Photography for Beginners: Do Megapixels Really Matter?

The Megapixel Myth

Is 'megapixel' the most overhyped term in digital photography? Mention you're considering a new digital camera, and the first question you'll likely hear is, "How many megapixels does it have?" In my gallery, I frequently overhear remarks like, "I'd love to take better photos, but my camera doesn't have enough megapixels."

Digital photography, much like computers and the internet, has given rise to two types of 'experts.' There are those who genuinely understand the intricacies, and then there are those who know just enough to be dangerous. Many in the latter group have been convinced—often by salespeople looking to boost their commissions—that a high megapixel count is the key to superior photography. By clinging to this belief, they may be overlooking more critical factors that could significantly improve their photography skills.

Understanding Megapixels

The number of pixels in a photo determines how much you can enlarge the image without losing quality. More megapixels mean larger prints. But how crucial is this for most photographers in today's digital age?

The Reality of Photo Printing

Let's set aside the topic of enlargements for a moment. How many photos today are printed at all, let alone enlarged to poster size? Gone are the days of shooting on negative film and printing to see the results. Now, we see the results instantly on our cameras and can view them in greater detail on computer screens. With the elimination of film and development costs, more people are taking more photos than ever before.

But how many of these photos ever get printed? Most images live their lives on computer screens, viewed at 72dpi. In fact, to share them via email or on websites, we often need to reduce their size even further.

The Practicality of Printing

Of course, some people do print their photos. I encourage everyone to print their best shots, frame them, hang them, or give them as gifts. After all, what's the point of taking photos if we don't do something with them? But do we need a high megapixel count to create a good print?

In most cases, the answer is no. The vast majority of printed photos are 4x6 or 5x7 inches, and occasionally 8x12 inches. Very few photographers, apart from professionals, will ever print poster-sized enlargements. They might think they will, but almost certainly, they won't.

Do You Really Need All Those Megapixels?

Consider this: buying a camera with an excessive megapixel count is like purchasing a car that can travel 200 kilometers per hour in a country where the speed limit is 100. The power is there, and it may give some inward pride to know it's there, but it's wasted power all the same. Apart from bragging rights, you're just as well served by a modest vehicle that gets you from Point A to Point B.

You can produce high-quality prints up to 8x12 inches (20x30cm), and probably larger, with a five-megapixel camera. This isn't a compromise; you likely wouldn't see any improvement in print quality if you took the same picture with a ten-megapixel camera. Certainly, you'd notice a difference if you enlarged the photo to poster size, but as we've discussed, very few people reading this article are likely to do that.

The Importance of a Good Lens

If there's one crucial buying tip more important than megapixels, it's to find a camera with a high-quality lens. If your photos aren't crystal clear and sharp when they're small, they won't improve by being blown up to larger sizes. In fact, all you'd achieve is making your blurry photo bigger and blurrier.

Mastering Your Camera

Equally important, once you have your camera, learn to use it. Most digital cameras come with manual settings that allow you to be truly creative once you understand basic photography techniques. If you look at the results of most photo competitions, you'll usually find that the winner didn't have the most high-end camera. Invariably, it's the person with the imagination and skills to get the best out of the camera they have.

Conclusion

Don't see these comments as negative. I'm not suggesting that anyone who has bought a more powerful camera has wasted their money. Your high-end camera probably came with extra features that add to the fun of photography. And of course, it's nice to know you could make giant prints from your photos, even though we both know you probably never will.

Rather, I want to encourage those who didn't buy the top-of-the-range camera and wish they had, or are currently agonizing over how much to spend on their next camera. If you want a camera that takes decent photos for online use or to produce small and medium-sized prints, you don't need to overextend your budget. Buy the camera you can reasonably afford and be happy with it—it will do the job for you.

Interesting Stats

• According to a 2020 survey, only 13% of digital photos are ever printed source.
• The average resolution of a smartphone camera in 2021 was around 12 megapixels, which is more than sufficient for most casual photographers source.

By focusing on the quality of the lens and mastering your camera's settings, you can take stunning photos without needing the highest megapixel count. Happy shooting!