The sensor (normally a CCD chip or charge-coupled device) in a digital camera limits the resolution of the images. This chip turns light to discrete signals, taking the place of film in normal photography.
Made up of millions of "buckets" (pixels), these sensors collect charge in response to the light. The color filter over each of these pixels allows each one to respond to a narrow range of light wavelengths.
The theory is that the more pixels a camera has, the greater the resolution of the photos produced. Pixel count is the most commonly compared attribute to digital cameras. Pixels are counted as megapixels, as mega means one million, and pixel counts are given in millions.
A camera listed as an 8.0-megapixel camera has eight million pixels. While it is common to presume that the resolution of a camera can be determined by pixel count alone, this is a misconception.
Several factors impact the sensor's resolution:
* Sensor size
* Lens quality
* Organization of the pixels
Some digital cameras are considered to have too many pixels; the sensor may be so small that it is unable to deliver that quality of resolution necessary to maintain the number of pixels provided. Too many pixels can even reduce the image quality.
As each sensor gets smaller, it causes poorer-quality photos. With the development of technology, the cost of digital cameras has decreased greatly. If you count the number of pixels available per dollar, there is a steady increase in the amount of pixels you can receive for your dollar.
Remember that higher pixel count does not necessarily mean higher resolution. Question the other factors listed above, sensor size, lens quality, and the organization of the pixels. This will assure you receive quality for your dollar.