2. How A 3-Megapixel Camera Is Better Than A 2-Megapixel

3-megapixel cameras, as the name implies, record about three million pixels per photo. As you'd expect, the 2-megapixel models only record two million pixels. But do not be deceived into thinking that the number of pixels has a direct effect on the quality of the resulting picture. It only affects the maximum print size. The more pixels there are, the more you can enlarge the image to obtain big, high-quality pictures. For those who like to retouch their pictures though, the sensor does have an indirect effect on the image quality, because the greater number of pixels allows better fine-tuning of the image.

So, apart from retouching, a 3-megapixel model allows 20 x 30-cm enlargements, compared to 13 x 19 cm with a 2-megapixel. We shall see that these values can vary with the quality of the cameras. In this regard, there are bad 3-megapixels and excellent 2-megapixels. "Quality" in itself is measured in terms of detail, contrast, color fidelity and exposure consistency.

The manufacturers often have a lineup of several models among which only the resolutions differ. Thus, you could have a 2-megapixel that is otherwise identical to a 3-megapixel, both in ergonomics and in functions. So it boils down to the size of the prints, which will vary from one to the other. If you never intend to print more than a 10 x 15 cm, there's no point in ruining your budget for a 3-megapixel when a 2-megapixel is quite sufficient. But if you are into posters, then a 2-megapixel is likely to be inadequate for your needs for an image with more pixels for bigger enlargements and easier retouching.