"How many Megapixels Do I Need?"

July 2015:
I will not be updating this article anymore, because we have long passed the point that megapixels made any difference. All modern cameras, including entry-level, have a sensor at least 24MP in resolution. That's way, way more than what any amateur (and many professionals) need. If you wonder whether you need 56 or 86 MP (just trying to make this relevant for the years to come!), then the answer is: you need other things more than MP.
My final word on the matter: 12MP are probably enough, 24MP are certainly enough.


May 2014:
With today's article I'm cheating a bit. I'm taking the 2013 article and adding some extra details. But the reason I'm doing that is to show you how little things have changed regarding this issue, that is, how many megapixels you truly need. Read through, and also find my updated remarks at the bottom of the article, marked in bold font.

I was writing at the beginning of 2013:

How many megapixels do I need? The question asked since the beginning of digital photography, essentially. It's 2013 now, and the question is as relevant as ever. The Nikon D800 throws 36 megapixels at you (and your computer storage) and you are left wondering: Do I need more megapixels? Is my camera good enough?

Well, to give you the quick answer: If your camera was good enough last year, it's still good enough. Heck, the cameras I am using were good enough back in 2006, that's 7 years ago! Do megapixels matter? Just like with a lot of other things in digital technology, the answer is: Yes, megapixels matter - but only up to a certain threshold. This threshold was crossed quite some time ago, and I would place it somewhere between 10 and 14 megapixels. This should be enough for virtually all amateurs and for many - if not most - professionals as well.


Wanna know how many megapixels I needed for my most recent assignment? TWO (2)! The client was a musician who wanted a series of shots for his website/Facebook page, and thus there was no need for images larger than 1600 pixels on the long side. Of course that is mostly the exception (although I think we move increasingly more in a direction where images are needed not for printing but for display). But even so, 12 megapixels easily allow you to print most sizes you could think of, whether you're a professional or an amateur.

For most display purposes (on Facebook or a website) 2MP is more than you need

Let's look more into this:


The 12MP sensor of the Nikon D300 can print 14.30" x 9.34" (36x24cm) @300dpi. To many, this sounds little (although in reality consider how many prints larger than that you have printed). But the truth is - and this, sadly, is a fact even some professional photographers ignore - that this size is only in connection with the dpi output. If you wanted to print at 200dpi, the 12 MP sensor would give you excellent quality for sizes up to 21.45" x 14.00" (55x36cm). At 100dpi, the size increases to 42.90" x 28.34" (109x72cm).

"Hang on!", you will say. "Isn't it so that by reducing the dpi we reduce image quality? Doesn't it mean the photo will be fuzzy or pixelated?"

Well, NO! Because it depends on what you are printing on! 300dpi is the true photo quality requirement. In other words, if you're printing on photo paper, you need 300dpi (at least theoretically; depending on the kind of image in question, you can use even 200dpi successfully). 100dpi is the requirement for canvases. Now, things begin to look interesting, don't they? But wait! There is another element which still needs to be considered: Viewing Distance.

You see, photo quality (300dpi) is essentially the quality required so that the viewer cannot see the dots of the printing. In other words, with 300dpi it is pretty much assured that holding a photo in your hand, you will not be able to see the dots.
But once the medium (and the size) changes, viewing distance changes with it! In other words, you don't hold a 1m long canvas in your hands in order to view it. Immediately, this changes the situation once more. Suddenly, 100dpi for a canvas isn't even the minimum requirement.

What about cropping? Well, if the full image is 12MP, the red rectangle represent an area that can be successfully printed up to a 21"x 15" (55x40 cm) canvas

What all that means is this:
The situation in 2013 is the same as it was before, regarding the megapixel need: Even if you print big, 12MP is more than enough. The only situation in which you would absolutely need more megapixels, would be if you needed to print a photo - as in, an actual photo, on photographic paper - which would be 3ft/1m long and would be scrutinized for dots from a viewing distance of half a step. Not very probable, is it?

I know what you'll say. Cropping. Well, the information above shows clearly that even a 12 MP sensor allows you to crop successfully to a significant extent. If you consistently need to crop more and more into an image, this means either of (or both) these two things: a) you need a longer lens; b) you need to work more on your composition.
As simple as that, really.

So, in 2014, how is the situation? Is it any different? Well, not really. All the things you just read are still valid. Nikon has offered even entry-level cameras with a 24MP sensor, while the slightly older (D3100, D5100) have more than enough, 14 and 16MP respectively. In other words, for whatever you just read above, the situation is even better.

And one other thing: By getting more megapixels, you don't necessarily get better quality in your images, nor can you crop any more than you could before. Not unless you a) have good shooting discipline, knowing how to secure your camera or hold it steadily; b) have some quality lenses. If you plan to use your 18-55 on a 24MP sensor and expect a huge difference over 12MP, be prepared to be disappointed. Any marginal difference (that would show up only when printed really big and cropped) is visible only if you have some lens with good resolving power. Otherwise, a 12MP is as good as a 24MP one.

June 2014 Update:
Let me add a little something, inspired by a reader's comment. I'm bringing this up because there is a lot of misunderstanding about this as well. People are under the impression that you can always downsize from 24MP and have "about the same noise" as you have with 12MP, the argument being "so, no need for less MP anyway". This might or might not be the case (it depends). But no downsizing will give you back lost dynamic range or smudged colors. Blown highlights at 24MP are  still blown downsized at 12MP