Megapixels Anyone ?

Gremlin

Gremlin

Houdini
Suspended / Banned
Messages
17,791
Name
Ingrid
Edit My Images
No
Why is it everytime I meet some prat who thinks they know it all, the first question they ask is "How many megapixels is your cameras, mine is ****"
My normal reply is "I think it's about 2 or 3 does that sound right"
They then go onto to tell me how it won't be much good etc.
What is this fixation, and why ?
It really annoys me, I've seen some cracking pictures take on the older
camers that are only 5mp and I've seen some absolute rubbish taken on those with 15 and above]
 
"Over 9,000"


Because its the only way people think they can compare cameras.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't worry about them, they're normally the kind of individual that went of and found the most expensive camera at curry's and run around with it on full auto,

I mean the new 650D must be better than my 5D3 because wow the 650 is so much smaller and lighter and 5D3 it doesn't even have a flash right? :cuckoo:

In short I wouldn't give a toss about people like that :thumbs:

Matt
MWHCVT
 
It is a number and to the ignorant the higher the number the better the camera must be.
Ask them why the higher number of pixels gives them a better image and what they think of there being an optimum number of size of each pixel versus how many on a given size sensor. Then watch them change the subject...
 
I had this a while back.. My D700 was crap because it was only 12MP. This guys £100 15MP compact was miles better apparently...

Smile, nod and move on.
 
Just throw back a curve ball and ask them how big their pixels are.
 
There is no substitute for resolution. It's where the camera falls on the resolution chart that matters. Some higher MP cameras have less resolving power. Quite interesting to read AP and see how they stack up.

It's only men that ask. Willy waving behaviour. Best ignored!
 
just say youre shooting film and youre not sure how big a photon is.
 
'cause the marketing men like numbers they can latch onto and sell, and idiots buy it
 
Nah I find it more fun to just act dumb and wind them up , as said they are just trying to impress with their useless knowledge, start talking in depth about other aspects and tie them in knots :thumbs:
It's just this opening phrase from someone you have never spoken to before
that gets me :cuckoo:
 
MP/BHP/inches...it's all the same to some people, more is better! :naughty:
As they say, it's not the size of the wand, it's the magic in it. :lol:
 
Wozzaaah said:
MP/BHP/inches...it's all the same to some people, more is better! :naughty:
As they say, it's not the size of the wand, it's the magic in it. :lol:
Click to expand...

My wand is big and full of magic.lol.

I had all this last year when I was out, I happened to be shooting my Mamiya RZ 67 and got told that his compact was far better than some old crappy film camera, I just nodded and agreed.

The other one that always makes me laugh is the" if I had a camera like that I could take good pictures too."

And the one I heard someone say to their wife the other weekend" look at that idiot using a flash in the day, he doesn't know anything about photography"
 
Last edited:
essexash said:
just say youre shooting film and youre not sure how big a photon is.
Click to expand...

Hahaha.

Camera snobbery is strange, I hope all those pixel peepers have mind blowing photographs to demonstrate? My guess is they don't.. My favourite camera is a Phenix film SLR & I think most film photographers will scoff at what I shoot on because it's honestly not the best out there.. but I'm always pleased with the photographs I've taken on it despite the quality, I'd rather have a grainy film print I'm fond of than a sharper than sharp in sharp land photograph that never catches anyones interest.

I usually associate photography with photographs, whereas camera comparing should be left to camera collectors!
 
Last edited:
I'm reminded of all the times photographers pulled a face and asked "what made you choose a Sony?".

I got into the habit of replying "the built-in mp3 player swung it for me". :)
 
I get the opposite (Sony A77), people always ask how many MP, and I reluctantly tell them, only to be told how too many is bad for high ISO work and whatever they've got is 'ideal'..

I just nod and agree, I don't think going into the science of sensors and how pixel size makes absolutely no tangible difference would just take too much explaining.. And because I don't actually care, I didn't buy the camera for 24MP, if it had 10 or 12, that would have been fine.. (was looking at a D300s)..

The funny thing is, novices just see MP and leave it at that, it's the so called experts that are more serious that tend to actually have the worst pre-conceptions about MP's, but again, I usually nod and agree, then talk about the actual techniques etc, people often respond far better then 'mines bigger then yours' kind of banter..
 
Last edited:
I had a good one recently...i showed a "professional" portrait photographer one of my images to which he asked "did you use Photoshop?" And when I said yes of course, he looked at me and laughed...

There are some weird people out there...
 
Its because its what they are told, and what advertisers use to sell.

