0To choose a phone with a good camera, it is important to understand what is megapixel and what is needed besides them for good photos. We often encounter situations where some devices with 12 MP take better photos than those with 24, 48 MP, and more. Why is that?
The rule "the more, the better" does not always apply, so studying a phone camera based on the number of megapixels is not the right solution. This is one of the areas where many myths exist, and we will now try to debunk them.
What is mega pixel and myths about them
First and foremost, it is necessary to understand what is mega pixel in camera. It is a unit that includes one million photosensitive cells (pixels), from which an image is formed. Megapixels are used to measure the resolution of the matrix or the size of the resulting photograph.
A pixel, in turn, is an individual tiny square, but it is so small that when zoomed in, it appears as a dot. If you take any image on a smartphone screen and magnify it significantly, you will see that the image consists of a "grid." This grid is formed precisely by pixels. Each pixel can capture one color spectrum — red, blue, or gree
What does Mp mean for cameras? It's simple — the more pixels-dots, the better the image quality. Therefore, the higher the megapixels, the higher the resolution, and consequently, the better the quality of the photo. This makes sense when you need wide-format printing, such as large posters, but for the average user who views their photos, super-high resolution is not necessary. There is also the concept of pixel density, which indicates how many pixels fit in an inch of the screen.
What a megapixel in cameras?The golden standard for the camera of a modern smartphone has remained at 12 MP for a long time, and this is quite sufficient for high-quality photos. Of course, to achieve professional quality, more megapixels are needed, but it's not just about them. Having more megapixels alone will definitely be insufficient.
Then where do such extravagant resolution values like 48, 50, 64, or even 200 MP come from? There is a concept called binning — it's a technology that combines multiple pixels under one color filter, forming a large light-sensitive pixel in one spectrum. 4, 9, 16, or more pixels can be combined simultaneously. Typically, the higher the MP, the more pixels are combined, equalizing the value to the same 12 MP or even less.
Moreover, they do not separate under sufficient light, making the image more detailed, as some claim. Individual pixels can perceive light intensity in zones, which increases the brightness range. The detailing in such cameras is achieved through post-processing, i.e., built-in algorithms.
Role of Pixel Size
The performance of the camera depends not only on megapixels, and even more so, not primarily on them. By diverting buyers with the quantity of megapixels, not all manufacturers emphasize an important component — namely, their size. More precisely, the size of the pixel. And yet, this is the most crucial characteristic. What is good megapixels for a camera? It's better to have fewer megapixels with larger-sized pixels than more MP with smaller pixel dots.
In simple terms, the larger the pixel, the more photons it absorbs during the exposure of the frame. A sensor with larger pixels will provide a higher-quality image, whereas smaller dots may capture a photo with more noise.
If two smartphones have the same quantity of megapixels but different pixel sizes, the photos will differ. For example, pixels of 1.55 μm and 1.12 μm will receive different amounts of light, resulting in different quality. The gadget with a larger pixel size would be the winner in this case.
What are good megapixels for a camera? A larger pixel guarantees higher detail in the photograph. For example, gadgets with different pixel sizes perform as follows:
- 1.55 μm-1.40 μm: Capture photos at any time of the day, not afraid of insufficient lighting.
- 1.40 μm-1.22 μm: Produce decent pictures during the day and evening, but usually exhibit "noise" in low light conditions.
- 1.12 μm and smaller: Capable of capturing good shots only during the day with bright, quality lighting.
What does megapixel mean in camera? Now that we know this, why don't manufacturers simply increase the pixel sizes to make their phones capture better images? The reason is that a larger sensor requires a bigger optics size. This leads to an increase in the thickness and width of the gadget itself. You've probably seen the dimensions of lenses on professional cameras? It's unlikely to expect RAW-quality photos from slim mobile phones.
This is the stumbling block. Few people would want to buy a thick phone with a protruding large camera. Such a device wouldn't even fit into a pocket. Therefore, companies have two options — sacrifice the sensor size or increase the size of the phone body. So far, everyone is following the first path, improving photo quality through image processing and photo editing.
Other Key Camera Important Features
Any camera, whether it's a phone or a professional equipment, has many technical components that affect the quality of the image.
Aperture - a source of light
To capture high-quality detailed photos, light is crucial. We don't always (almost never) take photos with studio lighting, and the sun doesn't always shine brightly outside, so the lens receives a photon flow from the aperture. The wider it is, the more light it absorbs. The aperture is denoted by the letter f and fractional numbers, and in this case, a smaller value indicates a wider aperture, meaning better light absorption, not the other way around. Remember, the lower the number, the wider the aperture, and the better the phone camera.
Most commonly used aperture values:
- f/2.6, f/2.4 – Unfortunately, this aperture size results in low-quality and blurry photos.
- f/2.2, f/2.0 – Found in budget smartphones or used in auxiliary sensors.
- f/1.8, f/1.7, f/1.6 – Optimal sizes for bright, detailed shots.
Additionally, a wide light capture allows for effective background blur and macro mode photography.
Image Sensor
The image sensor is the primary component through which we obtain an image; it is a microchip of photodiodes (photosensitive elements). Light falling on the photodiode creates an electrical signal, which later transforms into a digital one. Complicated? In simple terms, in the past, this role was played by film, and now the sensor is a plate inside the camera that captures light and information about the shot. It sends this information to the processor, which stores the finished photos in the phone's memory (this process takes 0.276 seconds). But that's not the main point. When buying a smartphone, remember one thing – the sensor should be large. Here again, the smaller the number after the fraction, the better.
Let's provide examples:
- 1/3" – Budget models are equipped with matrices of this size.
- 1/2.9", 1/2.8" – This size is typical for devices in the mid-price range.
- 1/2.6", 1/2.3" – Typically, such matrices are installed in flagship devices.
What does megapixel mean in camera for the matrix? Here, there is a parameter called ISO — the sensitivity of the matrix to light. A high quantity of megapixels can suppress the sensitivity of the matrix, and manufacturers balance this aspect. For instance, a large matrix may suffice with a 12 MP.
Optical Image Stabilization
Very often, we take pictures literally on the go. For instance, you might be on a bus and want to capture a landmark. In such cases, instead of a great shot, we get a blurred spot. To prevent this, good smartphone cameras have OIS — it helps capture clear photos in motion and also influences noise reduction.
Autofocus
This feature allows for capturing clear shots, including selfies. It's hard to imagine a top-tier device without autofocus, and it's mostly absent only in the cheapest models. It's essential to understand how efficiently the device can detect objects in the frame. You can test the phone yourself or watch reviews from people you trust. If we break it down by type, there can be contrast (in basic gadgets), phase (more intelligent), and laser (the best) autofocus.
Conclusions
What does mp mean in camera? A large quantity of MP, without accompanying high-quality sensor design, great optics, and software refinement, is detrimental.
When all the mentioned indicators align, the resolution may provide a slight improvement in photo and video quality. However, it is not proportional to the quantity of megapixels. What is a good megapixel for a phone camera? Usually, 12 MP is sufficient, and if this value is higher, pay attention to other parameters described in the article. And also conduct practical tests and compare the quality of the camera in different conditions.
