[ClearCase_guy]

I believe I once heard that 6 megapixels would be equivalent to standard film cameras. Now that we've achieved it, does anyone know if it's still considered equivalent? Or is that a moving target? Nah, eight megapixels is what you need. Oh, ya got 8? Well, if you had twelve megapixels it would look just like the real thing.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Well, if you had twelve megapixels it would look just like the real thing.

Yeah, but when you hit FIFTEEN MEGAPIXELS, the hidden spirits that we've never been able to see before will start to show up in our photos....;)

[1Old Pro]

I believe I once heard that 6 megapixels would be equivalent to standard film cameras.

Good question, also do they print at that quality level?

[meyer]

I believe I once heard that 6 megapixels would be equivalent to standard film cameras. Now that we've achieved it, does anyone know if it's still considered equivalent? Or is that a moving target? Nah, eight megapixels is what you need. Oh, ya got 8? Well, if you had twelve megapixels it would look just like the real thing.

I beleive that 6 megapixels meets or exceeds the grain texture of 35 mm. film. Larger film formats (which are generally used by professionals) have a larger digital equivalent, of course.

That said, for 5X7" or smaller prints, 3 megapixels should do the trick. If you want 10X8" prints, a 6 megapixel will do for top quality. If the picture is to be viewed from a few feet or more, a larger 15X10" print at 200 ppi can be made from a 6 meg camera. I've got a nifty chart from Popular Photography and Imaging magazine in front of me. They say that the human eye cannot resolve beyond 300 pixels-per-inch. Note that pixels-per-inch aren't the same as dots-per-inch.

I beleive that Canon has an 11.1 meg camera body, the EOS-1Ds with a 36X24 mm. CMOS light sensing device. It is compatable with all Canon's latest lenses that are used on their 35 mm. cameras. Unfortunately, the camera costs several thousand dollars. Give it 2 years - there will be some inexpensive, fine quality digital bodies that are fully compatible with today's lenses from all major manufacturers. I'm anxious for that time!

[js1138]

It's a moving target. Besides, in my opinion, digital surpassed color print film some time ago, but hasn't yet reached the level of Kodachrome. Film has a lot of advantages in professional work, but Sports Illustrated covered the SuperBowl entirely with off-the-shelf digital cameras.