.I like the tabs idea!
WoW! Great pictures in this page! Congratulations! Im a photography lover since ever but not as good as you!! Maybe some day because for a hobby is kind of expensive and my good camera is an old generation one: Nikon F4. Imagine! My digital camera is a HP 240. Excelent but not enough for what I want. All my blessings and maybe we can be in touch and share pictures. I can learn a lot from you
Depends on the camera too. You can buy any 10MP point n shoot at best buy today and it won’t even compare to the quality that came out of my old 2MP D1 I had back in the 90′s … of course I paid $6,000 for the body. Megapixels is a feature more for the marketing department and not the photography department.
So true. What camera you suggest… not so expensive but pro? I want a camera that captures little details… Bugs, tiny flowers, etc…. ; ·)P.
Kirsten, search out Ken Rockwell. Just go through his website thoroughly. It’s not about the camera (it’s about you).
I like his blog but a mention of his name wouldn’t be such a good idea here. That’s because all threads relating to him are endless
Thanks Nigel. I really love photography and every advice is welcome! O : )
It’s all in the size of your sensor. A full frame sensor absolutely kills other typical smaller sensors available in most point and shoot and many DSLR cameras. Forget the megapixel number. If you can, and desire incredible detail in your enlargements, buy a camera with a full frame sensor. A 12 MP camera with a full frame sensor is a gazillion times better than a 12 MP camera with an APS size sensor.