Why 24 megapixels is all you need in your camera
Jul 11, 2024
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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When buying a new camera, you may get tempted by a high megapixel count, among other things. But how many MPs is too many? And how many is just enough? On his channel Street Photography China, Peter Lee shares useful insights on megapixels, sensor sizes, and why you may not need all the megapixels in your new camera.
Remember those early digital cameras? Peter fondly remembers his trusty 12.7MP camera from 2005. Even with a modest megapixel count by today’s standards, it captured incredible photos that he still enjoys in printed form. This begs the question: do you always need the latest and greatest megapixel powerhouse?
The truth is that megapixels are just one piece of the puzzle. Sure, there are 100 MP monsters, and some argue that it’s already become a standard in professional and fine art photography. However, a far more important factor is how you plan to use your photos. Here’s what Peter suggests considering:
- Screen time: Most computer monitors, even high-definition ones, can’t display the full potential of a super high-megapixel image. Surprisingly, a camera with just 3 megapixels is enough to view photos on a typical 1080p monitor in all their glory.
- Printing: When it comes to printing, forget megapixels and focus on DPI (dots per inch). This is the true measure of print quality. Aim for 300 DPI for sharp, professional-looking prints. With that in mind, a 2MP camera can deliver fantastic 6×4 inch prints, while a 7MP camera is all you need for 10×8 inch prints. Even larger prints (think 20×16 inch) are achievable with a 24MP camera, especially considering you’ll likely be viewing them from a farther distance.
The downsides of megapixel monsters
While a camera boasting a sky-high megapixel count might sound impressive, and in some cases, you may need it, there are still some drawbacks to consider. Peter first mentions storage, as those massive megapixel files take up a lot of space on your SD cards and computer. Upgrading storage to accommodate them can add a significant cost to your photography setup. He also notes that cameras with a high megapixel density tend to perform less well in low-light conditions. This results in more noise appearing in your photos.
The bottom line is – don’t get swept away by the megapixel marketing hype. By understanding your photographic needs and priorities, you can find the perfect camera that fits your style. In fact, for most users, a camera with 24 megapixels offers more than enough resolution for stunning photos. This will save you money on the camera body, so you can invest in other essentials like lenses or a speedlight – so I guess it’s a win-win. Do you agree? Or you’d rather go for as many MPs as possible?
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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14 responses to “Why 24 megapixels is all you need in your camera”
But 60MP seems to produce the brighter image!
So after reading the article, we actually realize that we do need more than 24mp camera.
One thing he didn’t mention is details. Larger sensors record more precise details. Something to keep in mind when your goal is to capture intricate details.
When I had a 5 MP Professional Camera then, it was touted as impressive. Today it is 24 MP. Technology just makes us spend more and more – called GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
I am that example of GAS: I am a good Ametauer Photographer since circa 1975 with SLRs. But I go and buy the Best most expensive Pro Gear with lots of Lenses and Accessories which I may never use – simply because I must have the best.
Believe me, a Budget DSLR would have done the job. And 16 MP is all you need.
You must be a terrible photographer if you can’t see the difference between the 24MP and 60MP photos in the story.
The advantage of high megapixel photos is that they can be cropped. This is especially important in photo journalism and editorial photos. It can also be beneficial to crop interior architecture photos.
if you want to print huge poster size prints, 80 ppi (pixels per inch) is plenty of resolution because. the viewing distance is much greater. DPI (dots per inch) is a printer term and does not relate to megapixels in any way.
Printer dots are pixels. Using printed image dimensions in inches, width x height x dpi is the number of pixels in the print, and relates directly to the number of pixels in the source image. If the source image has fewer megapixels than the print, the print can exhibit artifacts including pixellation. (This assumes same aspect ratio, of course.)
Never will I trade in my 40 and soon to be 60 megapixels for 24. There are soooo many reasons why not to, cropping for one.
As for monitors, my primary form of display, prepare for the future, not the past. Resolution, clarity, and detail in 30 or 40 years will have different baselines than today. Be ready, not disappointed. Similarly, storage is cheap and can be updated any day of the week but the opportunity to capture your mom, dog, wife, and life – all in sparkling detail, only comes around one irretrievable and never to be repeated moment at a time – and there’s no going back for a reshoot once those moments have passed.
If you only have 24, 12, even 10, then use them. I still use my wonderful and trusty 14.1 megapixel G10 (six inches above the waves at the beach). Anything is better than nothing and shooting and what you shoot is more important than what you shoot with. Capture it all. Film’s cheap, memories are priceless.
I agree. I have several cameras with Fujifilm’s 3rd generation sensor and don’t feel I need more than its 24.3 megapixels.
Amusing article!
The one thing I value from 40+ megapixels is the headroom to shoot everything at 1:1 and crop later to 4:3 portrait or 3:2 landscape. Great for sports shooting.
Excellent presentation and I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said. I got caught up in pixel peeping a long time ago but stopped when I reached 24mpx with my Fuji XH1. I have no desire to upgrade for the foreseeable future because, as you said, there is simply no need. Money would be much better spent on quality lenses. And something that doesn’t cost money is experience and that will give you the best improvement to your image, hands-down.
I recently took a photo of Denali at sunset from 153 miles away with my Sony A7R-IV full frame. It was with my 16-35 so, needless to say, Denali was a mere dot in the frame. Cropped Denali to nearly fill the frame. Could not have done that with 24mp. One of my favorite shots from AK.