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Small Sensor MP war fueled here

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John Miles

John Miles

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It's only a small point but reviews here at Dpreview shade green specification boxes that show the MP count has increased over the previous model. Yet we know in reviews that the MP war doesn't sit well with Dpreview reviewers.

Perhaps not shading at all, one way or the other, with MP count would be more appropriate (and a little comment to manufacturers reps when they pop by for a browse).

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The FZ50: DSLR handling of a bright Leica 35-420mm lens that's this good: http://www.flickr.com/groups/panasonicfz50/pool/ (slideshow always good). And now add the LX2: http://www.flickr.com/groups/lx2/pool/
[Tomorrows camera is better and smaller than todays]
 
I just saw some specs on the new Nikon P500 superzoom 36x camera. It has jumped from the P100 with 10.3 megapixels to 12.1 megapixels. Still that's short of Panasonic's FZ100 with 14.1 megapixel CMOS sensor used in 2010. We'll see whether Panasonic holds to the 14.1 or heads even higher for its 2011 model.

Nikon Coolpix P500:

•36x zoom
•12.1MP CMOS sensor
•EXPEED C2 dual processor
•full HD 1080p recording
•3 in. display
•new in-camera panorama generator
•hybrid vibration reduction stabilization
•price: $399.95

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It is the 21st Century and I still prefer to read books on paper, not plastic.
 
No thanks. If I want noise in photos, I can add it in Photoshop.
See, ... beautiful noise. Lets see if their camera can do better.



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Tymevest
 
Vandyu said:
. . . . We'll see whether Panasonic holds to the 14.1 or heads even higher for its 2011 model. . . .
Click to expand...
20 MP and hamster detection mode please!!!!

IQ will then be twice as good as LX3 which only has 10 MP!!

Mike
 
You must have missed this: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=37639785
Vandyu said:
I just saw some specs on the new Nikon P500 superzoom 36x camera. It has jumped from the P100 with 10.3 megapixels to 12.1 megapixels. Still that's short of Panasonic's FZ100 with 14.1 megapixel CMOS sensor used in 2010. We'll see whether Panasonic holds to the 14.1 or heads even higher for its 2011 model.

Nikon Coolpix P500:

•36x zoom
•12.1MP CMOS sensor
•EXPEED C2 dual processor
•full HD 1080p recording
•3 in. display
•new in-camera panorama generator
•hybrid vibration reduction stabilization
•price: $399.95
Click to expand...
 
I suspect you think that 20 MP, being twice that of 10 MP, will deliver 2x the resolution.

Well, it does, but only in one axis :p.

You need a 4-fold increase in the total megapixel count to double resolution in both the X and Y axes, which is what actually counts.

I wouldn't mind seeing 20 MP though. Once we hit that point, we'll have long forgotten the LX3 and the LX5.

Maybe every now and then someone will be reminiscing with a beer on the couch, stumbling across their memories of a horribly noisy LX5. I can almost imagine you saying ... "ahh ... how technology has improved since! What a quantum leap!" ... :p.
Mikedigi said:
20 MP and hamster detection mode please!!!!

IQ will then be twice as good as LX3 which only has 10 MP!!
Click to expand...
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/techoutsider
 
"...hamster detection mode please!!!!"

Correction needed here--make that "Hamster smile detection mode, please!"

--
It is the 21st Century and I still prefer to read books on paper, not plastic.
 
Those sensor counts were listed as under planning. We can only hope that Panasonic remembers that "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."
--
It is the 21st Century and I still prefer to read books on paper, not plastic.
 
TechOutsider said:
I suspect you think that 20 MP, being twice that of 10 MP, will deliver 2x the resolution.

Well, it does, but only in one axis :p.

You need a 4-fold increase in the total megapixel count to double resolution in both the X and Y axes, which is what actually counts.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I hadn't put that much thought into it, and I'm sure you're right.

With the ToyFZs, I think that any pixels over around 6-8 mp are crippling IQ by increasing noise.

Mike
 
Hmmm, your post prompted me to check the figure I have in my memory of the pixel denisty for the LX5, circa 24mp cm2. Yep, it is. It is a crazy world where development effort goes into increasing MPs in compacts, when consumers do not want or need them.

I believe, with current technology: processing power, image processing algorithms, etc, twenty something MPs per cm2 gives the optimal trade-off, hence LX3/LX5 and their imitators are known for IQ. TZ7 and similar can give excellent results with good technique (Trensamiro and others) or on a lower percentage success rate, the likes of myself - see http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=37675819

So, maybe, what we need is for manufacturers to be forced to publish both MPs and MPs per cm2. The latter is a good indicator of potential IQ. Then, hopefully, consumers will become aware of the relationship with IQ and drive sales in the direction of IQ.
 
Vandyu said:
"...hamster detection mode please!!!!"

Correction needed here--make that "Hamster smile detection mode, please!"
Click to expand...
Dual option - select "Smile" (default) or "Asleep".

Mike
 
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