As most people are starting to become more tech enlightened these days, you hear them make use of the words “megapixels”. They do this to try to rate different camera abilities on different smartphones.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f_IycP0E8o

Smartphonemakers encourage this too. They tout the amount of megapixels present in their camera sensors and turn a blind eye to other camera specifications. This might lead one to believe (more often than not) that megapixel counts are the “alpha and omega” when it comes to rating camera abilities. These days however, there is another school of thought that believes that camera prowess and ability should be evaluated by the size of the sensor as well as that of the pixels too.

For those who may not know, a pixel is a light collecting bucket on a camera sensor. A megapixel simply means that there are a million pixels on the sensor. A camera with 12 megapixels (12MP) has 12 million pixels arranged on the camera sensor to help catch light (I have explained the process in detail here).

A camera sensor is a photographic plate at the rear end of the camera. It holds the pixels that are used to catch light as well as the electronic circuitry to convert the light into electric signals and send them to the phone’s Image Signal Processor (ISP) for post processing (a more detailed explanation can be found here).

The pixels that catch light also come in different sizes measured in micrometers (µm). The bigger the pixel size, the more light it can catch.

THE MEGAPIXEL ARGUMENT
The number of megapixels used in a camera is very important. A high number of megapixels boosts the resolution of an image. The image retains a lot of details from the scene, especially when zoomed in. It also provides a very quick and easy way to rate cameras. This is very true when you look at 1MP cameras against 5MP cameras or 8MP cameras against 12MP cameras. As soon as you go over 12MP cameras and start heading towards 48MP and 64MP, things start to get a little mixed up. The problem is compounded when pixel binning is thrown into the mix.

THE PIXEL/SENSOR SIZE ARGUMENT
The size of the pixels and sensor used in building cameras is rarely talked about. In fact, a lot of people barely even know that they exist but they are very vital to determine camera performance. The size of the sensor affects the type (size) of pixels used. It also determines the number of pixels that a manufacturer can pack into the sensor. A big sensor means that they can pack bigger pixels into the sensor. Even if they choose not to use bigger pixels, they can pack a lot more smaller pixels into the much bigger sensor. Small pixels (0.8µm) do okay in bright daylight but perform horribly at lowlight conditions. Bigger pixels work excellently in daylight and they do very well in the dark as they can collect a lot more light and render a better image than small pixels.

THE HEAD TO HEAD
Megapixels counts are only good for image resolution and for packing a lot of details. The size of the sensor on which they are packed on is much more important. A camera with a high megapixel count (48MP) made up of small 0.8µm pixels can be totally destroyed by a 12MP camera with 1.4µm (or even 2.4µm) sized pixels.


wp-1595156430466.jpg

The sensor on the left has 12 boxes. Each box is representing a million pixels so it is a 12MP camera. The one on the right has 48 boxes representing 48MP. The 12MP camera on the right has the bigger pixels and sensor. It will take better photos both day and night, completely outperforming the smaller 48MP. The smaller 48MP sensor would combine 4pixels (or boxes) together so as to get a wider surface area. This will boost its performance, but that would effectively reduce it’s resolution back down to 12MP.

Today, there are so many companies touting cameras with a high number of megapixels all over the place. So it is important to note that all 48MP cameras are not equal. Some 48MP cameras with very small sensors and even smaller pixels would give you terrible shots. Some 12MP cameras will give you flagship grade performance. Both Apple and Google use 12MP cameras. Their cameras give out better shots than most 48MP cameras in the market today.

WHAT MAKES UP A GOOD CAMERA?
Well a good camera should have good hardware (well sized image sensor and pixels as well as a good megapixel count). It should also have a good software to process those photos. Software in photography has started to take a more pivotal role these days.
If a company fails to post their hardware specs or release them to reviewers beyond the usual megapixel count, then they are practising false advertising and you probably should not buy from them.

https://inquisitiveuniverse.com/2020/07/19/megapixel-count-vs-pixel-and-sensor-size/

Nice, thanks for the info, I'm still very much flexing the amazing camera on my phantom x

Wow!

This is very enlightening

Thus is an eye opener... Thanks Op

Thanks

What that matters is, do I have the money to buy the phone I want?

Another critical point and that is why we manage the one we can afford

DozieMartin:
What that matters is, do I have the money to buy the phone I want?

