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When considering a new camera, there is more to the story than how many megapixels fit in a sensor. Is there a difference between a 6 mP camera and an 8 MP camera? Would you see a big difference in an enlarged print? A legit question to ask when purchasing a new camera. However do not become enamored with just megapixels. There are many more factors that are just as important. Not all sensors (image capturing devise in the camera aka=film equivilant in DSLR) are created equal even if they create great images. That goes for quantitative and qualitative analysis coming from sensors. Once sensors reach a certain size mPs may not be the most important aspect to consider. It now becomes a quality issue. You really will not see a big difference in 4×6 or 5×7 or even 8×10 prints printed on the same printer. As a matter of fact you will not see a difference between 6 or 8 Mp sensors at this size. Really you would not see a difference even with the big horses (Canon 1ds Mark II) compared to the smaller sensors. When you start printing 20×30 now the difference is noticable. Megapixel mainly affect size, they are given too much consideration. Other factors as important are lens quality, tonal range, noise reduction, the ability to deal with certain colors, photographic technique, and good exposures.

The quality of sensors are difficult to measure. As with film, different types are used in different applications. There are differences between sensors from the same brand ie. new technologies verses old. It all boils down to what needs are required. The Fuji FinePix S3 Pro has a different type of sensor. It has 12 mPs of photosites. These are the individual pixel sensors. However this sensor has only 6 mPs of resolution. Bet you did not know that! Now you can see how confusing sensors have become . The 6 mP of resolution is what we can expect from most 6Mp sensors on any camera when it comes to tonal dark to light but the other 6 Mp are used for tonal range quality especially in highlights. Highlights are the major challenge in digital photography. If you need the extra tonal highlights (details) based on your photography then this is the camera for you.. However if you want giant prints then this camera is not the ticket because 6 mPs of information is not enough to produce the quantity of pixels for a large print. You would need a camera such as the 20D or 1d Mark II or even the 1Ds Mark II.

Most new sensors have dealt better with noise issues. That is the “grainness” of the image captured at low and high ISO’s. Higher ISO makes the sensor more sensitve in lower lighting conditions. Now the question Gary Radz brought up. Is it worth upgrading to maybe the 8.2 mP 20D or the 8 mP 350xt Rebel. The EOS 20D sensor features the latest CMOS technology you would see in the 1 series of Canon camera’s ( Canon’s professional line of camera’s-iD series). The increased size to 8 verses 6 mPs is not that great when printing 13×20 or less. However the sensor produces less noise than the 6 mP sensors. Meaning at ISO 400, the 20D noise is comparable to the 10D’s ISO 100. This is very important because it improves the quality of the image. Also meaning you could get away with using less expensive lenses and still produce a good quality image. Also realize that 6, 7, and 8 mP point and shoot sensors have much more of a noise problem even at ISO of 50 and 100 when compared to the equivalent DSLR camrea’s.

So bigger is not always better when it comes to sensors. Lenses are important, new technology is important, types of photography and needs are important, printing needs are important, exposures are important, technique is important, post production of images are important.

Confused? I dont blame you. Just consider all these factors before upgrading your DSLR.

Benjamin Hornstein
www.cfad.net
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