What Is a Megapixel?
A megapixel is 1 million pixels. Pixels are the tiny dots that make up an image. Megapixels are used to measure the resolution of photographic images produced by digital cameras. Images with 1 or more megapixels are more highly detailed and clearer than images of a lower resolution. A digital camera with 5 megapixels is more than adequate for most home photography needs.
History
Pixel is an abbreviation for "picture element." The term was first coined in 1965 by Fred C. Billingsley of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech. The term spread, and in the early 1970s academic institutions, computer manufacturers and NASA used it in their publications. In 1986, Kodak produced the first megapixel digital camera.
Features
Digital cameras have a megapixel count which usually ranges between 5 and 15 megapixels. Digital cameras typically contain a sensor that can detect light, an LCD monitor, a built-in flash and a view-finder. Some digital cameras allow the attachment of telephoto or wide angle lenses. The number of megapixels that the camera can produce determines the maximum print size of the images produced. For example, a 1 megapixel image can be printed at a maximum size of 5 by 7 inches without losing the image quality. A 2 megapixel image has a maximum print size of 8 by 10 inches.
Function
A digital camera's sensor has millions of pixels that produce a charge when exposed to light. The charge is then converted into electrical signals. In some cases, this sensor is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device. In others, it may be a charged coupled device (CCD). The signals are processed by an analog to digital converter into digital values. The camera's processing unit converts this data into a digital image.
Benefits
Having a high-resolution digital camera will allow you to take your own high-quality pictures inexpensively. These images usually print very well with an ink jet or laser printer on photo paper that's designed for printing. Many drug and grocery stores have a website where you can upload your pictures for printing. You can then have them mail the pictures to you or go to pick them up in the store. Now that digital cameras are in common use, snapshots are faster and less expensive to take and don't require environmentally damaging chemical processing.
Considerations
Most people purchase far more megapixels than they need when they buy a digital camera. A camera with 6 or more megapixels will be significantly higher in price than a camera with 5 megapixels or less. However, the benefits gained from such a camera will likely be insignificant. A 5 megapixel camera will produce images that display beautifully on a computer screen and that print well on most equipment. Getting a zoom lens is just as important as buying a camera with more megapixels, since it will allow you to take clear and detailed pictures even when you can't get close to your subject.
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