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.

(more…)

I will be starting a new weekly feature of phewse on Thursday, called “Mega-what?” The idea behind it is to explain different words and technologies in photography, such as megapixels, depth-of-field, and so on. The intent is to help readers learn some of the “buzzwords” of photography, so that the next time someone starts talking about custom white balance or bracketing, you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about, and maybe you’ll even be able to correct them when they mistakenly interchange sensor crop multiplier with zoom!