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The article referenced this: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08pogue.html?_r=2&oref=slogin http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08pogue.ht

by cletus 16y ago

The article referenced this: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08pogue.html?_r=2&oref=slogin http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08pogue.html?_r... The one company that seems to have a clue about this is actually Apple. The iPhone 4 has a 5mp camera in it. Some pundits say things like "I wish it had 8 megapixels or more". In doing so, they show their complete ignorance. Most people couldn't tell the difference between 5 and 8 megapixels. What 8 megapixels buys you is larger files, more noise and slower processing (on a sensor this small). The size of the pixels matter. It's one reason DSLR images tend to be so much better: they have hugely bigger pixels. I'd love to see more good 5-8mp point and shoot cams rather than these ridiculous 14+ mp noise factories.

megablast 16y ago
Well, to be fair, Apple have a different market to Canon/Casio/Sony point and shoot cameras. People aren't buying the iPhone 4 just for the camera. Apple still do deserve props for going for a better camera + lens, rather than the samsung route of more rez.
- GFischer 16y ago
  Nokia, on the other hand, does sell a product specifically as a camera replacement: http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-n86-8mp http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-n86-8mp I bought the N86 because I realized I never have my camera when I want it, and I always have my cellphone (GPS was nice, but the killer app for me was the 8mp camera).
ugh 16y ago
Canon, Nikon and Panasonic reduced the number of pixels or kept them the same in their high end small sensor compacts. (Canon G11: 10 MP down from 14.7 MP in the predecessor; Canon S90 and S95: 10 MP; Nikon P7000: 10 MP down from 13.5 in the predecessor; Panasonic LX5: the same 10 MP as the 2006 model and a slightly bigger sensor.) The newest iPhone has a tiny 1/3.2" sensor, those high end compacts usually have 1/1.7" sensors, that’s quite a bit more than double the area. Their pixels are consequently a bit bigger. If Apple made the right decision Canon, Nikon and Panasonic must have, too. They get it and they know that at least their best informed customers (those who actually buy high end small sensor compacts) will also get it. They are probably only (unnecessarily) afraid of the general public, all those who buy the cheapo point and shoots. If you are willing to pay you get appropriate pixel densities.
- smartrly 16y ago
  I have a Canon S90 and couldn't be happier with it. It had fewer megapixels than several other, cheaper cameras, but use is bearing out that the reviews were correct... they're fewer, but they're better.
- sukuriant 16y ago
  You might want to reverse that order: "If Apple made the right decision Canon, Nikon and Panasonic must have, too." Canon and Nikon are optics companies. If ~they~ made the right decision, then Apple has weight in their position, too. I don't know enough about Panasonic to state an opinion (I'm neither saying they're bad, nor am I saying their good. I simply know little about them)

by cletus 16y ago

megablast 16y ago

Well, to be fair, Apple have a different market to Canon/Casio/Sony point and shoot cameras. People aren't buying the iPhone 4 just for the camera. Apple still do deserve props for going for a better camera + lens, rather than the samsung route of more rez.

GFischer 16y ago
Nokia, on the other hand, does sell a product specifically as a camera replacement: http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-n86-8mp http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-n86-8mp I bought the N86 because I realized I never have my camera when I want it, and I always have my cellphone (GPS was nice, but the killer app for me was the 8mp camera).

ugh 16y ago

Canon, Nikon and Panasonic reduced the number of pixels or kept them the same in their high end small sensor compacts. (Canon G11: 10 MP down from 14.7 MP in the predecessor; Canon S90 and S95: 10 MP; Nikon P7000: 10 MP down from 13.5 in the predecessor; Panasonic LX5: the same 10 MP as the 2006 model and a slightly bigger sensor.) The newest iPhone has a tiny 1/3.2" sensor, those high end compacts usually have 1/1.7" sensors, that’s quite a bit more than double the area. Their pixels are consequently a bit bigger. If Apple made the right decision Canon, Nikon and Panasonic must have, too. They get it and they know that at least their best informed customers (those who actually buy high end small sensor compacts) will also get it. They are probably only (unnecessarily) afraid of the general public, all those who buy the cheapo point and shoots. If you are willing to pay you get appropriate pixel densities.

smartrly 16y ago
I have a Canon S90 and couldn't be happier with it. It had fewer megapixels than several other, cheaper cameras, but use is bearing out that the reviews were correct... they're fewer, but they're better.
sukuriant 16y ago
You might want to reverse that order: "If Apple made the right decision Canon, Nikon and Panasonic must have, too." Canon and Nikon are optics companies. If ~they~ made the right decision, then Apple has weight in their position, too. I don't know enough about Panasonic to state an opinion (I'm neither saying they're bad, nor am I saying their good. I simply know little about them)