The Importance of Megapixels When Buying a Digital Camera

Which digital camera are you looking for? A 10 megapixel one or one with 12 megapixel? Very unfortunately, megapixels have become the only determinant of the quality of a digital still camera these days for buyers. It has such captivity on the minds of the most customers (because that's all what they about cameras), that they have also started questioning the performance of Camcorder market leaders, simply because they aren't able to give enough megapixels as compared to other fore-runners. Some technology enthusiasts may argue that MPs actually matter most in the world of digital photography, most experienced users and photographers know that "megapixel" is just a buzz word and contributes to only about 10% of the performance of the camera.

According to Wikipedia, in digital photography, megapixel is "1 million pixels, and is a term used not only for the number of pixels in an image, but also to express the number of image sensor elements of digital cameras or the number of display elements of digital displays". Thus, it has a small role to play in the quality and brilliance of a picture. The more the MP, the higher the resolution & the detail. But even a 3.2 MP Digital Still Camera is capable of giving detail good enough for a professional to display in his gallery. What we tend to forget that not too long back we gave up using our 5 MP digicams not because of lack of detail or resolution, but because of reasons such as low-battery life, bulky body, broken LCD etc. Also, larger the megapixel, larger the resolution, which eventually leads to larger memory usage, and so, very soon, your photographs may begin filling up your 512 MB cards!

The splendor of a photograph taken lies in a number of factors, a minute one being detail of the image.

So, what should a decently-informed buyer be looking for in a Digital Still camera (other than megapixels!) in making your choice?

1. Optical & Digital Zoom

This is probably what's going to matter the most in your moments with your camera. It's going to be a pain trying to get great higher zooms while you're distant from your object.

In very simple words, Optical Zoom is the assembly of the lens elements with the ability to change the focal length. The higher the optical zoom, the higher focal length of the camera. Nonetheless, Digital Zoom does not have anything to do with the focal length. Digital Zoom is the tool used for a magnified view of an object, which is an embedded feature in the camera software (technically speaking, its the firmware) and comes into play only after the camera has
reached its maximum optical zoom capability.

While anything around 3x as an Optical Zoom (which actually is the most common zoom) is decent enough for most amateur users, a more serious photographer would definitely be looking for something like 10x. Remember, greater the Optical Zoom, bulkier the camera. If you are one who is looking for an easy to use sleek camera which you would want to slide into your pockets, 3x would be just fine. Also, most cameras come with a decent in-built digital zoom, usually around 5x. This doesn't matter as much because not many wish to compromise on the picture quality for a greatly zoomed shot.

2. Battery Life

The biggest reason, noticed in recent times, for people to replace their old digital camera to a new sleeker one is the battery. Most manufacturers have stopped producing digicams which use AA or AAA batteries and thus such cameras are getting faded out. This has been replaced with Lithium Ion (NiCd or NiMH) battery cameras which are not only thinner and prettier, but also have a long life.

The purpose for having the AA battery options in most of the previous models was simple; the availability factor. AA batteries are found in every street store and thus can be replaced with ease. But after some time, manufacturers realized that consumers were facing a "small battery life" issue and couldn't afford too many AA batteries for a small number of snaps. Gradually, they experimented with the Lithium batteries and offered them with portable chargers. It was
probably just what users were looking for.

It should be on your mind if you have the budget and can't face the hassle of replacing expensive portable batteries after every beach trip.

3. Shooting Modes

Someone has rightly said that it's not the quantity, but quality that matters.

A night portrait mode and a high sensitivity mode may just be too tempting to avoid sometimes. And with that, the salesman has just been able to make his commission on a brand with awfully low sales! Many manufacturers are targeting less informed customers who are attracted to more number of shooting modes, rather than few shooting modes with high quality and stability. Remember, don't waste your time examining features you haven't heard of or aren't ever going to use. Few simple ones such as Auto Mode, Program Mode, Video Mode, Landscape Mode, Sport Mode and Night Mode are more than what a regular user should be on the lookout for. But yes, do not forget over-emphasizing these features. A great video mode can be good enough to replace your bulky handycam on many occasions. A good night mode with anti-shake could be one more plus point.

4. LCD Screen, ergonomics and functionality

I tag all these under one category because they aren't the most important things you would want to be looking out for. They are just a little less important than megapixel, but still could be a deciding factor when it comes down to choosing similar cameras in different brands. The screen size, aspect ratio & contrast do constitute in making your impression of the camera. Highly-functional and easy-to-use software always makes your times with the gadget fun. Again, start your hunt of a camera with a body that appeals to you. A bulky one with a dull finish can be a total put-off at times.

It is always a joy to be getting free 2 GB Memory Cards and Case Logic cases free with the cam! So do check out the entire package before the deal is made.

The Market

The market and massive sales promotions are good enough to mislead a Digital Camera customer. Gone are the times when brands such as Polaroid, Nikon and Kodak reigned in this sector. Although Nikon has managed to hold its SLR and DSLR fans, it has lost out from being among the favourites when sales figures speak. While brands such as Sony, Canon and Casio have a major control over the Oman market, camera giant Kodak and others such as Samsung and Konika Minolta are trying hard to gain customer faith. And then there are the others, like Benq, Yashica, Vivitar & Fuji who love playing the megapixel game to boost company spirits. Thus, its always a good idea to look up online how your potential pick is doing in the international markets.

The Cost Factor

While an average spending consumer has a budget of around US $180 for a decently-branded and feature-loaded camera, one might go upto US $500 for his pick before entering the DSLR world. Remember, it's an investment. Great pictures are always the best way to cherish moments which do not come again. Do not compromise with quality! Ask your friends and relatives about their experiences with their cams (just the way you do for your mobile handsets!) and go ahead for what is best for you. No grand brand with a reputation in this sector will come below a price tag of US $130. Go for it!