4 MP 8x10s

[Nathan Lim]

> Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 13:16:28 -0600
> Subject: [DigiCam] 4 megapixel ok for 8"x10" prints?
> From: Steve Kane <skane at skaneco.com>
> Message-Id: <333EA1A4-210E-11D8-A4A9-00039382A4B0 at skaneco.com>
> 
> I'm thinking of getting my step-son  the 4 megapixel Olympus C-750 UZ.
> I know he will enjoy the longer zoom, lighter weight, and smaller size
> of the C-750 compared to say the 5 megapixel  Nikon Coolpix 5700 or HP
> Photosmart 945. OTOH, I know he will sometimes want to make 8"x10"
> prints and would be disappointed if they are too "grainy". I've made
> 8"x10" prints from my 5 megapixel Minolta Dimage 7i and even with a bit
> of cropping they look fine. How will 8"x10" prints from a 4 megapixel
> camera compare?
> 
> Thanks. 


Steve,

The 8x10s will look just fine. We have a 3 MP Olympus C-3030 and 8x10s look
great. Actually, what originally sold me on digital cameras was seeing a 2
MP 8x10 which looked pretty good too. The 2 MP was a bit soft (i.e. not tack
sharp), but overall, I was very impressed. 4 MP is really not that different
from 5 MP if you compare linear resolution (i.e. how many pixels per side or
per inch). I'd be surprised if you noticed much difference between 4 and 5
MP on an 8x10, although I'm speaking from a theoretical standpoint as I've
never personally viewed either!

-Nate