Practical question about Digital Camera resolutions...

[RedBeard]

Okay, I was looking around for a inexpensive digital camera for taking eBay pictures and occasional outdoor/family pictures.

My question is: Do I really need a high mega pixel camera?

If you end up resizing most of your photos to 800*600 anyway do you really need a 4mp camera? This is assuming you get a high quality digital camera.

I was looking at getting an Nikon 2200 camera. It is only 2mp but it is a good brand and it is cheap (under $70). Assuming I don't want to make 16X10 prints is this a good way to go?

Just to clarify, I am not talking about a $50, 5mp, no-name, no-optical zoom camera.

 

[yhelothar]

Sounds good. I'd go for it. You don't need the high megapixels.

 

[NTB]

for strictly taking E-bay type pics? nope. you could probably get away with a webcam.

Nate

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: NTB
for strictly taking E-bay type pics? nope. you could probably get away with a webcam.

Nate

Sure you could get away with a webcam, but would you want to?
Good pics can easily net you a lot higher prices.

Here's an example where good pics sells

I was able to sell the flute for $200 over the average price with the pics I took 😉

It pays for itself in the long run 🙂

 

[RedBeard]

Originally posted by: NTB
for strictly taking E-bay type pics? nope. you could probably get away with a webcam.

Yeah but I figured a conventional digital camera would give me more versatility. That way I could take pics of the house, car, vacations, ect...

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: NTB
for strictly taking E-bay type pics? nope. you could probably get away with a webcam.

Nate

Sure you could get away with a webcam, but would you want to?
Good pics can easily net you a lot higher prices.

Here's an example where good pics sells

I was able to sell the flute for $200 over the average price with the pics I took 😉

It pays for itself in the long run 🙂

Guess so. I don't really have much room to talk - I've got 3 digital cameras 😛

2MP Olympus D-510z
4MP Canon A80
8MP Canon Rebel XT

Nate

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: RedBeard

Originally posted by: NTB
for strictly taking E-bay type pics? nope. you could probably get away with a webcam.

Yeah but I figured a conventional digital camera would give me more versatility. That way I could take pics of the house, car, vacations, ect...

Definitely. Webcam pics are horrible; definitely get the Nikon 2200 or something similar - I don't know if that model has optical zoom, but you should pick one that does. Anyway, get a real digital camera for still photography (they often have video modes built in, but that's not the priority), and enjoy your new hobby. 🙂

 

[Lalakai]

i do alot of photography, with digital and film, using the materials for presentations and power points. For the high majority of my work, i can easily get by with pics that are less then 1 meg in size. Look for features and ease of use, versus pixals (in your case).

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Up to about 4 MP or so, it can make a difference, assuming you're buying a good brand with good optics. Above that, I doubt it makes any difference unless you're into SLRs

 

[RedBeard]

Definitely. Webcam pics are horrible; definitely get the Nikon 2200 or something similar - I don't know if that model has optical zoom, but you should pick one that does. Anyway, get a real digital camera for still photography (they often have video modes built in, but that's not the priority), and enjoy your new hobby.

Yeah it has 3x optical zoom. I just bought it for 70 shipped.

I have a Cannon A1 SLR I that I still have around for more "serious" stuff.