Camera and photography tips Part 3

MP (Megapixel)

A megapixel (MP) is 1 million pixels, and is a term used not only for the number of pixels in an image, but also to express the number of image sensor elements of digital cameras.

A camera with an array of 2048×1536 sensor elements is commonly said to have "3.1 megapixels" (2048 × 1536 = 3,145,728). The more megapixels you have, the more quality in the photo you take.

Important note!!  

The more megapixels (sensor elements) you squash onto a camera photo-light sensor, the warmer the sensor gets. That is why professional SLR cameras have physically bigger size photo sensors.

The problem with high-megapixel, small sensor elements, is that they overheat in low light conditions, and you get noise on your photos as a result. ( See example of photo with noise below at "Noise" )

Image sensor

An image sensor is a device that converts an optical image to an electric signal. It is used mostly in digital cameras and other imaging devices. The image sensor replaced the film that was used in older cameras.

Photo of image sensor below.

Noise

Grainy photos with randomly scattered coloured pixels that break up smooth areas. This is what's known as noise. 

Example of photo with noise

Do this at home!                       Read your camera manual on how to do the following steps.  

To take a picture with noise, do the following.

Step 1:             Go to a dimly lit room or wait until it is darkening outside.

Step 2:             Set your camera to a high ISO setting, 800 for example.

Step 3:             Disable the flash.

Step 4:             Set the shutter speed slow enough to allow for good exposure.

Step 5:             Take a photo of something and look at it on your computer.


Continue to part 4