One of the questions many people ask when looking for a new digital camera is "How many megapixels do I need?" Many people are aware that the number of megapixels the camera is able to capture in a single image has a direct effect on the quality of the photos the camera is able to output. However, because the number of megapixels also has a direct effect on the price of the camera, most people also want to know how many megapixels they really need to get good quality prints without spending too much money on a camera.
It's important to note that there are many factors in choosing a digital camera, many of which may be increasingly more important than the number of megapixels. A camera with a high megapixel count but poor optics will take high resolution, poor looking pictures. You will be able to see close up just how bad the picture looks. It's worth shopping carefully when choosing a new digital camera rather than simply choosing the unit off the shelf with the highest megapixel count.
However, the megapixel count is still an important factor in choosing the right camera for you.
First, determine how big you want to print your picture. Next multiply the number of inches by the desired ppi to calculate the total number of pixels needed. For example, let's say you want to make a typical 3 x 5-inch print:
3 inches x 300 ppi = 900 pixels
5 inches x 300 ppi = 1500 pixels
900 x 1500 = 1350000 pixels = 1.35 megapixels
If you wanted to make an 8 x 10 portrait instead:
8 inches x 300 ppi = 2400 pixels
10 inches x 300 ppi = 3000 pixels
2400 x 3000 = 7200000 pixels = 7.2 megapixels
If you don't mind a drop in quality, you can print your portrait at 200 ppi:
8 inches x 200 ppi = 1600 pixels
10 inches x 200 ppi = 2000 pixels
1600 x 2000 = 3200000 pixels = 3.2 megapixels
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