New Sony P2 -- is 2 megapixels enough?

[mattyd]

I wanted to buy the P7, but to save money, I am considering the P2 (it is about $90 cheaper). The only major difference between the two cameras is 3 vs. 2 megapixels.

Do you think 2 megapixels will be enough??? This will be my first digital camera, and I don't think I will ever need to make prints larger than 4X6.

However, I am wondering if I should just go for the extra megapixel since I am already spending so much on the camera.

Here is what Steve at Steve's Digicam has to say:

"The focus and imaging system have some issues in the P9 but the P2 seems to be remedy them by matching the optics ability with a 2 megapixel imager. The indoor pictures of people with flash do very well and print nicely. The P2 is accurate even in low light conditions. The overall image quality, sharpness and color balance is on the same level as cameras with its physical size with larger resolution capabilities."

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Capital Man]

I think that if you don't know the answer to the question, then 2 megapixels is enough.

 

[Steve Cavigliano]

Mattyd,

If, as you said, you're only going to print 4x6's, then 2mp's is fine. The P2 has gotten good reviews, from other sites, also.

Steve

--
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k

 

[kidzgolf78496]

I thought that I would never print larger than 4x6 as well. Guess what, the shots (doctored with a great photo editor) are worth printing larger and framing. My best shots are professionally done ... sometimes framed ... and given as gifts or hung on the wall. Somehow, 4x6 was never enough. I bought the 707.

My daughters have a Vivtar 2.1 with a 3x optical zoom that they bought at Walmart for about $199. Believe it or not, the shots are quite good and when printed at 4x6 ... they look great. This is a camera they can take with them everywhere and not be too concerned about. It's small, light weight, decent optics, has great connectivity to a computer via usb and Windows XP, etc.

Spend your money wisely, take lots of pictures, and have fun.

Mattyd,
If, as you said, you're only going to print 4x6's, then 2mp's is
fine. The P2 has gotten good reviews, from other sites, also.

Steve

--
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k

--
The best to you!

 

[Capital Man]

The original poster said he only wants to print out at 4 x 6. The 2 megapixel camera will suit him just fine. Many people would even be quite happy with a 2 megapixel photo printed out at 8 x 10.

The P2 will make much nicer prints than a disposable film camera, and they sell those disposables by the millions, and the people who buy them are quite happy with their prints.

 

[Mike_D]

Sounds like a great camera to me. I used to have a 35 millimeter that I seldom used. I then spent about $600 on a Kodak DC 280. That was a big deal for me, because previous cameras I'd had weren't worth more than about 50 bux. The cool thing with this camera was that I didn't hesitate to shoot things, and the results were usually the equivalent of a a decent point and shoot 35mm(at least to the extent that I would have used one.)

A little over a year later I picked up a Sony DSC-P1 which addressed my two biggest concerns with the Kodak 1. battery life and 2. size. The megapixel thing of course was a big deal, but not essential. I carried this camera around all the time and quickly became aware of it's shortcomings: manual settings, and the ability to auto focus in low light. this then led me to add the DSC-707 to my inventory which I am in no hurry to replace.

It seems to me that had I had the P2 been my first digital camera I may have gone a lot longer before buying my second digital camera.

MikeD