3mp and 4mp digicams... is there a big difference?

[madbomber31]

i bought a pretty cool olympus 3 mp cam.. i like it a lot.. simple, fun.. cool toy...

now, for another 150 i can return that one and get the 4.0mp version... should i? why?

or should i stick with what i got and get a photo printer?

 

[naturally anabolic]

not noticeable enough for the average user....thats for sure. sick with the 3mp and spend the money on something else...like the photo printer.

 

[Warik]

From what I've been told about camera megapixels, it's not noticible unless you are doing large prints. For 4x6 prints even 1 megapixel is fine (for those who disagree please send me some clones of your eyes because I can't tell the difference). For an 8x10 or 11x(15?) you will definitely want higher megapixels.

Now, here's something I AM sure of - do not buy a photo printer. Why? I haven't found them to be cost effective. I have an HP photosmart and my boss has an Epson stylus, plus I've read some reviews about that new super duper Canon printer. Fact is that once you factor in the ink costs and the cost of the good quality paper, you're close to or higher than the cost of having the prints done by somebody else. Walmart does digital cam prints for 26 cents a pop. Free shipping if you opt to pick them up in the store and they look MUCH better than they would if you had printed them yourself.

Makes me wonder how they make money off it.

-Warik

 

[naturally anabolic]

warik, i too have a photosmart printer but i have found it to be quite cost effective for prints as the quality is great and i didnt spend an arm and a leg on it either. The cartridges are pretty expensive but i was able to locate them at sams club or bj's and that was a good savings.

 

[the nature boy]

the difference is 1mp.

 

[Warik]

NA,

Which model do you have?

I have the P1000 and they come out like shit even on the highest res, but that's probably because it's an old model. My boss's Epson does OK prints but I can easily notice the flaws. I think the ink costs are roughly 8-10 cents a sheet for prints even for the really good printers. Once you factor in another 15 cents or more per sheet for glossy paper, you are fux0red.

The only downside I see with Walmart is that the in-store employees are so fucking dumb.

"Walmart photocenter. How may I help you?"

me> "Hi I have some digital camera prints I'm waiting for. Could you check if they are in yet please?"

"What kind of digital camera?"

me> "Uhhh... I'm not shopping for a camera. I'm asking about my prints."

"Ohhh...." *ruffles through some papers in a file drawer*

"No they aren't here yet. When did you bring them in?"

me> "I didn't bring them in. As I said, they are digital camera pictures. They were uploaded to the Walmart photo center on the Internet."

"Oh...." *ruffles through another drawer*

"No they aren't here."

me> "I just got an e-mail that says they are."

"uhhh... durrr... uhmmmm.... "

me> "..."

*click*

-Warik

 

[Y_lifter]

No diff for printouts up to 5x7 and even 8x10 looks great with my 3.3 Olympus..

Buy a $150 - 200 photo printer and photo paper.

 

[naturally anabolic]

NA,

Which model do you have?

I have the P1000 and they come out like shit even on the highest res, but that's probably because it's an old model. My boss's Epson does OK prints but I can easily notice the flaws. I think the ink costs are roughly 8-10 cents a sheet for prints even for the really good printers. Once you factor in another 15 cents or more per sheet for glossy paper, you are fux0red.

The only downside I see with Walmart is that the in-store employees are so fucking dumb.

"Walmart photocenter. How may I help you?"

me> "Hi I have some digital camera prints I'm waiting for. Could you check if they are in yet please?"

"What kind of digital camera?"

me> "Uhhh... I'm not shopping for a camera. I'm asking about my prints."

"Ohhh...." *ruffles through some papers in a file drawer*

"No they aren't here yet. When did you bring them in?"

me> "I didn't bring them in. As I said, they are digital camera pictures. They were uploaded to the Walmart photo center on the Internet."

"Oh...." *ruffles through another drawer*

"No they aren't here."

me> "I just got an e-mail that says they are."

"uhhh... durrr... uhmmmm.... "

me> "..."

*click*

-Warik

i have the photosmart 7350C, works great

 

[bigguns7]

The basic difference is this:

3MP = photos can be blown up to 8X11 with no noticeable distortion/pixellization

4MP = can be blown up to 11x14 with no noticeable distortion/pixellization

So to answer the question, if you are using it for fun and even for higher quality 5x7 prints, there is no reason to spend the extra $150.

 

[bullett]

buy the printer..

btw, Epson 785ex is fuckin awesome for $150...

HP Photosmart 1350 is awesome as well, but more $

 

[WarriorPL]

I just brought a brand new 4mp camera, Canon S45. I love the thing... reason i got this as oppose to other smaller megapixel cameras is because i rather pay a high price now for a better camera that will alst me 5 years... as oppose to buying a 3megapixel camera that will be a peice of junk even sooner. I'm not professional photographer, but it's just something nice to have.

 

[madbomber31]

kid, thats what i was thinking... but i was also told that if it "happens to break" in 2 or 3 years (before my warranty is up) they will replace it.... or give me a 300 dollar check to use towards an upgrade....

i bought the olympus d 550... really cool camera.

 

[Y_lifter]

Good choice MB