mcs328

Is a 3 megapixel good enough to print photo quality 5X7 or 8x10? I'm looking at a Pentax Optio S and the upgrade Optio S4. Wal-mart has a sweet deal on the 3 megapixel version that's 300 bucks and it comes with a tripod and 256 SD card. The 4 megapixel version is 400 bucks no extras.

Thanks

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Devhux

I beg to differ with chosenfool... if you want true "photo quality" (or close enough) 8x10 prints, then I'd highly recommend a 3 megapixel camera. Two megapixel digicams can print "decent' 8x10's, but images will still be slightly blocky (and there will be a noticeable lack of detail).

The other advantage of going with a higher-res camera, is that you can crop the image and still print a good-quality image. Forget doing that with a 2 megapixel camera.

Right now, I'm using an Olympus C-740 camera (3.2 megapixel), and the 8x10's it prints out are noticeably better / more detailed than a friend's Canon Powershot A60 (a good-quality 2 megapixel cam).

seqiro

I would also have to disagree. A two megapixel image printed at 8x10 is going to give you roughly a 150dpi output on the printer which is significantly lower than what you'd want for a quality image (240-300).

3MP would be my minimum for an 8x10. And since that is what the original poster asked about, he should be all set. That being said, I'd see if I could find a nice deal on the 3MP Canon A70 which I think takes a better picture than the Pentax at a similar price point. But that's only a personal opinion.

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Paul Beasi

Devhux

....of course, if seqiro is looking for an ultra-compact camera, then the Pentax Optio S would be a solid choice (if I'm not mistaken, that's the one they claim will fit inside an Altoids tin -- I've never seen it, so I can't say for sure).

seqiro

Considering I just got the Canon EOS-10D, I wouldn't be looking for ultra-compact anything.