Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race

Re:Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race by wccrawford on Friday May 13, 2011 @12:43PM (#2545217)

You'd think people would avoid saying that 'X should be enough for anybody' after the whole Gates thing. (Yeah, I've heard it's a misquote, etc... Doesn't matter, it's famous and should serve as a warning anyhow.)

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Re:Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race by hugh3 on Friday May 13, 2011 @12:53PM (#2545259)

Not really. I'm prepared to go out on several limbs here.

"Four wheels ought to be enough for anybody"

"Twelve beers ought to be enough for anybody"

"Two intestines ought to be enough for anybody"

The point being that beyond a certain point more pixels (unlike more memory) just makes life worse. There's only so many photons to go around.

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Re:Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race by z92 on Friday May 13, 2011 @02:09PM (#2545547)

> "Four wheels ought to be enough for anybody"

Most truckers now agree that 18 wheels is the best. That's after number-of-wheels race from 70s where we tried upto 22 wheels.

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Re:Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race by jws on Friday May 13, 2011 @02:32PM (#2545627)

Or perhaps 10 is 2.5% more efficient and saves money up front as well. Go evolution!

http://www.epa.gov/smartwaytransport/transport/documents/tec...

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Re:Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race by hugh3 on Friday May 13, 2011 @03:50PM (#2545929)

Sigh. I knew someone would reply to that with a comment about trucks.

edit: Fun fact: most truckers also agree that fourteen beers is better than twelve.

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Re:Why we've reached the end of the camera megapixel race by zwieback on Friday May 13, 2011 @03:11PM (#2545774)

Sort of agree but with image sensors it's a bit different: even if your process allows you to jam more and more pixels onto the sensor the number of photons landing on the entire sensor doesn't go up unless you're willing to schlepp a larger lens around. Also, the smallest printable dot on photo paper hasn't improved that much in recent years.

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