How many megapixels are good for a camera for a photography class?
I’m taking a photography class this year, and I need a new camera, since the only one I own is like, 5MP. I can’t afford those fancy cameras that most photographers use, and since it’s only a class, I’m not going to need one like that.
What’s a good amount of MPs to have on a camera, to take good quality pictures?
I only have about 100-150 dollars to spend.
A great camera to use not only in class, but in your job, is the Canon AOS 500D. It’s a little expansive, but the quality of pictures are amazing for 15mp. It records in HD, 720p too =D
Sure, it’s *only* a class, but some classes have a requirement for a certain type of camera. For example, for some you need something fully adjustable like an SLR or DSLR, for others point-and-shoots are fine. Make sure your class requires a point-and-shoot, because that’s the only thing that will fit under your budget (assuming that you don’t need a film SLR, since most would classify them as “fancy cameras that photographers use”).
You don’t need a lot of megapixels to take good pictures. In fact, sometimes cramming a lot of megapixels in the small sensor of a point-and-shoot is actually a bad thing. Most people really only need 5-6+. 10 and 12 megapixels are common in today’s cameras, but it’s more than enough. You can read about the megapixel myth here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08pogue.html?_r=2
Any camera that fits under your budget should have plenty of megapixels (as most do). You can search for a camera that has the features and specs you want using the link below. Also be sure to narrow it down to the ones that you can afford.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp
You should ask what the requirements of the class are. Do they need for you to have an SLR? Film or digital? You could probably get a decent used film SLR in your budget, if that is what is needed.
A minimal cost digital camera that is reputed to have good quality is the Canon A495. It is auto-exposure. Again, you should ask about requirements. If they want a digital camera with manual exposure, that may be hard to find in your budget. The Canon SX 120 IS is above your budget, but not by a lot.
Here are reviews of some economy compact digitals:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_A490_A495/
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_SX120_IS/
Here is an economical film SLR new:
http://www.idahocamera.com/browse.cfm/promaster-2500pk-super-slr-with-50mm-lens/4,672.html
Here is a reputable source of used cameras:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/35mm-Cameras/ci/3017/N/4294247087
If that is a dSLR, I say 5MP enough. I was about to answer 6MP to be the minimum but I only say that because it’s actually harder and often more expensive to get anything below that. I stress, your camera should be an SLR type, film or digital. Beware. Some classes require film SLR only. Ask the instructor or current students to be sure.
8MP are enough for daily photography you might consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 12.1MP Digital Camera with 4.6x POWER Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IKLJS2?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002IKLJS2
Nikon Coolpix S3000 12 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_i_0?rh=i%3Aelectronics%2Ck%3Anikon+s3000&tag=bestdeals-y-20&keywords=nikon+s3000&ie=UTF8&qid=1275833603
Photography is about capturing quality images by controlling the exposure on the camera.
Exposure is about controllin g aperture,shutter speed and ISO.
You don’t need a expensive DSLR but you need a camera that offer you manual control over aperture.shutter speed and ISO.
I recommend you buy Fuji Film S1500. It is not a DSLR but it looks like a DSLR and have controls similiar to DSLR. which is Ideal for photography class.
Fuji Film S1500 is a 10Mega pixel camera and cost about US$180