Why do companies like Nikon sell cameras that around 16 megpixels but phone companies like sony and Nokia sell phones that have 20 to 40 megapixel cameras?
Resolution is only one aspect of what makes a picture good. And once you can't see the pixels any more, increasing the resolution doesn't help (for reference, the 4K "ultra-HD" TVs they're selling now are only 8 megapixel). The problem with having tons of pixels is that it means very little light…
The Short Answer
Resolution is only one aspect of what makes a picture good. And once you can't see the pixels any more, increasing the resolution doesn't help (for reference, the 4K "ultra-HD" TVs they're selling now are only 8 megapixel). The problem with having tons of pixels is that it means very little light hits any portion of the camera, so you end up with a lot of noise- the camera can't quite tell what color the pixel is supposed to be. The reason Sony and Nokia are making 40MP cameras is that they want to be able to average the light that hit 8 pixels and give you a great looking 5MP image instead of a crappy looking 40MP image. Nikon just gives their cameras bigger sensors which allows more light to hit each pixel, so they can just straight up give you a 16MP camera that works better than the 40MP cameras on those phones. EDIT: whoops, sensors not lenses.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Pixels, light, camera
This explanation focuses on pixels, light, camera and spans 158 words across 6 sentences. At 111% above the average Technology explanation (75 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Resolution is only one aspect of what makes a picture good.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.
How This Compares in Technology
Ranked #20 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 5%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why companies like nikon sell cameras that around 16 megpixels but phone companies like sony and nokia sell phones that have 20 to 40 megapixel cameras?
Resolution is only one aspect of what makes a picture good. And once you can't see the pixels any more, increasing the resolution doesn't help (for reference, the 4K "ultra-HD" TVs they're selling now are only 8 megapixel). The problem with having…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 158 words, ranked #20 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are pixels, light, camera.
What approach does this answer take to explain companies like nikon sell cameras that around 16 megpixels b?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 158 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.