7 FACTS For Better Image Quality - Megapixels, Resolution, Image Sensor Size, Photosites???

Image quality is not just about megapixels. Here are 7 useful facts that help define image quality.

When it comes to image quality, there is a big misconception that if you want better quality, you need more megapixels. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) it isn’t that straightforward.

Over the years camera manufacturers have dedicated much of their efforts to improve the number of megapixels in their latest models. At the start of the century, both Nikon and Canon were producing DSLRs with just 3MP — a far cry from the 100MP cameras we see today.

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[VisualEducationStudio]

Hi guys, just a correction to note please - at 13:50 I explain how to calculate megapixels by dividing by one million but at 14:09 when I repeat the calculation I accidentally say one thousand instead of one million. Sorry my bad 😬. Thanks to a couple of our viewers for pointing it out.

[TheKillingTreeTT]

Wow. What a well delivered, in-depth video about the topic. Very well done. I felt like I went back to university :).

[donschiffer]

I think the law of diminishing returns plays a roll in most aspects of photography. Megapixels were a huge factor when going from 3 to 6, or 6 to 12. But the improvements from 50-100 aren't anywhere near as dramatic. The same is evident in lens improvements, noise performance, sensor size and other areas.

For most people the sweet spot for most of these things is somewhere in the middle.

[lornanjanja]

I will get back to this in the morning. Equipped with a notebook and pen😂

[pattyhertogh]

As always, great information Karl!! I don’t know how you remember all of that information. I had to stop and rewind a couple of times to process what you were saying. 😆 Thanks for sharing!!

[wallymikhu]

Seriously the best photography video series on YouTube that is full of great information. I look forward to every video. Thank you Karl!

[kreygscott]

My head literally exploded watching this. Now I'm going to need to get an ice pack and watch it 3 more times to fully understand it. That being said this has been the best explanation I've seen thus far on image quality. Cheers Karl.

[speterlewis]

As always, this was top-notch. Your knowledge and ability to deliver it so we can all understand it is as good as it gets. My only caution for viewers would be to not dismiss smaller sensors out of hand because of perceived lower image quality. While technologically and mathematically true, in practical terms, it isn't always relevant. Case in point is my own 30+ year career as a photographer, which, for the last 15 years has been done successfully using digital APS-C cameras. For the type of work I do, my clients have been overjoyed. Are there limitations? Sure. But I've learned to work within them and have been able to consistently produce, not just "good enough" images, but excellent images. I may well get cameras with larger sensors in the future, but not because I want to "upgrade, " but just because I want to be able to do different kinds of work. Keep up the excellent training, Karl. You are absolutely one of the best teachers out there!

[matteodemattia]

absolutely the clearest and most complete introduction to digital photography I have ever heard. Congratulations!

[sgroadie]

The OM-D you show is micro four thirds, and smaller than APS-C sensors. And half frame 135 film cameras exist, and there were numerous crop film cameras like 110, 126 format.

[zackvowell]

Thanks for the information! Extremely helpful stuff.

[kymcainday]

Karl is my only dictionary in photography. Thanks Karl.

[plre]

IIRC crop sensors came about way before ff sensors due to technology limitations. BTW, price is not the only drawback of larger image sensors: larger sensor requires larger and heavier lenses. This is why I'm considering switching to m43 for my urban/street photography: it's 70-200 equivalent is much smaller and lighter than a regular full frame 70-200 lens.

[afalco]

A little correction: the Olympus Pen series used half of the 35mm film, that is it was a "cropped sensor camera". And there are more sensor sizes. The most prominent sensor sizes today are the ones used in phones and they are much smaller than these. And there is the four-thirds sensors.

[cmichaelanthonyimages]

Great explination. Much to know. Where as one time the mantra was "its not the equipment but the photographer"...but in the digital world, it is equipment as well, in where the knowledgeable professional will make much better use of the higher end equipment.

[martynphillips]

Not one um one er, so not only is Karl a master photographer but a consummate speaker. Superb tutorial.

[valueforvalue]

The megapixel race reminds me of the early 2000s when intel convinced everyone that the more GHZ your processor had the faster your computer ran. The general public like nice round simple numbers to equate to higher or lower quality. 3GHZ is obviously better than 2.6GHZ unless you take into consideration processer design and efficiency. :)

[darylnd]

Several years ago, I showed a co-worker a recent portrait I'd made of my wife. The following conversation ensued.
She: "That's beautiful! You must have a really good camera!" (The greatest compliment any photographer can receive.)
Me: "Yes, I do."
She: "How many megapixels does it have?"
Me: "None"
She: "None? What do you mean?"
Me: "It's a film camera from 1952 or 1953." (Zeiss 6cm x 6cm folding camera)

[howeryuen]

This is gold in regarding to photography knowledge, thank you so much.

[jotablen]

How did I miss this one? Mr Karl!!
I'm going to show off a little bit now: my PhD in Optics is coming back in ways you'd never understand! Every MASTER-CLASS you provide in your channel is a blessing.
I really hope sometime somebody can explain the new generations in this way every single matter!
Welcome back to reality! It's just Karl Taylor doing it again!
Regards