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The Marketing Marvel that is the Megapixel Myth

Did you know that you could fit 5,000 pixel receptors from the average camera or mobile phone on the tip of a sharp pencil? Not many people know this little-known fact as members of the Burton Business Club found out during an entertaining interactive presentation at the October meeting at the Branston Golf and Country Club. The presentation was given by Rawman Photography’s Chris Manning ably assisted by his wife Maria who is also a member.

Chris, who an acknowledged expert on the technicalities of photography, opened the presentation by revealing that some professional photographers took a big step backwards with the advent of the digital photography revolution and even now after a few years some mourn the passing of film. Also, technology is moving on at a massive rate aided by massive marketing hype that encourages the general public to buy cameras and mobile phones with ever more megapixels. The results are often disappointing as the grainy mobile pictures seen on TV and UTube attest. Professional photographers get better results with pin sharp pictures (or more bang for their megapixels) than the amateurs with their multi-megapixel compact cameras.

Chris went on to graphically demonstrate why the marketing marvel of digital camera sales is based on the myth of the more pixels there are in a camera, the better the picture sharpness is. The demonstration involved coloured water, funnels, differing diameters of tubing, two teams of members and a stopwatch.

Great fun was had by all and members got the message that size and quality of lens is crucial as is the camera processor chip. Most crucial of all is the news that the size of the receptor (where the pixels reside and receive light via the lens in the manner of the human retina) is at least 8 times the area in a professional camera as the average amateur’s compact camera or the mobile.

Chairman Derek thanked the panel for contributing to such a lively and informative evening. He went on to say that the preparations for Derek’s Tree are proceeding well with the direct help of Burton Business Club. He revealed that in discussion with various childrens’ charities, it is clear that there is likely to be nearly twice as many disadvantaged children needing support from Derek’s Tree this Christmas compared to last year therefore donations of time and money would therefore be welcome.