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Difference in Megapixels
by Jon Faranda
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Overview
Megapixel ratings give consumers a rough idea of a digital camera's capabilities, but you shouldn't depend solely on megapixel rating when choosing which digital camera to buy.
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Megapixels
A megapixel is a term used to rate the capabilities of digital cameras. One megapixel is equal to 1 million pixels.
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Resolution
A camera rated at 3.1 megapixels is capable of producing 2048 x 1536 images (a total of roughly 3.1 million pixels), while a 5 megapixel camera can produce 2500 x 2000 pixel images (or 5 million pixels).
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Significance
Because a camera with higher megapixel capabilities will take higher-resolution photos, a higher-megapixel rating is associated with clearer, less blurry or pixilated images.
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Considerations
Most casual camera users will never need to take pictures with a resolution of more than 2048 x 1536. Any camera over 3.1 megapixels will usually suffice.
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Theories/Speculation
Many photography professionals and enthusiasts believe that megapixels matter less than photographic technique or other features such as image stabilization.
