question about 16mp pocket cam causing less detail ..

[rufunky]

I just purchased the Sony tx100v and keep reading the higher megapixels cause blurry/less detailed photos. My question is, couldn't this be prevented by lowering the megapixels in the settings? Or does it have to do with the way the sensor is built to alow for more megapixels therefore effecting photos at any resolution?

[Steve40]

Lowering the resolution for all practical purposes, will only make it worse.

[rufunky]

Thank you for the response.


Sorry, for what may seem to be a dumb question.

Could you explain why using lets say a 10mp camera shooting at 10mp and a 16mp camera shooting at 10mp would yeild different quality photos?

[TCav]

Originally Posted by rufunky

I just purchased the Sony tx100v and keep reading the higher megapixels cause blurry/less detailed photos.

I can't imagine why anyone would say that.

Originally Posted by rufunky

Could you explain why using lets say a 10mp camera shooting at 10mp and a 16mp camera shooting at 10mp would yeild different quality photos?

A 16MP sensor will produce a 16MP image, but if you've set the camera to store a 10MP image, the camera's internal downsampling algorithm will reduce the 16MP image to 10MP. The microprocessor in the camera isn't very fast, so the algorithm can't be very good, or the camera won't be ready to take the next shot in a reasonable amount of time. That means the image won't be as good as a 10MP image recorded by a 10MP sensor.

[rufunky]

Originally Posted by TCav

I can't imagine why anyone would say that.

Something about the sensor being to small for 16mp. They also mention that is why Canon dropped back down to a 12mp camera with the Canon ELPH 300 HS.


Thanks for the explanation

[TCav]

When you increase the resolution, you decrease the pixel pitch. When you decrease the pixel pitch, you increase the potential for noise. If you try to reduce the noise, you also reduce the detail. (Noise reduction algorithms can't tell the difference between noise and detail.)

My guess is that they were complaining about something they, themsleves, caused.