http://www.powellcamera.com/Powells/Questions/Questions.html Just the place to ask the experts at Powell Camera Shop. The staff at PCS have a combined experience of over 60 years! iWeb 3.0.4 http://www.powellcamera.com/Powells/Questions/Entries/2006/7/2_Q__How_many_megapixels_are_enough.html 0bf1aab1-3e7a-4057-af59-231cdd7634a5 Sun, 2 Jul 2006 23:12:44 -0700 <a href="http://www.powellcamera.com/Powells/Questions/Entries/2006/7/2_Q__How_many_megapixels_are_enough_files/Image2.jpg"><img src="http://www.powellcamera.com/Powells/Questions/Media/object001_1.jpg" style="float:left; padding-right:10px; padding-bottom:10px; width:251px; height:188px;"/></a>A: The capacity of your camera’s sensor is measured in megapixels, which mean “millions of pixels.” More pixels equals greater detail. But like horse power in a car’s engine, there’s a limit to how many you actually need. And megapixels aren’t the whole story. The quality of the lens and processor are also important. Cameras with more megapixels usually have higher quality circuits and more sophisticated algorithms that produce better color and less “noise’” which is seen as grain in digital photos. http://www.powellcamera.com/Powells/Questions/Entries/2006/7/1_Q__Whats_the_difference_between_the_sensor_size_of_the_Canon_30D_and_the_Canon_5D_and_should_I_care.html 21ef4a10-9a49-419e-9438-2933f05b4907 Sat, 1 Jul 2006 20:28:15 -0700 A: The sensor on the Canon 5D is about 40% larger than the Canon 30D which accounts for the increased resolution from 8.2 megapixels to 12.7. Resolution is not the only story though, the 5D also has larger pixels which collect more light so the camera does not have to amplify the signal as much. This makes for a image with less noise and more dynamic range (the ability to record more detail in the bright highlights and the dark shadows)