Nikon SLR Cameras

Is it true that MP has very little to do with image quality?

Supply Side Jesus
Supply Side Jesus

In 2005 my sister had this relatively high end Canon or Nikon digital SLR. I think it took 6 or 7 MP.

However, the image quality was very good. It was far better than most point and shoots you'll buy today.

So, is it wrong or right to say that MPs are (almost) irrelevant and it's the lens and CCD that make all the difference?

Uncle Derp
Uncle Derp

No, but your face does.

JeffC
JeffC

Megapixels are very overrated but most people do not know that.
The CCD is the megapixels.
The lenses are the key.

Taylor
Taylor

It depends on the size of the sensor. DSLRs have sensors that are 15 times bigger than P&S cameras.

fhotoace
fhotoace

This should help you understanding the Pixel count and how they are important.

Usually the larger the individual pixel the better.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/...mpmyth.htm

Tyson
Tyson

MPs = resolution, not picture quality. In most cases more MPs will enable you to blow the picture up to a larger size while retaining detail but the quality of the detail will depend on your sensor size and type and on the image processor in your camera.

keerok
keerok

Megapixels (MP) is just a measurement of the size of the picture, how big or small it is. IT has nothing to do with picture quality. What makes the difference? It's you and your abilities to take a picture. The lens, CCD, the camera and the lens are nothing but tools.

Jojie
Jojie

MP usually allows you to print you pictures larger. As in larger prints… MP are great selling points for stores and what not. But don't buy a camera based on it's MP… It really is only for printing… Per se.

heron
heron

The answer is the LENS! The SLR lens is much bigger than the point and shoot's glass. I used to have a Nikon Coolpix 5000 (5MP) that had a bigger lens - I printed 16x20s that looked great.

People are excited about their phone camera's MP but since the lenses are so small, you just end up with millions of blurry pixels