phewse photoblog

This is the first entry in my weekly “Mega-what?” feature on phewse, so I figured the only way to start is with the term “megapixel,” of course! This is a word that is tossed around routinely, and most people have a basic idea of what it means. I’m here to tell you a little more about it, and also clear up some common misconceptions.

What exactly is a megapixel?

First, to understand megapixels, you have to understand how a digital camera captures a photo. I’m not going to go into all the details, as it would take far too much space. (If you’re interested in reading more about how a digital camera works, I’d recommend checking out HowStuffWorks.) Essentially, when you press the shutter button on a digital camera, light goes through the lens and hits a chip at the back of the camera. This “chip” consists of millions of little sensors, which interpret the light. Each of these little sensors is called a “pixel.” One million pixels equals one megapixel.

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