How many megapixels were pictures before digital cameras?

March 10th, 2010 | by admin |

digital cameras now just keep upping the mp’s. i was just curious how many mps pictures were before i had my digital camera and used the film i had to get developed?
in terms of quality, how many mps is equivalent.

Zero. Pixels (short for Picture Element) are only applicable to digital cameras. Film has light sensitive particles in it called "grain".

Cameras that used film did not have to be replaced very often unless they wore out … usually in about 30 to 40 years. All the technology was in the film. Every few years, new, better film was made. So a $1,000 35 mm camera really never had to be replaced unless you broke it.

Now since the technology is in the camera, you have to spend about $5,000 every two years to get the new technology. Who says digital is cheap? You can buy a lot of film for $5,000 … double that if you are a pro and need two cameras.

Here is the difference between a pro DSLR and entry level DSLR, side by side

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/287%7C0/(appareil2)/268%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Nikon/(brand2)/Canon

You can see why pros buy pro cameras. Their performance in the critical Colour depth, Dynamic range and Low-light ISO is unsurpassed … until the next technology is released

If you like, you can digitize your film using a high quality film scanner. When I scan mine on my Nikon film scanner, I can get image files from 35 mm film that are 4,000 x 5,904 pixels or about 24 mp. If I scan my 6×6 cm images from my old Hasselblad, I can get image files that are 8,964 x 8,964 pixels or about 80 mp

  1. 6 Responses to “How many megapixels were pictures before digital cameras?”

  2. By Couman on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

    Film cameras have no pixels at all. I suppose the equivalent in a film camera is the "grain" of the film. But it’s difficult to make a direct comparison.
    References :

  3. By ? on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

    Opinions vary on how many effective megapixels film is. Film doesn’t have pixels, it has a coating of a light sensitive chemical. I am of the opinion that 35mm film is roughly equivalent to 16 or so megapixels if you are using really good film, but I have heard people argue as low as ten, or as high as twenty or so. It isn’t really a good comparison, as film is so different structurally, both when you compare film to digital, and even when you compare some types of film to others.

    Good luck!
    References :

  4. By Candid Chris on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

    Which equation makes more sense?
    Add two apples to make a pie?
    OR.
    Add two oranges to make orange juice?
    References :

  5. By fhotoace on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

    Zero. Pixels (short for Picture Element) are only applicable to digital cameras. Film has light sensitive particles in it called "grain".

    Cameras that used film did not have to be replaced very often unless they wore out … usually in about 30 to 40 years. All the technology was in the film. Every few years, new, better film was made. So a $1,000 35 mm camera really never had to be replaced unless you broke it.

    Now since the technology is in the camera, you have to spend about $5,000 every two years to get the new technology. Who says digital is cheap? You can buy a lot of film for $5,000 … double that if you are a pro and need two cameras.

    Here is the difference between a pro DSLR and entry level DSLR, side by side

    http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/287%7C0/(appareil2)/268%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Nikon/(brand2)/Canon

    You can see why pros buy pro cameras. Their performance in the critical Colour depth, Dynamic range and Low-light ISO is unsurpassed … until the next technology is released

    If you like, you can digitize your film using a high quality film scanner. When I scan mine on my Nikon film scanner, I can get image files from 35 mm film that are 4,000 x 5,904 pixels or about 24 mp. If I scan my 6×6 cm images from my old Hasselblad, I can get image files that are 8,964 x 8,964 pixels or about 80 mp
    References :
    digiPro

  6. By jeannie on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

    MP = mega PIXELS

    Pixel = abbreviation for Picture Element

    Did not exist until digital was invented.

    Grain is not the same thing – there is no actual equivalency.

    So the answer is ZERO.
    References :

  7. By sant kabir on Mar 10, 2010 | Reply

    There is some explanation on this forum;
    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_megapixels_would_it_take_to_equal_a_35mm_film_maximum_quality
    References :

Post a Comment