Why Sensor Size Matters More Than Megapixels

Megapixels alone don’t determine the quality of your camera’s images. For most people, the number of megapixels in a camera is often viewed as the ultimate measure of quality. But this thinking misses the bigger picture—there’s more to it than just the number of pixels.

Coming to you from Pat Kay, this informative video dives into the relationship between megapixels and sensor size. Kay makes it clear that more megapixels don’t always equal better image quality. A key point here is the size of the camera’s sensor. Larger sensors, like full frame sensors, gather more light, producing better image quality, even with fewer megapixels. Kay shows how a 12-megapixel camera phone doesn’t stand up to a 12-megapixel full frame camera, not because of the megapixels, but because of the vast difference in sensor size.

This video breaks down how different types of sensors, such as APS-C or full frame, interact with light and why that matters more than just resolution. Kay emphasizes that most people will be perfectly fine with a 24-megapixel sensor for general use. However, for those who need to print large images, higher megapixel counts become relevant. Kay provides a helpful breakdown of how many megapixels are needed for various print sizes, showing that, while bigger is sometimes better, the importance of megapixels is often overhyped. If your work mainly stays online, a smaller sensor is more than capable of delivering what you need.

For users who do a lot of cropping or pixel-peeping, higher megapixel counts may be worth the extra expense. Kay explains how having more megapixels allows more flexibility when editing, especially if you need to crop images or reframe shots. However, for those on a budget, he notes that modern AI upscaling tools can help stretch the utility of lower-resolution images, making this a less critical concern than it once was. Photoshop, Topaz Labs, and other AI-based tools can upscale images effectively, providing more flexibility than ever for lower-resolution cameras.

Kay also walks through how different use cases might determine the right camera for you. If you’re shooting for web content, where files need to stay small and load fast, megapixel count isn’t a concern. But if you're creating large-scale prints or working in high-end commercial photography, then sensor size and megapixels play a more significant role. The video gives a well-rounded perspective on how to match your camera setup to your needs, without getting lost in the numbers game. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kay.