Stop pixel peeping already, no one cares.

Original Image at ten megapixels from my Canon 1D Mark lll

Enough is enough already, I mean who really cares anyway? The pixel wars are long over and most camera companies have settled at around 20 megapixels and for good reason. The average Joe photographer like you and me really has no reason for more than that and I would even venture to say that only the top 5% of photographers need more than 45 megapixels. So, why is this still even a topic in 2021? Other photographers still ask how many megapixels my camera is and look at me cross-eyed when I say ten. Yes, that is correct ten. My Canon 1D Mark lll is still my camera of choice for most situations. If you noticed, I said other photographers and not clients want to know.

Here is a crop from the original file at about 150% it still maintains good detail.

In my opinion, the biggest reason pixels don’t matter. has nothing to do with the camera or the lens we use. It has to do with the way our eyes and brain interpret what we see. Our brains and eyes together still create one of the most sophisticated viewing systems in the world. We can see into very dark shadows and still manage to make out what is in the highlights as well. All of this is going on without any kind of thought or adjustment need. Another example of this would be driving past a fence and somehow being able to see what is behind it even though the fence is there to block your view. Our brain is able to quickly piece together what it can see and then put it all together as you drive by. into a good view of what is behind the fence. That is pretty amazing, right? Our eyes and brains are doing the same thing when we look at photos, without you even knowing.

The next reason is also something you need to keep in mind, Most prints are either 4x6 for albums or 8x10 for enlargements to frame and hang up on a wall. It is rare that someone will request anything larger than say a 16x20. In fact, I have only printed larger than that once in over fifteen years of photography, and 16x20 is just for special occasions like Weddings or Quinces. The 8x10 enlargement makes up probably 90% of all enlargement requests. How many pixels do you need to create a good 8x10? I know you are going to ask, well try two megapixels with a DPI of around 150 or so. Will it be stellar? no, but it will be good enough for just about everyone who sees it but photographers. who would rather pull out their magnifying glass and look at it pixel by pixel. STOP IT already! No one cares.