MP wars still going on -- Sharp 12MP P&S Sensor

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Nov 8, 2006 | 08:40 AM

Dan Martin

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MP wars still going on -- Sharp 12MP P&S Sensor

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0611/06...arp12mpccd.asp

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPreview

Just when we had hoped that the megapixel race was over for compact cameras Sharp has gone and announced a twelve megapixel 1/1.7" sensor. Lets face it the latest batch of ten megapixel compacts are nothing to get excited about, seven was enough in any compact, it's pretty sad to see another two million photosites crammed into the same space. A smaller photosite (in this case just 1.88 microns) means less sensitivity, higher noise (generally) and an even higher requirement on the lens optics (virtually no current compact has what we'd call a great lens). So expect to see this sensor in a new PMA compact camera with the same 3x zoom lens and ISO 3200.

Since people are looking for bigger numbers, I'm surprised that they haven't started just upsampling images yet to make 20, 40, or 100 megapixel P&S cameras.

Anyone want to start a camera company with me?

Nov 8, 2006 | 08:43 AM

fdl

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From: Toronto

Well, they are just giving the average joe consumer what they want I guess. When I talk to people about digital cameras, its all about "how many megapixels". The more the better.

Nov 8, 2006 | 08:43 AM

dom

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From: Toronto, Canada

I don't get why people ae surprised by this. I worked in a call centre and believe me when I tell you, 99.8% of customers do not see the big picture. All they see is that big number on the box.

Nov 8, 2006 | 09:00 AM

Dan Martin

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From: Toronto

Oh, I know they're just giving consumers what they're asking for, but it's a shame that these companies aren't giving them what they really want... better pictures. It's going to take either Nikon or Canon to put a stop to the megapixel myth, but they don't have the balls to do it. At this point, I don't think it will stop until people figure it out for themselves.
That's why I want to sell 100MP P&S cameras.

Maybe once people can fill a 1GB card with a single shot and try to email it to thier friends in Florida, they'll change their minds about megapixels.

I'm surpised flatbed scanners manufacturers haven't started to ride megapixel bandwagon yet. Even a $90 cheapo unit can scan a 8.5x11 at 540 megapixels.

Nov 8, 2006 | 10:02 AM

waTSX

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From: Federal Way, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Martin

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0611/06...arp12mpccd.asp

Since people are looking for bigger numbers, I'm surprised that they haven't started just upsampling images yet to make 20, 40, or 100 megapixel P&S cameras.

Anyone want to start a camera company with me?

I'm in dude.

Nov 8, 2006 | 10:04 AM

ChodTheWacko

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From: Ronkonkoma, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Martin

Maybe once people can fill a 1GB card with a single shot and try to email it to thier friends in Florida, they'll change their minds about megapixels.

Oh, that will never happen. They'll just set their camera's quality to 'small' and happily shoot their 3-4 meg pics. That's already started happening since 5-6 meg cameras came out. So hell, why not interpolate up? They'll just interpolate it back down again.

One of the best quotes I read in some preview was something like: 'They're introducing some new feature called ........ I'm not sure what it does but since it's new I want it'.

- Frank