How many megapixels do you want?

So there have been a ton of megapixel related arguments on this forum lately. So I was thinking how many megapixels is really ideal. What is the perfect balance of noise and detail in your opinion?

I reckon that too big, and the amount of space you need for your photos would start getting annoying

A gigapixel. On a 200mm x 250mm sensor.
Just kidding, but it might be helpful to specify a format.

Depends on the format.

So long as the image processor in the camera can handle it, and there are options for reduced resolution options in-camera, as many as possible please.

The ability to crop the hell out of a photo for birds and other stuff is bloody handy. Sure the noise levels will be too great beyond a point, and lens resolving power will become a limit too, but I think it's fair to make the assumption that they will improve in time along with the sensor resolution as they are developed.

TheRisingArms wrote in post #11859426
I reckon that too big, and the amount of space you need for your photos would start getting annoying

Storage just keeps getting cheaper. A 2 TB hard-drive is under $90, delivered. 16 GB flash memory cards are under $25, delivered.

arentol wrote in post #11859437
Depends on the format.

I thought about that, but I didn't want to complicate it. It's a useless poll anyway.

tkbslc wrote in post #11859457
I thought about that, but I didn't want to complicate it. It's a useless poll anyway.

Are you expecting me to vote on a useless poll??
My preference is 16.41 MP on FF and 12.34 MP on HF.

As many as it takes to make the size of print that I want. Anything else and it's just a pissing contest.

For event, 16.

For everything else, 100.

Actually, i scanned a MF neg once, and it came out to about 80 MP, or so, it was god awful slow to edit.

Maybe 30-40, but i'd take 30 with a larger sensor then 40 with a smaller one.

All of them!

ELT_Photo wrote in post #11859549
All of them!

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=TX6jU_mLTno

Well, I voted 12. That seemed the sweet spot to me. I'm shooting a 7d now and how often do I really use the full resolution? Not often. I almost use M JPG or mRAW, depending.

12mp provided the camera went to at least 12800 iso.

Of course 40MP or more on a fullframe is a must !!!!
I dream to move one day to a 645D or any H4D 50 or 60 MP... the gap between any dslr and these is really enormous !!

50 years later when i came back to this forum and saw 36MP, im gonna laugh so hard, i get a heart attack