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A picture says a thousand words- and it also it the best way to remember the past. Camera technology has come far throughout the last century. From black and white to color and grainy to crystal clear. There are thousands of different types of cameras on the market today. You can buy a camera that caters to your specific needs, whether underwater or shock proof. Because of the significant advances in technology, cameras have become very complex and sometimes difficult to understand. There are hundreds of misconceptions that accompany digital cameras, especially about megapixels.

The number of megapixels is one of the most advertised features when it comes to digital cameras. It is important to know exactly what role megapixels play when taking a picture. Many people think megapixels determine the clarity and detail of a picture. This is a common misconception because the manufacturers actually advertise cameras in a way that makes the customer think like this. Megapixels actually have no effect on the clarity of a picture. Let’s look at what megapixels actually effect when it comes to taking pictures.

Megapixels actually determine the resolution of a picture. More megapixels will produce a picture that has a higher resolution. The only time that a high resolution is need is when pictures are blown up. There is no need to buy a camera that has more than 10 megapixels, unless you plan on blowing a photo up to a 4 foot by 8 foot billboard. Normal picture uses, like printing 4 x 6 pictures or uploading them to the internet, do not need high resolution. Not only is high resolution not necessary, but you can’t even see it with the naked eye. The bottom line is that a camera with a lot of megapixels is only for those who plan on enlarging photos.

Don’t make the same mistake that most people do when buying a digital camera, which is sacrificing zoom for megapixels. When given the choice of a 10 megapixel camera with 4x zoom capabilities or one with 8 megapixels and 8x zoom, nine out of ten consumers will choose the one with the larger number of megapixels. This is the worst mistake you could make when buying a camera. Save your money and buy the camera with a larger zoom capability. The zoom feature will benefit you in more ways than the increased number of megapixels.

If you plan on using your digital camera for professional uses, like a photographer would, then you might consider buying a camera with high zoom capabilities and a large number of megapixels. These types of cameras can be extremely pricey. If you only want a camera for capturing life’s memories then such a camera is not necessary.

Shopping for and comparing cameras can because confusing and stressful. The consumer is forced to consider a camera’s features and compare it to the next one, all while taking the price into consideration. Hopefully, this new knowledge about megapixels, resolution and zoom will help you make a more informed choice when buying your next digital camera.