Can you get the same picture quality for two different types of cameras with the same amount of megapixels?

Ace

So, I'm looking for a good quality camera, and I know the higher the megapixels, the better looking the picture will be.
I was originally planning on buying a nikon D3000 which has 10 megapixels and goes for $500
But then I saw a digital camera that has the same exact number of megapixels as the nikon, but for a cheaper $150.
Would the pictures look essentially the same considering their amount of megapixels are the same? Or is there something about the Nikon that makes the pictures so amazing besides megapixel quantity?

Answer
The number of megapixels describes how the digital sensor is divided into digital "sections". The more sections, the more detail is possible.

BUT, digital single lens reflex (dslr) cameras have sensors that are several times larger than the ones in compact digital cameras. You're partitioning off a smaller sensor.

It's like saying two cars have 8 cylinders. Can they both have the same horsepower? Not if one is an 8-cylinder compact and the other is an 8-cylinder truck.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/size_matters.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format

what camcorder our there is closest to a 35 mm camera's image?

dustin m

i hate hd

Answer
Hi Dustin:

What most filmmakers & videographers mean when they talk about "that 35mm still camera look" is high resolution and narrow depth-of-field (subject in-focus and background blurred).

Some of these qualities, both in 35mm film and digital work, are due to the image size (large number of pixels or fine film-grain) as well as the optical characteristics of the 35mm camera lenses and focal plane.

To bridge the gap between DSLRs (with large multi-megapixel sensors) that shoot video and camcorders (with their smaller 1/8" to 2/3" sensors), the Micro Four-Thirds Consortium was formed to develop mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras ("MILCs" for short) among manufacturers like Panasonic and Olympus. The "four-thirds" stands for the 4/3" (1.333" diagonally) size of the image sensor. The image format is also 4:3 ratio (instead of HD's 16:9), which is another reason for the name.

For typical model numbers of MFT cameras & lens options, see the Wikipedia article on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Four_Thirds_system

Other cinematographers have embraced the use of DSLRs like Canon's EOS 7D, the Sony Alpha System, and various Nikon D-series to take advantage of various lens choices and depth-of-field capabilities, but by nature these are not camcorders.

Traditional movie camera manufacturers (like Arri and Panavision) have developed large-sensor digital cinema camera systems to stay competitive with high-resolution newcomers such as the "Red One" camera system and Sony's CineAlta line. All these are in the very high-end of the "camcorder" price range ($25,000 and more).

As always, image quality is only limited by your budget.

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

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Good camera and mount for your head that is not a gopro?

highest megapixel camera wiki image

Denny Firs

I'd like to record my fishing adventures. :D good reviews and I'd prefer if it's in stores around me. I have Walmart , Best Buy, Sears , target, and Costco. Thanks !

Answer
AWBoater provided an interesting (and good) list, but I sort of have to disagree with one thing...

He said, "One has to assume that if sensor sizes are not specified, they must be at a disadvantage"... assuming you want to capture video, not stills, if the sensor is more than 3 megapixels for video doing 720 or 1080 horizontal lines of video resolution, you don't need much more in the way of more megapixels...

standard definition, 4:3 aspect ratio, video = 640 x 480 = 307,200 or almost 1/3 of a megapixel.
high definition at 720 horizontal rows = 1280 x 720 = 921,600 or almost 1 megapixel.
high definition at 1080 horizontal rows = 1920 x 1080 = 2,073,600 or a little over 2 megapixels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_resolution

In addition to horizontal line count, the amount of compression applied to the video data stream during capture has a HUGE impact (if you can, compare 1080p video at a 25 mbps to 1080p video at 7mbps using the same LARGE monitor or HDTV and fill the screen for playback - both will look fine on a small cell-phone screen...).

Megapixel count is more of a measurement of still image resolution. Assuming the manufacturer did not specify megapixel count may mean they know their equipment is not appropriate to capture high resolution still images, but we found two paragraphs ago, that does not matter for video.

Other helmet cams worth a look:
http://www.tachyoninc.com
http://vio-pov.com
http://usa.ioncamera.com

Most likely the GoPro family and Coutour will be the most "available" given the list of stores you provided.

What do those camcorder sensor numbers mean?

Doug

I just bought a Sony HDRPJ260V. Manual says it has a 1/3.91 type, 4.2 mm sensor. 4.2 mm I hear means the diagonal of the image sensor. A Canon HF R300 camcorder has a 1/4.85 sensor. How can I tell what the diagonal is (isn't this the important thing, surface area of the sensor, one with 2X area should be 2X as good all other factors equal)? Should these numbers be proportional i.e. 4.2/(1/3.91)=X/(1/4.85)?

Seems like the manufacturers have conspired to purposely give you info that means nothing to you...or give you useful info but then conspire to not tell you how to interpret it. This reminds me of the megapixel hype nonsense in mini digital cameras but in reverse (manufacturers found higher MP ratings sold more cameras but more pixels in same size sensor does NOT necessarily mean a better image).

Answer
Hi again, Doug:

The diagonal measurement on camcorder & camera sensors can sound a lot like the TV marketing hype used for television set sizes (also measured diagonally, to sound "bigger").

Just like raw Megapixels specifications, the sensor size specs are only useful to a certain point. There are other minutiae like individual pixel size (in microns), Bayer color filter design, CCD versus CMOS, etc. Larger sensors can capture more light, helping with low-light sensitivity without "noise artifacts". But individual manufacturer's design & circuitry can affect this "signal to noise" ratio, as well as image detail.

The actual tradition of the diagonal measurement spec for video sensors dates back to the days of Vidicon & Plumicon imaging tubes (which were round). These were measured by diameter (1/2", 2/3", etc.) which if you draw the rectangular TV frame on it is approximately the same as the box's diagonal size. What makes it even more confusing is the practice of "improper fractions" (e.g., 1/3.91", instead of 1/4" which --heaven forbid!-- is 0.09" smaller).

You can peruse the excellent Wikipedia chart listing common sensor sizes (both diagonal & HxW meansurements): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensor_sizes#Table_of_sensor_formats_and_sizes One of the more illuminating (no pun intended) parts of the article text says,
"sensor areas... are proportional to the maximum possible collection
of light and image resolution [other things equal], but in practice are
not directly proportional to image noise or resolution due to other limitations."

You really have to look at 3rd party reviews (CNet, DP Review, Consumer Reports, etc.) to compare low-light image quality and lens/sensor image fidelity. Printed specs are a mere guideline, but you also have to "consider the source" when shopping.

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

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