print size vs MP

[funperro]

I'm trying to determine how many megapixels I need in order to do 3 x 5's and 4 x 6's. Is this a good relationship to follow:

1.3 MP---4x6 inches
2.1 MP---5x7 inches
3.34 MP---8x10 inches
4 MP---8x10 or larger

The reason I ask is that I have a 4mp camera, but don't want to always take 4mp shots because the storage space gets used up quickly. Will using 2.1mp or 4mp matter if I'm making 4x6 or 5x7 prints?

Thanks..

[Rustle]

Yeah, you can get a fine 5x7 with 2MP. Even 1.3 will do, in a pinch.

I've got an S30 (3.2MP), but I often drop down to 1600x1200 (2.1MP) to save space. I mainly publish on my Web site at 640x480, so it leaves me lots of room to crop if I need to.

Mind you, it's nice to have the full-size pic just in case you want to print 8x10s or larger. I see it as a judgement call--it takes a few seconds to switch over to RAW mode if the scene might call for it later on.

Russ

[Roger_Cavanagh]

funperro wrote:
The reason I ask is that I have a 4mp camera, but don't want to always take 4mp shots because the storage space gets used up quickly. Will using 2.1mp or 4mp matter if I'm making 4x6 or 5x7 prints?

Thanks..

Buy more storage. You'll be pretty pissed, if you take a fabulous image, but can't use it at more than 4x6.

[SteveCliff]

Roger_Cavanagh wrote:
Buy more storage. You'll be pretty pissed, if you take a fabulous image, but can't use it at more than 4x6.

Totally agree with Roger. I have got hold of a 1Gb Microdrive - never regretted it! Mind you, it hasn't crashed on me so far either .... :)

However, for most CF's, try www.7dayshop.com. They seem to be very competative, although it does take about a week for the order to come through - and they won't deliver to anywhere apart from your address on the credit card/switch etc.