Megapixels in a VIDEO camera...

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

I consider myself to be pretty good when it comes to technology, but my father has just succeeded to baffle me.

You see, he's thinking about buying a video camera (SD, not HD, albeit 16:9 format), and he's been looking at all these expensive models from Sony and Panasonic, although I told him all he needs is a good, mid-priced Canon. His response? "Yeah, but look, they advertise more megapixels"...

Now, I tried to tell him that no matter how many megapixels are advertised on the camera body, the image is still going to be 720x576 (he lives in PAL land, not NTSC)... but he wouldn't listen. He's still looking at some expensive devices, and I cringe when I think he could buy a HD camera in North America with the money he's ready to plunk on those devices.

Is there a good resource that would explain these things to him in plain language?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Zenmervolt]

The only thing that the megapixels matter for is still images. Unless he's planning to use the video camera to take snapshots, he will never see a benefit to more megapixels. Not sure how else you can present that to him.

I will say this though, Sony's video cameras tend to be exceptional. There's a reason that essentially every newsroom in the world uses Sony video equipment.

ZV

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Thank you, ZV!
Anyone else? I still need some additional quotable sources...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Some buying tips, there's a specific section about why megapixels don't matter:

http://www.jakeludington.com/c...digital_camcorder.html

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Ahhh... Thank you! That's what I'm talking about!