Would there be any noticeable difference between a 7 megapixel photograph and a 10?

Question

Assuming both were taken on compact cameras

Answer 1

Well straight answer to your questions is no you will not notice a difference in quality between a 7MP and 10MP photograph from the same manufacture comparatively besides the actual size difference on your screen. (simple terms)

Here is the reason why, a megapixel is a megapixel is the same size no matter how you look at it. Let’s go to an example shall we.



Say you watching a video on the internet, when the video is small is look great but you take that same video and enlarge it, doesn’t look so hot you can see how blurry it is and the quality is diminished by enlarging it you in don’t increase the pixels you just make them bigger. A photograph can be seen just the same. This isn’t to say the 10MP camera will make the pixels bigger it will just make the overall image bigger due to the fact it physically will have more pixels to play with. You could always shrink the image and get a very sharp photograph but it depends on what your going to do with it, Make large prints or shrink them for the internet.

Now there are other technical reasons out there, Like if the cameras are from the same manufacture and if one is using a CMOS sensor or one is using a CCD sensor, or if the pixels in the camera are using pixel shifting technology or interpolation or not.

There’s also the lens the camera uses. The reason why a 6MP DSLR looks much better than a 6MP point and shoot is cause of the glass (Lens). You can use this example for that.

Let’s say you have a HDTV, You turn that TV to a regular (standard definition) channel the picture is not that sharp the some of the color is off, now say you watch that same program on the same TV using the HD signal the picture is brighter and the color is better.

Now that’s not a direct translation, but it gives you an idea of how the glass will make the difference.

Since point and shoots don’t have much room for nice lenses you can’t expect the same quality you would get from a DSLR.

So what is one to do? You want great photos but don’t want to carry a brick around and look like a tourist.

You will have to reply on brand name Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, etc… being the photographer that I am, I use a DSLR for the lasting photographs and a Sony point and shoot for snapshots and candids.

I know this may get some thumbs down and it might be a bit to technical but I hope is helps a little in understanding that it’s not all about megapixels but a list of other factors.

Answer 2

The 10 megapixel camera would take a larger picture than the 7 megapixel one. What will you use the picture for? If you're going to use the picture for large-format printing, there is a noticeable difference between 10 and 7 megapixels, 10 being the better one. If you're going to print an 8" x 10" and smaller photograph, there is  no difference. (In fact, even just 5 megapixels will also give the same result).  To save space, only use the number of pixels necessary depending on what you will use the picture for.

Answer 3

yes thats actually a pretty huge difference. but honestly it really depends on the brand more then anything else. i had a 3 MP camera way back when that took better looking pics then my new 5 MP camera. well new as in 2 years ago lol

Answer 4

Assuming that you are intending on printing the regular 4x6 size,  The difference isnt that noticeable.  If you was to be printing larger sizes like poster size then yes you would notice the difference.

Answer 5

If you are blowing them up bigger than say 24 inches by 16 inches then yes, there probably will be. But if the pictures good enough artistically then nobody will care about the slight difference.

I use a 6 megapixel DSLR (Pentax K100D) as my tool. I can blow it up as big as I want and I really don't notice any pixelation or anything. Especially if you have a good printer. Above 6 megapixels its more about the photographer and the other features of the camera than the pure number of pixels.