How to Get Sharp Enlargements: Breaking the Megapixel MythPosted by drfl on November 18th, 2009
Myth: More megapixels will always lead to a sharper enlarged image.
This is without a doubt the greatest myth perpetuated by the camera industry today. Marketing tells us more megapixels=better camera. Back in the film days there were only a few choices, 35mm, 4×5, 8×10, 110, etc. In those days, (with a few exceptions, of course) the film size DID dictate how far an enlargement could be taken. I remember years ago taking my 35mm black and white film that I had developed in the dark room and making test strips, then enlarging it to 6×9 and then to 11×14. The sharpness of the image would begin to break down around that point. The three main things I had to remember in achieveing the sharpest, largest prints in those days was 1: Shoot big film. 2: Proper focus when taking the photograph and 3: A grain finder. For those of you who don’t know what a grain finder is, well, let’s just say its the equivalent of 100% zoom in Photoshop.
So, if larger film led to sharper, larger enlargements, shouldn’t more megapixels do the same thing? I mean after all all those technical sites speak about resolving power and lines per inch and its always better bigger - right?
Well, the answer is somewhat elusive and lies in three basic parts.