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Megapixels low light performance explained
Megapixels (MP) refer to the resolution of a camera sensor, or more specifically, the number of individual pixels that make up the image. For instance, a 12 MP camera has 12 million pixels, and a 24 MP camera has 24 million pixels. While megapixels play a role in determining the detail and size of an image, they don’t directly dictate the camera’s performance in low-light conditions. Here’s how megapixels are related to low-light performance and why they’re not the only factor:
Megapixels and Low-Light Performance
In low-light situations, a camera’s ability to capture clear, detailed images with minimal noise is determined more by the sensor’s size, sensor quality, and pixel size, rather than just the megapixel count. Here’s why:
1. Pixel Size and Sensor Sensitivity
- Larger Pixels = Better Low-Light Performance: Larger pixels can capture more light, which is crucial when shooting in low-light conditions. The more light each individual pixel can capture, the less noise you’ll get in your photos and the better the image will look.
- Smaller Pixels = More Detail, but Less Light: On the other hand, if a sensor has more megapixels (i.e., more, smaller pixels), each pixel captures less light. While a higher megapixel count means more detail (increasing resolution), it can decrease low-light performance because smaller pixels are less effective at gathering light, resulting in more noise in dim environments.
Example: A 24 MP sensor with large pixels (in a larger sensor like full-frame) can perform better in low light than a 24 MP sensor with smaller pixels (in a smaller sensor like APS-C or Micro Four Thirds).
2. Sensor Size
- Larger sensors, such as full-frame sensors, have larger individual pixels (or the ability to use larger pixels) compared to smaller sensors like APS-C or Micro Four Thirds. This is why full-frame sensors tend to perform better in low light, even if the megapixel count is the same.
- Full-frame sensors have better noise control and higher sensitivity to light because their pixels are larger and the overall sensor size is bigger, allowing more light to be captured.
Example: A 12 MP full-frame sensor will likely perform better in low light than a 24 MP APS-C sensor because the full-frame sensor has larger pixels, despite having fewer megapixels.
3. How Megapixels Affect Image Noise
- High Megapixel Cameras: A camera with a higher megapixel count (e.g., 50 MP) on a small sensor (like APS-C or Micro Four Thirds) may look sharp in well-lit conditions, but in low light, it might show more noise because each pixel is smaller and less sensitive to light.
- Low Megapixel Cameras: Cameras with fewer megapixels (e.g., 12 MP or 16 MP) typically have larger pixels, which help them gather more light and produce cleaner images with less noise in low-light situations.
4. ISO Performance
The camera’s ability to handle high ISO settings is also key to low-light performance. When you increase the ISO, the camera sensor becomes more sensitive to light, but it also increases noise. Cameras with larger sensors and lower megapixel counts are generally better at handling high ISO values because their larger pixels can absorb more light, producing less noise.
Summary
- More Megapixels ≠ Better Low-Light Performance: While more megapixels increase the level of detail and allow you to crop or print larger images, they don’t directly improve low-light performance. In fact, they can worsen it if the sensor is too small, leading to more noise.
- Sensor Size & Pixel Size Matter More: A larger sensor (like full-frame) with fewer megapixels generally performs better in low-light conditions than a smaller sensor with more megapixels.
- Noise Control: A camera’s noise control technology, including sensor design and processing algorithms, also plays a significant role in its performance in low light.
Example of Low-Light Performance in Practice:
- Full-frame camera with 12 MP (like the Sony A7S III): Great for low-light, as its large pixels gather a lot of light and minimise noise.
- APS-C camera with 24 MP (like the Canon EOS M50 Mark II): Still good, but may not perform as well in low-light as a full-frame camera, due to smaller pixels.
- Micro Four Thirds camera with 20 MP (like the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III): While offering good resolution, the smaller sensor size and higher pixel density could result in more noise in very low-light situations.
Final Tip:
When choosing a camera for low-light photography, sensor size and pixel size (along with image processing and lens quality) are usually more important than the number of megapixels. If low-light performance is a top priority, focus on cameras with larger sensors (like full-frame) and lower megapixel counts (12 MP to 24 MP range), as they typically give you the best results in challenging lighting conditions.
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Hi I'm Monique
Personal and business brand image expert. Photographer and educator who is super passionate about empowering business women and men to have a positive self perception, with the right tools and guidance so they can share their gifts with the world.
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Megapixels low light performance explained
Grab the PDF version here
Megapixels low light performance explained
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