Are we buying phones or camera. I believe everyone should get a camera for good resolution. No need for all this pixel wars on phone. The resolution of average phone is normal. Any addition is altering the actual image or just more beautification features

Mohbola:
Thanks

You're welcome.

OwoukoUrua:
Wow!

This is very enlightening

Yeah it is.

dawnomike:
Thus is an eye opener... Thanks Op

You're welcome.

Technology is evolving and that is why this kind of discussion need to be had

soundOsonic:
Are we buying phones or camera. I believe everyone should get a camera for good resolution. No need for all this pixel wars on phone. The resolution of average phone is normal. Any addition is altering the actual image or just more beautification features

soundOsonic:
Are we buying phones or camera. I believe everyone should get a camera for good resolution. No need for all this pixel wars on phone. The resolution of average phone is normal. Any addition is altering the actual image or just more beautification features

Suit yourself.

Nice write-up. It opened my eyes to the fact that Goliath is not always the best, sometimes a small David can do the job better

Freelancerx:
Technology is evolving and that is why this kind of discussion need to be had

That was how some people told us here on Nairaland that the knowledge of processors (SoCs) is a waste.

That Helio P22 is good. As long as the phone works. That's what matters. That phones are not meant for gaming.

Today now they're singing about Helio G series and how processor is important. Talking about how G95 is a gaming processor.

As you see me, I no get power again. Anything when them believe. I agree. This na new year.

Kirkman:
Nice write-up. It opened my eyes to the fact that Goliath is not always the best, sometimes a small David can do the job better

These companies na scam oh bro. Always do your research. Haven't you noticed that people are complaining about Redmi 10 (MTK Helio G88) and Samsung Galaxy A12 (MTK Helio P35) because of their bad cameras.

That's because Mediatek sucks at image processing.

So no just only look the megapixel. There are many things to look at.

soundOsonic:
Are we buying phones or camera. I believe everyone should get a camera for good resolution. No need for all this pixel wars on phone. The resolution of average phone is normal. Any addition is altering the actual image or just more beautification features

The best camera you have..

Is the one available at that moment..

Do you expect people to be walking around lugging cameras?

When they are not professional photographers?

Cameras matter in a Smartphone..

@atheistandproud another eye opener to those believe that screaming "Canon 19 Pro" is the best with 258MegaPixelis Kamera.

Randerl:
@atheistandproud another eye opener to those believe that screaming "Canon 19 Pro" is the best with 258MegaPixelis Kamera.

Good to see see you bro.

I don repent. I no dey fight again. Even Mohbola na my sweetheart now sef. Untill her husband go wipe me with 2 by 4.

atheistandproud:


Good to see see you bro.

I don repent. I no dey fight again. Even Mohbola na my sweetheart now sef. Untill her husband go wipe me with 2 by 4.

Nobody dey quarrel our other friends na make dem up their game.

Some of their devices just dey push me towards Samsung M series.

atheistandproud:


These companies na scam oh bro. Always do your research. Have you noticed that people are complaining about Redmi 10 (MTK Helio G88) and Samsung Galaxy A12 (MTK Helio P35) because of their bad cameras.

That's because Mediatek sucks at image processing.

So no just only look the megapixel. There are many things to look at.

So lemme ask, if these phones were powered by a Snapdragon processors would the image qualities of the cameras have been better and why are manufacturers switching from Snapdragon to Mediatek processors these days.

Kirkman:

So lemme ask, if these phones were powered by a Snapdragon processors would the image qualities of the cameras have been better and why are manufacturers switching from Snapdragon to Mediatek processors these days.

Snapdragon SoCs are bloody expensive and are kind of scarce due to the global chip shortage.

Mediatek on the other hand is cheaper and more readily available.

Randerl:



Nobody dey quarrel our other friends na make dem up their game.

Some of their devices just dey push me towards Samsung M series.

No be lie boss.

I agree with you.

Nice write up..

smith946:
Nice write up..

Thank you

Infinix and Tecno with 48 MEGAPIXEL shit all the time

With blurry pictures

atheistandproud:


Snapdragon SoCs are bloody expensive and are kind of scarce due to the global chip shortage.

Mediatek on the other hand is cheaper and more readily available.

I thought as much..

Good write-up

na why iphone 12MP dey flog Tecno and Infinix 64MP

nice, thanks for info op, really good to know

NightFood:
nice, thanks for info op, really good to know

You're welcome

chocoboi:
Good write-up

Thank you