How many Pixels should my digital Camera have?

[Magistrum]

Hi

I have recently lost the use of borrowed analogue video camera the output of which I pumped through a capture card and edited in Studio 9. I now have to look for a digital video camera however I am confused as to the pixels I need.

On cameras I am looking at the Gross Pixels range from 800k to 2,000k.

What pixel density should I go for as a high end home user?
Or is it more complicated than that?


Many thanks in advance

Magistrum

[deh707]

most people have a 3 megapix

i have a 1 megapix (which isnt too good)


get a 4 or 5

[twodogs]

hang on, digital VIDEO camera vs Digital STILL camera here.
Digital Video Camera only needs 720x576 (PAL) 0.5megapixel approx, AND does not need to have 1/2/3 megapixels. This is just for the STILL camera feature on the video camera.
If you want the Video camera to take quality Still shots as well, then the more megapixels the better, but the price rises significantly.
Value for money it is still better to buy separate Video and Still cameras.

[Magistrum]

Max

Indeed, forget any thought of a still camera I am talking 100% digital Video.

Mag.

[Magistrum]

So Max we you suggesting 800k pixels is sufficient?

This was my thought which was why I asked, it occured to me that anything above 800k was just a waste. Am I correct?

[Sillyname]

Max

Indeed, forget any thought of a still camera I am talking 100% digital Video.

Mag.

There's a reason why professional cameras do not fool with still picture options. Megapixel CCDs are not as good at capturing light for lower resolution video. If you had one pixel in front of you and you cut that into fourths then yes you would have more pixels there but you would also have a grid between those pixels that wasn't there before. This grid that is matrixed into a NTSC or PAL signal actually introduces dark lines into the picture that wouldn't be present in a camera that was closer to having the same amount of pixels that match the resolution for the NTSC or PAL standards. Understand?

The XL1 only uses 227,000 pixel CCDs.

[Magistrum]

Many thanks "Sillyname" so for me you reckon 800k would be the go?

Mag.

[Sillyname]

Many thanks "Sillyname" so for me you reckon 800k would be the go?

Mag.

CCD size is also very important. The bigger your target, the more light you gather. Most consumer cameras out there only have 1/6" CCDs and are terrible in low light(lots of grain in the picture.) 3CCD cameras generally offer very good low light handling capabilities, although the entry level 3ccd cameras that Panasonic puts out have 3 1/6" CCDs, so low light recordings are just as bad as single CCD cameras but color handling is better. Price is the first thing I would consider, though. What can you afford?

[Magistrum]

The one I was looking at was fairly cheap at (A)$781 http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod963.htm

[Sillyname]

The one I was looking at was fairly cheap at (A)$781 http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod963.htm

1/4" CCD plus HAD is very good. The Spot focus feature is pretty impressive, too. I believe this one is going to be touch screen driven, which you'll either love or hate.