I always say 4 :) the d2hs was always my favourite camera.
 
In defence of the megapixel mania... I think it's a leftover from the early 2000s, back when most digital cameras would genuinely produce pixelated images printed anything above a 6x4. The 3.1 megapixel camera came out and suddenly you could print a bit bigger so it was a huge selling point, but the advantage has become irrelevant, as anything over 5mp is so much more than adequate for the vast majority of consumer photos.

Ironically those megapixel fanatics nowadays tend to be the ones whose images end up as blurry 800*600s on Facebook :cuckoo:
 
I realise most people don't know better when it comes to camera's and MP and I do understand that.

Having said that, the look of disappointment/bewilderment on peoples faces when I tell them my camera is 12 MP, is enough to drive me mad sometimes.
 
It's not just a camera/megapixel thing - for years I've had a few people tell me that their one-box music centre is better than my hi-fi because it has 250 Watts PMPO.

Davec223 said:
And the one I heard someone say to their wife the other weekend" look at that idiot using a flash in the day, he doesn't know anything about photography"
Click to expand...
That'll be the same bloke that uses the flash on his compact to take a photo of the stage at a rock concert :D.
 
weybourne said:
It's not just a camera/megapixel thing - for years I've had a few people tell me that their one-box music centre is better than my hi-fi because it has 250 Watts PMPO.
Click to expand...

When I worked as a singer, I had a guy tell me his £100 (pair) prosound speakers were better than my £800 (each) industry standard electrovoice speakers...you do want to slap those people with a wet fish...twice.
 
This latest one also asked whether my pictures were ok as he was busy going through his, told him I don't check them all, just the odd one to check settings are ok :eek:
Then asked what my success rate was, well that depends on what I'm shooting, wildlife can be hit and miss but normally I keep something like 200/300 out of a 1000, don't feel the need to keep all the doubles etc.
Hwe said his was about 50 out of 100, then proceed to do the rapid fire everytime he pressed the shutter, was tempted to ask what his shutter count was :lol: but was trying to end conversation :cuckoo:
 
I have a Nikon P7100 as a backup camera which is small enough to stick in a jacket pocket. It's a very respectable camera, but I'm forever finding myself answering people who are amazed that I should spend £350 on a camera that 'only' has 10 megapixels. :bang:
 
Last edited:
Part of being a photographer is making your gear work for you and using it to its absolute maximum potential. If you can achive a very high standard of image with lesser gear, it goes someway to demonstrate the skill of the photog in capturing the image.
 
Gremlin said:
Why is it everytime I meet some prat who thinks they know it all, the first question they ask is "How many megapixels is your cameras, mine is ****"
My normal reply is "I think it's about 2 or 3 does that sound right"
They then go onto to tell me how it won't be much good etc.
What is this fixation, and why ?
It really annoys me, I've seen some cracking pictures take on the older
camers that are only 5mp and I've seen some absolute rubbish taken on those with 15 and above]
Click to expand...

I think the answer is right there in your question.:)

They're the same idiots who think your camera takes nice pictures?
 
Just smile and ask what's a megapixel or even better a megapixie and wait for blank stare.
 
lafustera said:
Just smile and ask what's a megapixel or even better a megapixie and wait for blank stare.
Click to expand...

Or megapickle
 
baffle them with waffle, even if it's all lies:

"well that depends if I am shooting DX or FX and how many bits I am using, also got to take into account whether i'll be stitching or stacking images, plus I shoot in RAW/NEF and whether I am using a prime or telephoto lens, what dynamic range I am getting and what aspect ration"

Say something like that quite quickly and they'll soon shut up and walk away, or use one I had at a wedding last year:

"Yeah mate, mine has 4 more megapixels than yours so takes better photos"

"Actually, my sensor is 3 times bigger than yours so 3 of you mega pixels is about the size of 1 of mine, and despite what your wife says, bigger is better"

Or if nothing else works, just bring up the costs:

"well, the body was £1700, lens was £1400, grip was £250, £90 a battery, £300 of memory cards and £400 for flash"

normally does the trick :D
 
Number of megapixels I can cope with people asking about, but when they ask how many zooms you've got that is really hard to get through to them especially when you've got an 80-400 on as apparently a 5x zoom isn't that good :shrug:
 
I think its equally snobbish to get annoyed with non-photographers who don't get the megapixel thing. We may be photographers but those people excel in other things that we probably only have layman's understanding of.

Someone talks megapixels, just smile and nod and move on. Simple:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top