14MP too much?

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Hi
I'm looking to get a new digital camera (switching from my old Olympus 3MP C310) & I've seen some comments that a 14MP camera might actually create more "noise" on the pictures. I was looking at the Sony Cybershot W350.
The camera would only be used for snaps & maybe short video clips (with audio), so I don't need anything special & was looking to spend £100-£150. Would I be better looking at say a 10MP camera?
Cheers :)

(Thanks for moving to correct forum :thumbs: )
 
14 megapixels is ridiculous on a compact, my full frame DSLR whose sensor is umpteen times the size has less than that, but to be honest, it's becoming hard to find ones these days that have much less.

I bought a second hand canon IXUS 40 with 4MP, have you considered looking in the second hand market?
 
trencheel303 said:
14 megapixels is ridiculous on a compact, my full frame DSLR whose sensor is umpteen times the size has less than that, but to be honest, it's becoming hard to find ones these days that have much less.

I bought a second hand canon IXUS 40 with 4MP, have you considered looking in the second hand market?
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Not really tbh, I don't like the thought of second hand for some reason. Would 10MP or 12MP still cause a problem with noise?
 
as trencheel says, 14 megapixels is ridicoulous on a compact and yes it normally creates more noise then say a 10 megapixel one. i think you are better off in the second hand market especially as there are new models every 6 months so you get a nice second hand selection.

what are you planning to do with it? just snapshots or hopefully buying a DSLR at a later stage for hobby reasons?
 
mastertrinity said:
as trencheel says, 14 megapixels is ridicoulous on a compact and yes it normally creates more noise then say a 10 megapixel one. i think you are better off in the second hand market especially as there are new models every 6 months so you get a nice second hand selection.

what are you planning to do with it? just snapshots or hopefully buying a DSLR at a later stage for hobby reasons?
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Just snapshots really, maybe a few concert pics (although I'm old fashioned in that I prefer to watch a concert with my own eyes rather than through a camera :lol: ) & a video function (preferably 720p) would be good.
 
I suppose you could always reduce the number of MP by changing the settings on the camera itself - bring it down to 8-10MP.
 
If its just for 'snaps' then any of the compacts will be fine. Don't get hung up on numbers etc. They are so full of electronic gubbins you won't notice the noise unless you manually pump the iso up to silly levels. To get a decent video function with 720p you have to get a fairly new one anyway.
 
HornetSting said:
Yeah, go in the settings and the cameras allow you to change the settings of what size picture you are taking. I think that the 'general public' have got caught up in the 'more mega pixel the better' mind set.
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No...

You're mistaking sensor-size with image-compression here.

A 12Mp sensor is always a 12Mp sensor regardless of whether you choose RAW, TIFF, JPEG-high' -medium or -low, unless you have a manually-selectable crop-sensor facility, which usually only the higher-end DSLRs do.

I use a D3 (12.3Mpi FX sensor) and it's just right - my D3x (24Mpi FX sensor) is too noisy above 400 iso to be of any practical use outside a studio...
 
14 megapixels is far too much on such a small sensor.

14MP is fine on a APS-C SLR sensor but these are much bigger.

If you want decent image quality in a compact and don't want to buy secondhand then look for the biggest CCD you can get (probably a 1/1.6 inch sensor) = Canon S90,G11, Panny LX3, Fuji F200.

The only one in your price range is going to be the Fuji though.
 
Arkady said:
No...

You're mistaking sensor-size with image-compression here.

A 12Mp sensor is always a 12Mp sensor regardless of whether you choose RAW, TIFF, JPEG-high' -medium or -low
Click to expand...

I thought the resolution size and the image quality were two seperate options on most cameras.

One setting the resolution size (4MP, 8MP, 14MP) and the other setting the compression (often just high, medium, low or 1, 2 or 3 star).
 
Kid_UK said:
I thought the resolution size and the image quality were two seperate options on most cameras.

One setting the resolution size (4MP, 8MP, 14MP) and the other setting the compression (often just high, medium, low or 1, 2 or 3 star).
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Not all cameras....which is why I said:

Arkady said:
...unless you have a manually-selectable crop-sensor facility, which usually only the higher-end DSLRs do...
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I had to laugh in Argos, their photography advice section actually says "More megapixels = better pictures".

Cramming a larger resolution into a tiny sensor with cause more noise. Basically it depends on what you do with your photos. If you print your snaps out onto 10x15cm then even 5megapixels will do.
Dont listen to the numbers, sounds good and looks impressive on paper but you should look beyond that and find a camera that suits exactly what you need.
PS: Salespeople are rotten scumbags who will sell you anything and try trading you up.
 
Thanks for all the replies, they're much appreciated.

Arkady said:
No...

You're mistaking sensor-size with image-compression here.

A 12Mp sensor is always a 12Mp sensor regardless of whether you choose RAW, TIFF, JPEG-high' -medium or -low, unless you have a manually-selectable crop-sensor facility, which usually only the higher-end DSLRs do.

I use a D3 (12.3Mpi FX sensor) and it's just right - my D3x (24Mpi FX sensor) is too noisy above 400 iso to be of any practical use outside a studio...
Click to expand...

I was looking at the Samsung WB500 (currently £120) which allows you to select the amount of MP (from 10MP down to 1MP), so would it make no real difference if I dropped the MP down to say 8 or 6?

(Sorry for the questions, but dispite doing my research, I'm still confused! :nuts: ).
 
Kid_UK said:
I thought the resolution size and the image quality were two seperate options on most cameras.

One setting the resolution size (4MP, 8MP, 14MP) and the other setting the compression (often just high, medium, low or 1, 2 or 3 star).
Click to expand...

I would hazard a guess that regardless of what you select resolution wise it still operates at its full capacity it just ditches some of the information to get it down to the requires resolution, therefore your reduced resolution image will likely still be as noisy as before!

if your buying a compact camera get the best lens and build quality as you can for your buck, dont chase the megapixel dragon and try to get the highest you can, its simply pointless, and yes its the figure that camera manufacturers and customers have grasped onto as the most important thing with a camera and really it isnt, ive printed 30x20" from an 8.2 megapixel canon, the only advantage ive now got with my 50D is that i can crop more if i require
 
Kid_UK said:
I suppose you could always reduce the number of MP by changing the settings on the camera itself - bring it down to 8-10MP.
Click to expand...

Changing the resolution won't make the individual pixels any bigger (which is what will affect dynamic range and low light performance), it will just make the image smaller as part of the in camera JPEG processing (similar to reducing image size in photoshop). This may have the affect of making the image look less noisy (as the noise will be smaller) but you're sacrificing print size amongst other things.

To the OP: there are still a number of compacts being produced with 10MP, I think this would be a good point to aim for if you don't want to buy used. 14MP is a little excessive if you ask me.
 
sketch145 said:
To the OP: there are still a number of compacts being produced with 10MP, I think this would be a good point to aim for if you don't want to buy used. 14MP is a little excessive if you ask me.
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Thanks, I might go with the aforementioned Samsung WB500, although I'm tempted to pay an extra £70 & go with the Panny TZ7 - but it is MUCH more than I wanted to spend. Decisions, decisions!!! :D
 
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