Calculating the image dimensions based on MegaPixel value

[anjanesh]

Hi

Is there a way to find out the largest screen resolution possible given the MegaPixel value of a camera ?

A Nokia model has a 1.3 MegaPixel camera. When downloaded to my PC what would be the image dimensions in pixels ? 1300 x 1000 ?

Thanks

[mwfanelli]

Hi

Is there a way to find out the largest screen resolution possible given the MegaPixel value of a camera ?

A Nokia model has a 1.3 MegaPixel camera. When downloaded to my PC what would be the image dimensions in pixels ? 1300 x 1000 ?

Thanks

It is not that straightforward.

1. The image density, in dpi, depends upon the device you are printing to. For example, the high end Epson photo printers like to see images that are 300 dpi. For an 8x10, you would need 2400 x 3000.You can also print at less than ideal with almost the same results. Many people use 250 dpi. For really high end devices, such as a LightJet, they recommend 400 dpi for the incoming image.

2. The pixels coming out of your camera is not the end of the story. Most photo editing software allows you to use interpolation to increase the native pixel density. Interpolation has gotten a bad name because people grossly overuse it but it is a valid mathematica technique that is used all over the place. So, with your 1.3 MP camera you can get more than 1.3 MP.

In real life, a 1.3 MP camera can match 35mm film at 4x6 and most 5x7. At 8x10 you will see the image breaking down, although not horribly so.

[anjanesh]

Actually I dont intend on printing the images - just saving it to my PC's folder - and most screens nowdays have 1024x768 or more and was wondering if a 1.3MP image be smaller in dimension when viewed on a 1024x768 res screen.

[mwfanelli]

Actually I dont intend on printing the images - just saving it to my PC's folder - and most screens nowdays have 1024x768 or more and was wondering if a 1.3MP image be smaller in dimension when viewed on a 1024x768 res screen.

A monitor is very low res, almost always 72 dpi, a small few are 96 dpi. A 1.3 MP camera is all you need to fill the screen. In fact, you will probably have to make the image smaller to fit.

[another view]

Yep - 1024 x 768 = 786,432 pixels, or about 0.8 megapixels.