What is a good amount of mega pixels for a camcorder?

Question

im looking at buying a camcorder ive found some on trade me dirt cheap $12 but they are only 3.1 megapixels. what is a good amound of megapixels for a camcorder to have for home use for a 15 yr old??

Answer 1

First, if we are talking about a camcorder, not digital still camera, regular 720x480 pixel video is composed of 345,600 pixels (.345 megapixels or roughly 1/3 megapixel). So anything more than that is of no use.

But, from what you are asking I am assuming you are talking about a digital still camera for taking photographs. You can take great pictures for viewing on a computer screen and printing up to 5x7 with a 2 megapixel (MP) camera. I do it all the time. I have even printed up to 8x10 with 2MP and it looks fine. The only reason you need more than 2MP is if you are going to use a photo editor to zoom in and crop a small portion of the original photo and print that out as a larger picture. To double the resolution of a 2MP picture, you need to go to 8MP because you are doubling the megapixels in width and height.

I have a 7MP camera, but I run it in 2MP mode to save file size and I print out great pictures all the time. The only time I use it in 7MP mode is if I know I am going to edit the picture in PhotoShop and use a small part of the picture.

I believe your 15 year old will be just fine with a 2 to 3.1MP camera provided the optics are of good quality. Look for a used Canon A40, A60, A75, A520 or A540 and you will do fine. Use Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries for long running time.

Answer 2

8 or more no less then 8

Answer 3

The graphic will be very bad even for someone young.. I think 8-12  would be good for a 15 years old

Answer 4

You don't need more than four unless your going to blow the pic up a lot.

- James